NEMEA (sanctuary in Phliasia)
Ancient sanctuary of Zeus in Corinthia, Greece
- Kind of place
- Sanctuary
- Region
- Phliasia
- People of myth here
- Hypsipyle, Lycurgus of Thrace, Nemean Lion
- Where
- 37.81° N, 22.71° E
The lion's lair was located near the grove of Nemean Zeus. Theocritus, Idyl 21 ¶36 Hercules arrived at this location to track the Nemean lion. Apollodorus 2.5.1 The forest here is described as ancient, predating the grandparents of men. Statius, Thebaid 6.78-102 ¶2
Described in the sources
Nemea is located on the road between Cleonae and Phlius. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.10 ¶1 +1 Hercules cut a club at this location. Apollodorus 2.4.11 The pentathlon competition was held at Nemea. Pausanias 6.2.11 Aristeides of Elis won a boys' horse race at Nemea. Pausanias 6.16.4 The lion arrived at the well-watered ground of Nemea. Theocritus, Idyl 21 ¶36 Legend states Heracles overthrew a lion at this location. Pausanias 6.5.5 The village of Bembina is situated within the Nemea area. Strabo 8.6.19 The sons of Inachus arrived at the cool location of Nemea. Statius, Thebaid 4.627-651 ¶2 Promachus won two prizes in the pancratium at this location. Pausanias 7.27.5 The glades at Nemea serve as witnesses to the fame of Hercules. Statius, Thebaid 4.627-651 ¶2
Stories and history
No hero was said to harm horses at this location. Pausanias 6.20.19 The Timodemidai won seven crowns at the games held in Nemea. Pindar, Nemean 2 ¶4 Nymphs and Fauns are said to have passed through this living wood. Statius, Thebaid 6.78-102 ¶2 Emperor Hadrian restored the horse race to the winter Nemean games. Pausanias 6.16.4 Soldiers cut down the trees in this area to build a large funeral pyre. Statius, Thebaid 6.78-102 ¶2 Heracles killed the Nemean lion by strangling it inside a cleft in the mountain. Diodorus 4.11 The local area typically supports bears, boars, and wolves rather than large monsters. Theocritus, Idyl 21 ¶36