Nemea: A Guide to the Site and Museum

Nemea hosted international athletic competitions like Olympia, Delphi, and Isthmia, forming the Panhellenic cycle. Excavations since 1974 have revealed details of its history, including evidence for the buildings and facilities. This guidebook provides an introduction to the history and physical remains of the festival center.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

In ancient times, dating back to 573 B.C., the region of Nemea in Greece hosted renowned international athletic competitions, akin to the famous Olympia, Delphi, and Isthmia games. These four sites formed the Panhellenic cycle, and the victors of these games were considered the most illustrious athletes of their era. Nemea, however, was not a city-state but rather a sacred and athletic festival center where the Greek world gathered every two years, united under a truce flag.

Since 1974, extensive excavations sponsored by the University of California at Berkeley have unearthed invaluable details about Nemea's history. These excavations have shed light on the nature of the buildings and facilities that formed the festival center. Additionally, smaller discoveries in museums and ancient literary and epigraphic sources have contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the Nemean Games.

This guidebook serves as an introduction to the history and physical remnants of the festival center, complementing detailed final publications on the ongoing excavation efforts. It is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which commemorates the university press's commitment to seeking out and nurturing exceptional minds, providing them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a lasting impact. Voices Revived leverages print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again, drawing from a backlist dating back to 1893.

The contributors to this title are Ana M. Abraldes, Darice Birge, Alison Futrell, Michael Goethals, Lynne Kraynak, Mark Landon, and Jeannie Marchand. Their expertise and insights have greatly enriched the understanding of the Nemean Games and their historical significance.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 210 x 140 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520302587