Nemean games
The Nemean Games (historical spelling also nemeïsch) ( Greek Νέμεα Nemea , also: the Nemeen ) were competitions that were held in ancient Greece every two years in the sanctuary of Nemea . They belonged to the Panhellenic Games and were held in the year before and after the Olympic Games . Like these, they were games in honor of the god Zeus .
history
According to legend, the games were introduced after Heracles defeated the Nemean lion . According to another tradition, it can be traced back to funerary games for the young king's son Opheltes . The historical evidence for the Games does not, however, begin until the year 573 BC. A. Traditionally, the winner received a wreath made of celery leaves from the city of Argos (see here for the background to this custom ).
The city of Kleonai was in charge of the games . Was subjugated by Argos and thus had to give up the game management. The program included the following sports: stadium running (stadium length 180 m), boxing, archery, wrestling, discus throwing, javelin throwing and chariot racing. The Athenian general Alkibiades once won the chariot race. Pindar composed award songs for the winners of the games. The Nemea stadium has been preserved as a ruin to this day. Even today sports competitions are held there every four years (in the same year as the Olympic Games ).
In the Antikythera mechanism (1st century BC) found by wreck divers in 1901 , which was not fully deciphered until 2010, there is a four-year slave clock that shows the Panhellenic Games, including the date at the venue Nemea.
Nemean games of modern times
The "Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games" endeavors to revive the ancient tradition.
- 1. Nemean Games: June 1, 1996
- 2nd Nemean Games: June 3, 2000
- 3rd Nemean Games: July 31, 2004
- 4th Nemean Games: June 21, 2008
- 5th Nemean Games: June 23, 2012
- 6. Nemean Games: June 11, 2016
- 7. Nemean Games: June 27, 2020
Web links
- Annette Hoffmann: Nemea: Nemean games . Gottwein, 1999/2000.
- Nemean Games , Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games.