Nemean Games facts for kids
The Nemean Games were one of the four big sports festivals in Ancient Greece, like the Ancient Olympic Games. They happened at a place called Nemea every two years.
These games, along with the Isthmian Games, took place in the years before and after the Ancient Olympic Games and the Pythian Games. Just like the Olympics, the Nemean Games honored Zeus, the king of the gods.
One story says the hero Heracles started the games after he defeated the scary Nemean lion. Another myth says they began as funeral games for a young child named Opheltes. We know for sure they existed from around 573 BC. Winners at the Nemean Games received a wreath made of wild celery leaves.
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A Look Back at the Nemean Games
The Nemean Games have many old stories about how they began. One popular legend says they started to remember a sad event.
The Story of Opheltes
Long ago, a group of heroes called the Seven against Thebes were traveling and got very thirsty. They met a woman named Hypsipile who was carrying a baby boy named Opheltes. He was the son of a priest of Zeus and a queen. Hypsipyle left the baby in a meadow to show the heroes where to find water. While she was gone, a dragon sadly killed the child. When the heroes returned and saw what happened, they killed the dragon. To honor Opheltes, they started funeral games that would happen every three years.
Heracles and the Games
Another famous story connects the games to the mighty hero Heracles. After he bravely killed the Nemean lion, some say he either started the games or brought them back to life. From then on, the games were celebrated to honor Zeus.
Who Could Compete?
At first, the Nemean Games were mostly for warriors and their sons. They were quite warlike! But over time, they became open to all Greeks. The games took place in a special grove between two towns, Cleonae and Phlius.
What Were the Prizes?
The winners first received a wreath of olive branches. Later, the prize became a wreath of green celery leaves. The judges who gave out the prizes wore black robes.
When and Where Were They Held?
The location of the Nemean Games changed over time. They were held in Cleonae, Corinth, and Argos. Sometimes they were even called the Cleonaean Games because of their first location. The games were held twice in every four-year Olympic cycle: once in the winter of the second Olympic year, and again in the summer of the fourth Olympic year.
The games were very important. Around the time of the Battle of Marathon, people in the area even used the Nemean Games to keep track of time! The games continued for a long time, even under Macedonian and Roman rule. However, after the time of Emperor Hadrian, they slowly stopped being celebrated.
Events at the Nemean Games
The Nemean Games had many exciting events, just like the Olympics!
Gymnastic Events
In these events, athletes competed without clothes, showing off their strength and skill.
- The Stadion: This was a foot race, about 178 meters long at Nemea.
- The Diaulos: This race was twice the length of the Stadion, about 355 meters.
- The Hippios: This was twice the length of the Diaulos, about 710 meters.
- The Dolichos: A long-distance running race. Its exact length varied, but it could be many laps around the stadium.
- The Hoplitodromos: A Diaulos race where runners wore helmets, carried a bronze shield, and sometimes wore metal leg guards.
- The Pyx: This was like boxing. Competitors wrapped their hands and wrists with leather strips. The first person to be knocked out or give up lost.
- The Pankration: A mix of boxing and wrestling with very few rules. It was a tough contest, and the first to be knocked out or give up lost.
- The Pale: This was wrestling from a standing position. The goal was to throw your opponent to the ground three times.
- The Pentathlon: This event had five parts: the Stadion race, wrestling, javelin-throwing, discus-throwing, and long-jump.
Horse and Chariot Races
These events took place in a hippodrome, which was a special track for horses.
- Women as Owners: Interestingly, women could take part in these events! Not by riding themselves, but because the owner of the horse or chariot was considered the winner, not the rider. Even whole cities could enter by funding a team!
- Tethrippon: Chariots pulled by four horses raced about 8400 meters (5.25 miles).
- Synoris: Chariots pulled by two horses raced about 5600 meters (3.5 miles).
- Kélēs: A horseback race over a distance of 4200 meters (2.5 miles).
Bringing the Nemean Games Back to Life
In 1994, a group called the Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games was started. This happened after more than 20 years of digging up the ancient site of Nemea.
Modern Re-enactments
Since 1996, these modern games have been held every four years. They are more like a fun way to learn about history than a serious sports competition. They also show a different side to sports compared to the very commercial modern Olympics.
People of all ages and genders from around the world can join in. No medals are given out, only crowns made of palm branches and wild celery, just like in ancient times!
In 2008, about 600 people, dressed in ancient tunics, ran barefoot in the ruins of the old stadium. There were races for people aged 10 to 80, including a 100-meter dash and a 7.5-kilometer (4.6 miles) race. A special part of this event was bringing back the Hoplitodromos race, where runners wore armor.
The most recent Nemean Games re-enactment took place on June 11 and 12, 2016.
See also
- Stadium at Nemea
- Nemean Baths
