CONTEMPORARY ASPECTS OF THE ANCIENT GAMES AT NEMEA

The Nemean Games were held in the state of Argolidae, on the northeast of Peloponnese, at Nemea, in the honour of the God Zeus. According to the legend, the Nemean Games had been founded by Heracles in the memory of one of his numerous exploits, to be more precise the victory over the Nemean lion. They were held from 573. B.C. to 394. A.D. on the every third year of the Olympic cycle. The Festivities consisted of athletic and equestrian events similar to the Olympic ones, and the winners were awarded by given the celery wreaths. The Society for the revival of the Nemean Games which today has more than 2200 members all over the world has succeeded in reviving these Games in 1996. Among the members of the Honorary Committee of the Society are many of the Olympic winners and world functionaries. Thanks to the archaeological findings conducted by professor Stephen Miller from Berkeley (USA) and with the help of the great number of like-minded people, the Nemean Games have been held regularly, every four years since 1996. Having in mind that the Olympic Games are ment for the very best athletes of the world and with the goal of promoting the ancient Greek games, the participants of the Nemean games can be all the people of the average physical condition who want to experience the spirit of the ancient times