The Nemean Games were revived by the American archaeologist Stephen G. Miller, who first came to Nemea in 1973, when the ancient stadium was still buried beneath a highway and vineyards used by farmers. Ever since, the revival of the Nemean Games is repeated in June of every fourth year.

The revival of the Nemean Games

Fifty-five days before the Games begin in Rio, athletes from around the world re-enact ancient games in southern Greece.

Photos from the FOS PHOTOS archive

The races, run in age categories, only include a 90-meter sprint on a straight dirt course at the 2,300-year-old stadium and 7.5-kilometer run — “The Footsteps of Herakles” — through fabled olive groves and vineyards in the area, where in ancient Greek mythology Hercules — god of strength, sport and fertility — slayed a fearsome lion. The contestants race barefoot, wearing only a white tunic (the ancient chiton — in place of ancient nudity) and are divided by gender and age.

Like the Olympics, the Nemean Games were held in honour of Zeus in Ancient Greece. They were at first of a warlike character, and only warriors and their sons were allowed to take part in them. Subsequently, however, they were thrown open to all the Greeks.

The games attract a mix of Greek and overseas travelers and tourists, history lovers, fitness enthusiasts and school trips. The tunics are color-coded: White for athletes, black for track officials, and yellow, green or light blue for other organizers.

A partial revival of ancient Greek Games, the Nemean Games draw enthusiastic participants aged from 5 to 89.

The Nemean Games is a lower-key, more egalitarian affair than the Olympics, in which athletes engage in a no-prize competition with a relatively small but dedicated following.

Young participants curl their toes into the same stone grooves where the ancients placed their toes.

Runners take an oath before competing, and pass through an ancient tunnel to reach the stone starting point, where the same mechanism that was used in antiquity is used to mark the start. A teenage boy, with a red cloak and laurel branch crown on his head, sounds a long horn before each race.

With the Isthmian Games, the Nemean Games were held both the year before and the year after the Ancient Olympic Games and the Pythian Games in the third year of the Olympiad cycle. They are known to have existed only since the 6th century BC (from 573 BC, or earlier).

The winner of each race has a ribbon tied around the head and a branch of palm — as in antiquity. At the end of the day, each winner receives a crown of wild celery just as happened at Nemea more than 2300 years ago.

Spectators, including those who have already run or who will run later, are scattered around the stadium. Some sit on the few stone seats that exist, others on modern chairs, but most sit on rugs or blankets strewn on the sloping sides of the stadium just as was the ancient custom.

Nemea is steeped in ancient history. The 2,300-year-old Temple of Zeus stands next to the track and a museum built at the site.

If you liked this photo-story, please click on the ♥ below to recommend it to your friends, and follow us to catch the next one. Thanks!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

If you have any corrections, ideas, or even profanities to share, feel free to email us info@athenslive.gr