Ancient Nemea Stadium 🏟️

The ancient stadium at Nemea was constructed circa 330 B.C. when the games returned from Argos. This stadium is similar to others constructed during the Early Hellenistic such as the stadia at Olympia and Epidaurus. The southern portion of the stadium was carved into a natural depression between two hills, where as the north was built up using fill material from the excavations to the south.
The stadium was in use as long as the games were held at Nemea which lasted until circa 271 BC. During the Roman and Early Christian periods the stadium was used for non-athletic activities such as farming and herding. After abandonment, the stadium fell into disrepair and was forgotten.
nemeacenter.berkeley.edu/projects/stadium
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium_at_Nemea
According to tradition, the Nemean games began in 573 BC and were conducted every two years, during the second full moon after the summer solstice, in honor of Opheltes, son of King Lycurgus, who died horribly after he was bitten by a snake. Even though in later years Zeus became the protector of the games, they continued to bear their funerary character shown by the black attire of the Hellanodikai (judges) and the pine groove that surrounded the Temple of Zeus. As in the Olympic games, no musical competitions were included in the agonistic programme. Originally the games were controlled by the city-state of Cleonae, but they were later taken over by Argos. The victors in the Nemean games were given a wreath of wild celery, and the right to free food in Athens for life.
fhw.gr/olympics/ancient/en/otherg_nemea.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemean_Games