Nemea is a land of legends and traditions. It was the home land of the Nemean Lion, slayed by the legendary Hercules. The Nemean lion was a vicious monster that lived in a cave on mount Triton. Hercules trapped the beast and then killed it with his club. The archaeological site is located on the foothill of the mountains of Arcadia, 333 meters above sea level. The strategic location of Nemea and its climate were the reason that the Panhellenic Games of Nemean were held in the region. During the winter, the region was turned into a swamp, during the summer though it was the ideal place to practice sports. The most significant monuments of the Archaeological Site of Nemea are the temple of Zeus and the Stadium. Since Nemea did not have residents, the management of the games belonged initially to Cleonae and then to Argos.

The Stadium at the Archaeological Site of Nemea

The Ancient Stadium of Nemea was constructed 400 m. southeast of the temple of Zeus in Nemea and had a sitting capacity for 40.000 visitors. The American School of Classical Studies (University of California) conducted excavations at the Stadium in 1974-1981. The excavations were headed by the professor St. Miller.