Mythology
Nemea took its name by Naiad, the daughter of Asopos river.
Ancient Nemea was a very important place because of the famous myth of Hercules and the Nemean Lion.
Σύμφωνα με το μύθο ο Ηρακλής ολοκλήρωσε το πρώτο του άθλο νικώντας το λιοντάρι , και σκοτώνοντας το με γυμνά χέρια καθώς το δέρμα του ήταν φτιαγμένο απο χρυσάφι και κανένα όπλο δεν ήταν ικανό να το διαπεράσει. Κατά την πάλη, το λιοντάρι έγδαρε τον Ηρακλή , και έτρεξε το αίμα του το οποίο έβαψε τα σταφύλια που βρίσκονταν εκεί , δίνοντας τους το χαρακτηριστικό κόκκινο χρώμα που χαρακτηρίζει και κάνει μοναδικό το Νεμεάτικο κρασί.
Nemean games
Nemean games was the athletic games that took place in Nemea in ancient times. These games were established on 573 B.C., as a tribute to Zeus, whose temple was located there. The stadium was 178 meters long and it could have 40.000 viewers. Nemean games, with the athletic and horse-riding games, was one of the most important games of ancient Greece after Pythian games, Olympian games and Isthmian games. At the same name, international athletic games are on after 1996 in the ancient stadium of Nemea.
Ancient Kleones
In Ancient Kleones is located the famous temple of Hercules. It is an ancient temple that it was built in honor of one of the Labors of Hercules, the one against the Nemean Lion. Today it is the start of the foot race of 7.5 km, at the event of the modern Nemean Games. The race is the path that Hercules followed to fight with the lion.