Excavations were
carried out North and West of the Bath (Grid Sections H 18 and
I 17). Among the discoveries was a massive layer of debris,
brought here as landscaping fill to raise the floor level of the
Bath in the later 4th century B.C.
Fig. 99-2. Block grooved for rafters
from the Early Temple of Zeus
with cement left in spaces between now-perished wood (inv. no.
A 451).
The debris
consisted largely, perhaps exclusively, of broken blocks and tiles
from the Early Temple of Zeus that had been destroyed already
in the late 5th century B.C. New information about that
Archaic structure and its history included the use of cement in
the bedding of the tiles of its roof, and the fact that the building
had been destroyed by an intense fire that was, however, confined
to a part of the structure. The debris also produced fragments
of terracotta lion's head water spouts.
Fig. 99-3. Fragments of Corinthian
cover tiles from the Early Temple of Zeus
showing degrees of burning (inv. nos. AT 510, 486, 504, 488).
Fig. 99-4. Fragments of terracotta
lion's head spouts
(inv. nos. AT 464 + AT 461).
A
test trench immediately north of the Bath and beneath this debris
in Section I 17 produced substantial quantities of pottery of
the Geometric period. This is the most intense evidence yet discovered
for activity at Nemea in the 8th century B.C.
Fig. 99-5. Geometric skyphos (inv.
no. P 1640).
Removal of the debris in Section
H 18 revealed more of the white clay surface that has tentatively
been identified as the track of the Early Stadium of the Nemean
Games.
Fig. 99-6. White clay layer in
Grid Section H 18, from Southeast, with robbing trench at left.
(Return to 2000 news)
The discovery
of the robbing trench which would be appropriate for the early
starting blocks found in 1997 lends credence to the Early Stadium
identification.
Fig. 99-7. Examples of the single-foot-groove
starting blocks of Archaic date
discovered reused as cover-slabs for the drain of the late 4th
century Bath (inv. nos. A 402, A 401).
(Return to 2000 news)
At
the western side of the excavations, in Section E 18, the search
for the ancient hippodrome was frustrated, but a fragment of a
bronze Corinthian helmet was the first piece of defensive armor
discovered at Nemea in 27 years. A fundamental difference
between Olympian Zeus and Nemean Zeus comes into focus.
Fig. 99-8. Fragment of nose guard
of Corinthian helmet (inv. no. BR 1467).
Section
E 18 did reveal a well-preserved stretch of water channel protected
by Corinthian cover tiles exactly like that which feeds the Bath.
Fig. 99-9. Water channel sloping
down toward West in E 18, from Southwest.
(Return to 2000 news)
At
the extreme western side of the area excavated in 1999, the water
channel drops down to run beneath a wall constructed of large
ashlar blocks.
Fig. 99-10. Walls at western edge
of Grid Section E 18, from South.
(Return to 2000 news)
This
and another wall parallel to it were discovered at the end of
the excavation season; plan, purpose and date are still unknown.
Inside the wall, however, were found several dozen lamps
of the 3rd century after Christ.
Fig. 99-11. Terracotta lamp with
Athena in disc, 3rd century after Christ (inv. no. L 269).
(Return to 2000 news)
(Return to 2002 news)
Non-excavation
activities included the establishment of an educational display
in the ancient Bath where paths are marked with drawings of the
reconstructed rooms and explanatory texts for each.
Fig. 99-12. East room of Bath,
from East.
Reconstruction
of two columns on the northern side of the Temple of Zeus began,
and by the end of 1999 one had reached the mid-point with six
column drums set back in place while the other had two. Both
should be finished and united with their epistyle by the end of
April, 2000.
Fig. 99-13. Temple of Zeus, from
Northwest, November 29, 1999.
(Return to 2000 news)
The commencement
of the temple reconstruction and the announcement of the Second
Nemead on June 3-4, 2000, was marked by a visit from the President
of Greece, Kostantinos Stephanopoulos, together with the Minister
of Culture and many other dignitaries.
Fig. 99-14. L-R: Lila Mendone
(Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture); Elissaveth Spathari
(Ephoros of Antiquities); Kostantinos Stephanopoulos (President
of Greece); and Elissavaeth Papazoe (Minister of Culture) examine
the model of the Stadium in the Nemea Museum as explained by Stephen
Miller (Director of the Excavations).
Update on Excavations: 2000
(To Top)
Three different
activities took place in 2000 at the eastern end of the Temple
of Zeus. The first of these was the continuation of the
reconstruction of two columns on the northern side of the 4th-century
temple (see above, Fig. 99-13).
Fig. 00-1. Temple of Zeus from
the Southwest with 1 1/2 newly re-erected columns
joining the always-standing three, December 18, 2000.
Since the foundations
of the 4th-century temple are not a solid mass, it was possible
to make probes in the open areas between the foundations in an
attempt to recover the plan of the early 6th-century temple.
Fig. 00-2. Probing into the gaps
of the foundations of the 4th-century temple
at its eastern end.
These probes revealed
a clear line of the eastern front of the Early Temple of Zeus,
and substantial evidence for the other three sides of the building.
Fig. 00-3. First step (in middle)
at southeast corner
of the Early Temple of Zeus seen between 4th-century
foundations, from East, with the return of the inner face
of the south wall of the early temple.
The result
is that the overall size of the Early Temple of Zeus can be estimated
as 9.80 x 35.60 m., with a longitudinal axis that lay parallel
to but south of that of the fourth century temple.
Fig.00-4. Plan of the 4th-century
Temple of Zeus with the area of the Early Temple
of Zeus indicated in yellow.
(Return to 2001 news)
The third area
of work was in front of the temple (Section L 12, see Fig.
99.1) where massive debris of the Early Temple of Zeus had
been used as landscape fill in the late 4th century BC.
Fig. 00-5. Destruction debris east
of the Temple of Zeus during excavation, from Southeast.
This debris contained
many fragments of wall blocks with plaster and painted designs.
Fig. 00-6 Fragment of painted block
from the Early Temple of Zeus,
perhaps with the beak of a bird (inv. no. A 458).
Fig. 00-7. Fragment of painted
block from the Early Temple
of Zeus, perhaps with a human eye in profile, looking left
(inv. no. A 475).
These
fragments, plus the complete absence of any trace of sculpture,
suggest that the pediment of the early temple had a painted scene
on a flat surface which may be relevant to the mention by Euripides,
Hypsipyle to ". . . painted images in the pediment.
. ." The debris also produced other artifacts, the
most interesting of which was a bronze leaf of wild celery, the
crown of victory at the Nemean Games.
Fig. 00-8. Leaf of wild celery,
perhaps from the bronze statue
of an Archaic or Early Classical (500-420 BC) victor in the Nemean
Games
(inv. no. BR 1521).
The
removal of the destruction debris/landscape fill revealed a fine
white clay layer that had been the paving in front of the Early
Temple.
Fig. 00-9. White clay paving in
Section L 12 with wheel markings of ancient carts, from North.
Northwest of the Temple of Zeus
a trial trench was opened which produced a small and curious P-shaped
structure, and many coins and arrowheads.
Fig. 00-10. P-shaped
structure with stub of one
orthostate preserved, in Section H 9, from Northwest.
Fig. 00-11. Sample of bronze arrowheads
from Section H 9
(inv. nos. BR 1500, 1501, 1516, 1539, 1540, 1543, and 1546-49).
Fig. 00-12. Sample of coins found
in Section H 9.
(inv. nos. C4874, C4875, C4905, C4930, C 4933 (all Corinth),/
C4929 and C4909 (Corinth), C4940 (Lokris), C4904 (Phokis), C4911
(Megara),/
C4938 (Phalanna), C4946 (Erythrai), C4878 (Achaian League)
C4951 (Herakleia Trachina), C4925 (Eleusis).
Fig. 00-13. Sample of Sikyonian
coins found in Section H 9
(inv. nos. C4936, C4919, C4920, C4935,/ C4945, C4948, C4949, C4950,/
C4915, C4922, C4926).
Fig. 00-14. Sample of Macedonian
coins found in Section H 9
(inv. nos. C4939, C4912, C4923 (all Philip II),/
C4918 and C4916 (Alexander III), C4924 (Pyrrhos).
In
section E 18, an unlined (single-use) well produced material of
the later 4th century BC.
Fig. 00-15. Pottery from well in
Section E 18: P1684 (skyphos), P1681 (jug),
P1672 (one-handled cup), P1677 (jug), P1666 (mug).
Excavations
continued at the Northwest corner of Section E 18 on the structure
first discovered in 1999 (see Fig. 99-10).
This proves to have been a three-chambered reservoir fed
by a water channel from the Bath (see Fig. 99-9).
Fig. 00-16. Three-chambered reservoir
approached
from right by water channel, from Southwest.
(Return to 2001 news)
The
layers at the top of the reservoir once again produced many lamps
of the early 3rd century after Christ (cf. Fig.
99-11).
Fig. 00-17. Terracotta lamp with
Dionysos in disc
(inv. no. L 282).
(Return to 2002 news)
Fig. 00-18. Terracotta lamp with
Eros in disc
(inv. no. L 279).
(Return to 2002 news)
Although
attention was focused on the central chamber, the reservoir was
not completely excavated in 2000.
Fig. 00-19. Reservoir from South
at end of 2000 season.
(Return to 2001 news)
(Return to 2002 news)
The central chamber,
and therefore the flanking ones as well, is more than 5 meters
deep, and bottom has not yet been reached.
Fig. 00-20. Central chamber of
reservoir at end of season.
(Return to 2001 news)
(Return to 2002 news)
Excavations
in Section F 18 revealed more information about the Hero
Shrine of Opheltes. The artificial mound created in
the 6th century BC extends northward far beyond the rectilinear
outlines of the Early Hellenistic enclosure.
Fig. 00-21. Section F 18 from the
Northwest with Early Hellenistic white porous
enclosure wall of Hero Shrine (upper right) and water channel
from the Bath
parallel to the shrine's north wall. The channel cuts through
the Archaic mound.
A trench through the mound showed
that it was constructed over an early mound of, for the moment,
uncertain date.
Fig. 00-22. Section F 18 from Southwest
with Early Hellenistic water channel at lower right.
Scarp at rear shows surfacing layer of dark red clay that covered
horizontal layers of deliberately
deposited earth which, in turn, covered a more vertical slope
of an earlier mound.
Once again, as in 1997
and 1998, it was discovered that each deliberately laid horizontal
layer contained a single complete vessel, apparently part of a
ritual of sanctification.
Fig. 00-23. Discovery of a jug
(P1661) in an artificial layer of the Hero Shrine's mound.
(return to 2002 news)
Fig. 00-24. Four of the vessels
discovered in the horizontal layers of the Hero Shrine
(foreground, conservation by Mr. Photis Demakis).
(return to 2002 news)
On
the west side of the mound of the Hero Shrine, a series of sandy
layers revealed the traces of the hippodrome of the Archaic and
Classical periods.
Fig. 00-25. Layers with chariot
wheel markings
along the west side of the mound of the Hero Shrine, from North.
Early Hellenistic water channel was set more than a century after
the
formation and passes over the layer with the chariot wheel grooves.
(Return to 2001 news)
These
discoveries, plus that of the Early Stadium in 1999 (see Figs.
99.6 and 99.7), suggest that the Hero
Shrine of Opheltes served not only as a religious center for the
early Nemean Games, but also provided slopes for spectators at
those games.
Fig. 00-26. Skematic reconstruction
of Archaic Festival Center at Nemea
with Hero Shrine of Opheltes flanked by hippodrome to left (West)
and early stadium to right.
Update on Excavations: 2001
(To Top)
In
2000 the plan of the Early Temple of Zeus was established (Fig.
00-4), but this plan did not accommodate a wall long visible
at the bottom of the Crypt of the 4th-century Temple and associated
with the Early Temple in publications. In 2001 a small probe carried
out in the Crypt showed conclusively that the wall is not from
the Early Temple, but is a part of the 4th-century building.
Fig. 01-1. Stratigraphy between southern
wall of the 4th-century Crypt and wall further north.
West
of the Temple of Zeus lies the banks of the Byzantine phase of
the Nemea River were dug out and more than a dozen pieces of the
temple were recovered.
Fig. 01-2. Elements of the 4th-century
Temple
recovered from river west of Temple.
The
elongated artificial tumulus/ridge of the infant hero Opheltes
was pursued for more than 100 meters to the north without finding
a definitive end; a total length of about 130 meters can be estimated.
Fig. 01-3. Aerial view of tumulus
with Early Hellenistic enclosure wall around Shrine of Opheltes
in foreground, tumulus/embankment extending northward at least
as far as the small tree with an arrow right (east) of center,
from the south.
The
6th-century mound once again revealed clear indications of ritual
drinking with whole vessels and even sets of vessels carefully
interred.
Fig. 01.4. Bronze oinochoe (BR 1594)
and ceramic skyphoi
in deposit at north end of embankment.
(return to 2002 news)
In the trench
at the northern end of the mound (as far as we uncovered it) was
revealed a north-south curbing wall which seems to be the limit
between the mound on the west and the Early Stadium track on the
east. This is welcome confirmation for our theoretic location
of that early track which was subsequently so damaged and destroyed
by the later river cutting through it.
Fig. 01-5. Curbing wall between
Early Stadium and embankment, from the north.
Several
trenches were excavated along the western side of the mound in
an attempt to locate the hippodrome, that most fugitive of all
Nemean features (see Fig.
00-25). We found clear traces
of chariot tracks in several locations and at several different
levels. Thus, chariots and horses were certainly known in this
area. Unfortunately, we also discovered that the whole area west
of the mound was a flood plain with dozens of layers of sand and
light gravel accumulating over the centuries. Hence, no continuous
flat layer survived that might have preserved wheel ruts over
an extensive horizontal surface. It may be also noted that the
long relatively narrow mound of Opheltes served as a kind of levee
to keep the flood waters away from the Temple.
Fig. 01-6. Wheel ruts in successive
layers of Classical date at western base of tumulus, from south.
The situation
was complicated by the unexpected discovery of yet another starting
line with grooves, like that of the Early Hellenistic Stadium,
for human toes. Although the line is only two blocks long with
space for only two runners, it is clear that no other starting
blocks adjoined these. It seems that we have a practice track
for athletes preparing for the Games in the 4th century.
Fig. 01-7. Starting blocks of Early
Hellenistic date on west side of tumulus
with stratigraphy of artificial tumulus/embankment visible in
scarp behind.
Further to the
west the Reservoir discovered last year (Figs.
00-16, 00-19,
00-20) was
completely excavated.
Fig. 01-8. Aerial view of Reservoir
with aqueduct north of Heroön, and Bath at upper right, from
southwest.
(return to 2002 news)
The discoveries in the
three chambers included drinking vessels, jugs, and amphoras which
appear to have been accidentally dropped into the Reservoir by
thirsty ancients.
Fig. 01-9. Ceramic vessels from the
Reservoir.
(P1702, 1728, 1701, 1694, 1704, 1725, 1727)
(Return to 2002 news)
Three discoveries are of particular
importance. One is a lovely bronze ladle with its curved handle
ending in a duck’s head. This piece is paralleled by one
discovered in Macedonia several years ago (See Themelis
and Touratsoglou,
Oi Tãfoi tou Derben€ou
B26.) The two ladles are so similar in design, workmanship,
and size that they appear to have been made in the same workshop,
perhaps by the same artisan.
Fig. 01-10. Ladle (BR 1578).
(Return to 2002 news)
The
second is a bronze Macedonian helmet of the pilos type (BR 1595)
which is now in the conservation department of the National Museum
in Athens. The third is a bronze finger ring which shows a bearded
male about 40 years old, with extremely carefully articulated
hair. The engraver spent much effort which suggests that the model
was an important figure. Given that the ring went into the reservoir
no later than about 275 B.C. (and perhaps a quarter century earlier),
the portrait must be of someone who lived earlier than that time.
Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, is a clear
candidate for this portrait, and the similarities of the ring
portrait with another suggested portrait of Philip on a gold medallaion
in Paris support this identification.
Fig. 01.11. Portrait of Philip(?)
on finger ring (GJ 146)
(Return to 2002 news)
The
completion of the excavation of the Reservoir showed three compartments
of almost identical size: 2.20 x 2.80 and nearly 8 meters deep.
The total capacity was over 140 m.3 although it is doubtful that
they were ever completely full.
Fig. 01.12. View of reservoir from
north.
(Return to 2002 news)
Indeed,
the carefully worked and set blocks of the walls show no traces
of a plaster lining. Our experience shows that the Reservoir can
work as a well, tapping the water table when it is sufficiently
high. On the other hand, the channel that brought water to the
Reservoir from the Bath shows that it must have been necessary
to augment the water supply during times of drought when the water
table was low.
Fig. 01.13. View into reservoir at
completion of excavation.
(Return to 2002 news)
The purpose
for which the Reservoir was intended is unknown. Obviously a large
and reliable supply of water was wanted, but for what? Given the
other indications in this part of the site, one’s thoughts
turn to horses and the desire to assure the owners of these expensive
animals that their participation in the Nemean Games would not
involve a lack of water for them. A number of bronze and iron
pail handles from the Reservoir document the presence of vessels
of an appropriate size to water horses, but no horse trappings
were found. It appears that, at least for the moment, the purpose
of the Reservoir for supplying the horses competing in the Games
must remain an attractive but unproven theory.
Two major improvements were made for visitors. One was the construction
of ramps for wheelchair access to the museum and to the site.
Fig. 01.14. New ramp to museum entrance.
The second improvement was the installation
of a wooden ceiling in the main exhibition hall of the museum
in order to cut down the harsh echo which was interferring with
lectures to groups of tourists.
Fig. 01.15. New wooden ceiling in
main exhibition hall.
Finally, the end of the year saw an inordinate amount of snow
which gave Nemea a rather different aspect than that to which
we are accustomed.
Fig. 01.16. Sanctuary of Zeus from
the south, December 18, 2001.
Update
on Excavations: 2002
(To
Top)
Although
active excavations at Nemea have been suspended for the immediate
future in anticipation of the Athens Olympics in 2004, preparations
for the expected influx of visitors in 2004 and research and publications
of the discoveries of past years were the focus of the work in
2002.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-1. New exhibit of material
from the Hero Shrine of Opheltes [Peop. 02.3]
In
the display areas of the museum, old exhibits were replaced with
more recently discovered material, such as that from the Shrine
of Opheltes (Fig. 02-1; cf. Figs. 00-23, 00-24,
01-4).
.jpg)
Fig. 02-2. Searching through the
sherds from the Shrine of Opheltes. [Peop. 02.7]
All
of the pottery discovered in the shrine was examined and, where
possible, mended into whole shapes. As a result, it became clear
that more than 90% of the vases were drinking cups or wine pitchers
or kraters.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-3. Recording details from
a mixing krater. [Peop. 02.9]
These
vessels were photographed and, in selected cases, drawn. One particularly
interesting piece was a Corinthian krater with the incisions still
remaining, although most of the paint is gone, from a frieze of
horses-and-riders.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-4. New display case with
material from the reservoirs. [Mus. 02.4]
Another
new display which was necessitated by recent discoveries contains
material from the reservoirs discovered southwest of the Temple
of Zeus (Section E 17, Fig. 99-1; Cf. Figs.
00-19, 00-20, 01-8,
01-12, 01-13). The mass
of material more than filled the case (Figs. 99-11,
00-17, OO-18, 01-9,
01-10, 01-11).
.jpg)
Fig. 02-5. Bronze "pilos"
Macedonian type helmet (BR 1595)
To
this material was added a bronze helmet which had been discovered
in 2001, but was taken to Athens for conservation at the time
of discovery. It now is back with its mates in the new museum
case.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-6. Marble lion's tongue
from sima of Temple of Zeus.
Reorganization
of the storage areas in the museum produced a pleasant surprise
in the form of a tongue that once belonged to the marble sima
that ran along the edge of the roof of the temple. It shows the
wear of the rain water that once ran through the lion's mouth
and over the tongue.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-7. Capital about to be
set on newly re-erected column [TZ 02.7]
The
reconstruction of the two columns on the north side of the Temple
of Zeus continued and a number of important stages were realized.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-8. Temple of Zeus from
the Southeast
after completion of two newly reconstructed columns. [TZ 02.72]
As
our research has shown, the three columns that were erected around
330 B.C. have always stood, but the other columns were systematically
knocked down during the reign of Theodosios II (ca. A.D. 435).
Thus, the three columns now have company after some 1,550 years
of loneliness.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-9. The corpse of Hercules
carried off toward the Temple of Zeus.
One
special event during the summer of 2002 was a production of Handel's
"Hercules" in front of the museum with the Temple of
Nemean Zeus in the background. Despite the fears of the group
and their maestro, David Stern, the music was grand and appropriate
to the setting.
.jpg)
Fig. 02-10. The full moon of July
24, 2002, shines on five columns of the temple.
