Nemea in the ancient sources

Ancient Sources / Figures / Nemea

18 passages from 4 ancient authors that tell of Nemea, in the original with English translation, author by author in the order the Greeks read them. Nemea is an ancient site in the Peloponnese in Greece, which provided the setting for one of the Labours of Heracles, in ancient Greek mythology. The ... For the story in one place, read our article on Nemea.

Pindar (8)

Pindar, Isthmian Odes 6.1–75Isthmian 6: for Phylacidas — Heracles and TelamonPindar mixes a second bowl of song for the house of Lampon after the pancratium victory of Phylacidas. He tells how Heracles, as Telamon's guest, prayed to Zeus for a son and Zeus sent an eagle, so that the child was named Aias, and how Heracles sailed with Telamon against Troy and killed Laomedon and his sons. He ends with the victories of Phylacidas, Pytheas and their uncle Euthymenes, who has won at the Isthmus and Nemea.
Pindar, Olympian Odes 13.1–115Olympian 13: for Xenophon — Corinth and BellerophonPindar praises Corinth and the house of Xenophon, victor in the foot-race and pentathlon, and asks who first invented the dithyramb and the bridle. He tells of the Corinthian heroes of the Argo and of Troy, and how Bellerophon slept at Athena's altar, was given the golden bridle and tamed Pegasus at the spring of Peirene. The ode ends with the list of the family's victories at the Isthmus and Nemea and a prayer to Zeus.
Pindar, Nemean Odes 3.1–84Nemean 3: for Aristocleides — the Aeacidae and CheironPindar calls on the Muse to come to Aegina for the pancratiast Aristocleides, and says that victory in the contest heals its blows. He recalls the Aeacidae: Peleus, who took Iolcus and won the sea-nymph Thetis, Telamon, who followed Heracles against Laomedon, and Achilles, whom Cheiron trained in all the arts of a hero. The ode ends with the virtues that suit each age of life.
Pindar, Nemean Odes 6.1–69Nemean 6: for Alcimidas — the Bassidae and AchillesPindar says that men and gods have one mother yet differ in power, and praises Alcimidas of Aegina, boys' wrestling victor, and his grandfather Praxidamas, who had won at Olympia. He praises the clan of the Bassidae and tells how Achilles, in the contest with Memnon, son of Dawn, killed him in battle.
Pindar, Olympian Odes 8.1–88Olympian 8: for Alcimedon — Aeacus and the walls of TroyPindar hails Olympia and praises Alcimedon of Aegina, boys' wrestling victor, and the justice of Aegina. He tells how Aeacus helped Poseidon and Apollo to build the wall of Troy: three serpents leapt at it and the one that entered it foretold the fall of Troy at the hands of Aeacus' descendants. The ode ends with Alcimedon's family, his father Iphion and his dead kinsmen.
Pindar, Nemean Odes 2.1–25Nemean 2: for Timodemus — the Homeridae and AjaxPindar compares the Homeridae, who begin their songs with Zeus, to Timodemus of Acharnae, who has begun his victories at Nemea in the pancratium and may hope for the Isthmian and Pythian crowns. He recalls how Hector heard of Ajax at Troy, notes that Acharnae is famous for its heroes, and that the sons of Timodemus are pre-eminent in contests.
Pindar, Nemean Odes 4.1–96Nemean 4: for Timasarchus — Peleus and ThetisPindar says that good cheer and song heal the toil of contests and praises Timasarchus of Aegina, boys' wrestling victor. He recalls Teucer, who rules in Cyprus, Ajax at Salamis, and Peleus, who wedded Thetis, one of the Nereids, and saw the gods promise sovereignty to his line. He promises to raise a monument of song for the victor's uncle Callicles.
Pindar, Isthmian Odes 5.1–63Isthmian 5: for Phylacidas — the Aeacidae at TroyPindar addresses Theia, mother of the Sun, and praises Phylacidas of Aegina, pancratium victor, and his brother Pytheas, and says that the Isthmus and Nemea have given them two-fold fame. He asks who it was that fought Hector, Memnon and Telephus, and answers that they were the Aeacidae of Aegina. The ode ends with the praise of Pytheas and a garland for him.

Diodorus Siculus (1)

Diodorus Siculus, Library of History, Books 4 to 6 (the Greek myths) 4.11.1–4.13.4Heracles' labours I: the first sevenHera sends a frenzy on Heracles, and in it he shoots his children by Megara; when he recovers he goes to serve Eurystheus. The chapters give the labours of the Nemean lion, the Lernaean hydra, the Erymanthian boar (with the fight against the Centaurs at the cave of Pholus), the golden-horned hind, the Stymphalian birds, the stables of Augeas, and the Cretan bull.

Pausanias (5)

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2.15.1–5Cleonae and Nemea; Mycenae and the early Argive legends of Inachus and PhoroneusOn the road to Argos Pausanias describes Cleonae, with its Athena by Scyllis and Dipoenus and the tomb of Eurytus and Cteatus, and the Nemean region: the lion’s cave, the temple of Nemean Zeus, the grave of Opheltes and Mount Apesas. He then begins the Argive legends, covering Inachus, the dispute of Poseidon and Hera over the land, and Phoroneus, who first gathered mankind.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.4.1–11Olympia: Sostratus, Leontiscus, Chilon and King ArchidamusPausanias lists statues of the pancratiast Sostratus, nicknamed Acrochersites for bending his opponents' fingers, and the wrestler Leontiscus, made by Pythagoras of Rhegium. He quotes the inscription of Chilon of Patrae, who died in battle, and mentions an unlabelled statue said to be Aristotle. He also records the statue of the Spartan king Archidamus, the only Spartan king known to have gone unburied, and the victor Ergoteles of Himera, originally a Cretan.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.3.1–16Olympia: victor statues and the statue of LysanderPausanias continues along the statues at Olympia with athletes from Sicyon, Elis, Lepreus, Aegira and Caulonia, naming the sculptors and their teachers. He discusses the date of the victor Oebotas and the Greek tradition that he fought at Plataea, which Pausanias reports without believing. The section ends with the statue of the Spartan Lysander dedicated by the Samians, with its two inscriptions, and a remark on how the Ionians flattered whoever held power.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.1.1–8Olympia: statues beside the temple of HeraPausanias begins his survey of the statues at Olympia, explaining that he will name only victors of real fame or statues of good workmanship. On the right of the temple of Hera he lists statues of Elean, Arcadian and Spartan athletes, including Troilus, who won chariot victories while serving as umpire, and Cynisca, daughter of Archidamus, with her chariot group by Apelles. He also records the Spartan chariot victor Anaxander and Polycles, who won at Olympia, Pytho, the Isthmus and Nemea.
Pausanias, Description of Greece 6.15.1–10Olympia: Clitomachus, Caprus and royal statuesPausanias lists statues of victors from Mitylene, Lepreus, Elis, Chios and Erythrae, and of rulers including Hiero of Syracuse, Demetrius and Antigonus, Areus and Ptolemy. He describes Clitomachus of Thebes, who won boxing and pancratium on the same day at the Isthmus, and the Elean Caprus, who won wrestling and the pancratium on the same day at Olympia. He also mentions Eutelidas of Sparta, victor in the only boys' pentathlum, and Gorgus of Elis, with four pancratium victories.

Bacchylides (4)

Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 9.1–104Ode 9: Automedes of Phlius, pentathlon at NemeaThe poet calls on the Graces to help him sing of Phlius and of Nemea, where Hera reared the lion that Heracles was to overcome and the Argive heroes held the first games in memory of Archemorus. He praises Automedes, who outshone his rivals in the pentathlon, and sings the river Asopus and its daughters, the brides of gods. The middle of the ode is restored from fragments. It ends with the city that Zeus granted to the people of Phlius and with Automedes, son of Timoxenus.
Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 12.1–14.23Odes 12–14: Pytheas of Aegina and the Aeacidae; Cleoptolemus of ThessalyOde 12 asks Cleio to guide the poet to Aegina and to a wrestler's victory at Nemea, but only its opening survives. Ode 13, for Pytheas of Aegina, shows Heracles, the descendant of Perseus, mastering the Nemean lion, praises Aegina and her heroes Peleus, Telamon, Achilles and Ajax, and tells how Achilles' anger let the Trojans drive the Greeks to their ships until Ajax stopped Hector. It ends with praise of the trainer Menander and of the host Lampon. Ode 14 reflects that fortune can crush or exalt a man before honouring Cleoptolemus of Thessaly and the domain of Poseidon Petraios.
Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 6.1–8.32Odes 6–7: Lachon of Ceos, boys' foot-race at OlympiaOde 6 survives only as its end, honouring Lachon, son of Aristomenes, whose swift feet won the boys' foot-race and brought renown to Ceos. Ode 7 greets the sixteenth day of the month at Olympia, which gives judgment on speed and strength. A further passage tells of Lachon's wins at Pytho, Nemea and the Isthmus and thanks Zeus for the wreath of Aetolian olive he won beside the Alpheus.
Bacchylides, Epinicians (Odes of Victory) 10.1–56Ode 10: Aglaos of Athens, foot-races at the IsthmusFame carries news of victory to all men, and the poet's song, commissioned by Aglaos' sister's husband, brings the runner's renown to Athens. It describes the start and second dash of his race at the Isthmus and the cheering crowd, and lists his wins at the Isthmus, at Nemea and in other cities. The poet then reflects on the many paths to distinction and on the power of riches, and turns to the festal joy that follows a victory.