Temple of Nemean Zeus - Ancient Nemea
Thoughts: Looking at the ethereal heavens I was reminded that Ancient Greek temples where generally astrologically oriented towards the rising sun
By Alexios Demos on March 9, 2020
Marble Drums & Milky Way | Archaeological Site of Nemea | Nemea | © Copyright 2021 Alexios Demos
Indicative Information | Tickets Full: €6, Reduced: €3 | Visiting Times Summer: 08:00 -20:00 | Ancient Nemea, Nemea (Prefecture of Korinthia) Postcode: 20500 | More info call +302746024303 / 2746024303
Three columns have survived from the original Temple of Nemean Zeus (330 BC) with an ongoing reconstruction project going on that has added to the original three another two columns in 2002 and four in 2012 (9/34 original visible columns).
“In this photo we witness a column on the ground, it reminds me of a sliced marble salami and highlights the construction process where these segments (“marble drums”) were held together with wood (and then metal) pegs.”
The climate in Nemea (357m above sea level) is especially mild and the mountainous landscape creates the perfect “pocket” for cultivating grapes.
Temple of the Nemean Zeus - Ancient Nemea
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Three columns have survived from the original Temple of Nemean Zeus (330 BC) with an ongoing reconstruction project going on that has added to the original three another two columns in 2002 and four in 2012 (9/34 original visible columns). In this photo we witness a column on the ground, it reminds me of a sliced marble salami and highlights the construction process where these segments (“marble drums”) were held together with wood (and then metal) pegs. It was the love and devotion of the American professor Dr. Stephen Miller from UC Berkeley who started the extensive excavation on the site of Ancient Nemea in 1973 who was subsequently able to secure the private donations necessary that finally led to these columns being re-erected as well as constructing an archaeological museum on the site (1984). Dr. Miller was very fortunate as today he lives in Nemea with his Greek American wife and still visits the continuing archaeological work.
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Looking at the ethereal heavens I was reminded that Ancient Greek temples where generally astrologically oriented towards the rising sun (predominant east-west alignment). Recently a study (2015) concerning the Greek temples in the UNESCO site in Agrigento, Sicily has proposed that on that specific site there are temples aligned to the moon and the constellations which is unusual and made me ponder how ancient architects looked at the night sky for inspiration of the divine structures they designed. *Disclaimer: I “made” this photo it would look exactly like this but ideally, you would have to photograph the Milky Way in July (it wouldn’t be visible in Greece in January), the night pollution in Ancient Nemea is minimal and you would have to get permission to be on the site at night and for the temple not to be lit temporarily! I hope I can secure permission in the future!
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Date of Visit: Jan 10, 2020 Weather Conditions: Noon visit on a wonderful winter Friday – The climate in Nemea (357m above sea level) is especially mild and the mountainous landscape creates the perfect “pocket” for cultivating grapes. Today many producers create excellent robust red wine based on the Greek grape variety "Agiorgitiko"
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