Bicycle Tour of Peloponnese, Greece,
From Korinth to Olympia
September/October, 2018
Day 3
Route: Loop Ride from Corinth to Ancient Nemea's Temple to Zeus and Hellenic Games Stadium.
History:
Nemea was the Original Home to the Panhellenic Games.
The Panhellenic Games ended about 235 BC,
but the idea of those games eventually led to the Olympics at a place called Olympia [technically pronounced Olymbia in Greek, 'mp' pronounced as 'b'].
Nemea is also where Hercules Performed his First Labor
(Killing the Nemean Lion was for King Eurystheus of Mycenae).
We will visit Mycenae tomorrow.
Heading for Nemea
Above Left: Mounting-up, ready to go, first a tandem selfie.
Above Right: Gulf of Corinth (Mediterranean Sea).
Above Left: Turn right at the church. It seems like there is a church for every ten people in Greece.
Above Right: Red Grapes, probably table grapes. We will initially pass through home gardens and flora.
Above: A tree with pretty yellow flowers, Not Broom Tree.
Above: Called Quinces.
The following from Mari Mariana: The quinces are most aromatic (when cut, a heavenly smell), delicious and sweet with a bit of a tangy taste and a little hard texture. They grow in Europe during the fall, they make a perfect jam.
Above Left: Ripe Olive Tree.
Above Right: Greek countryside.
Above Left: There are many religious votive displays along the roadside of Greece. Most of them have little offerings in them (coins, notes, candles ... every now and then some water bottles for travelers).
Above Right: Greek countryside.
Above Left: Some of the Votives are aged.
Above Right: Older styled stone structure. The cement driveway is out of place, I was thinking that perhaps that was a portion of an old highway.
Above: Our first Greek village and bike ride through it.
Above: Red berry plant, unknown.
Above: This could be Portugal, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Mexico, New Mexico, or Arizona, but it is Greece.
Above Left: Caught a murder of crows in flight, unusual for mid day (usual for early mornings and evenings).
Above Right: Just enjoying the moment - This is Greece.
Above: At first, we saw the temple ruins without realizing that we had quietly arrived at the back end (south end) of the Temple to Zeus at Nemea. We still had to ride a couple kilometers to get around to the north side entrance.
Museum/Museio of the Temple of Zeus, Nemea
Above Left: Here we are standing at the entrance to the Museum (Μουσείο ~ Museio) for the Temple of Zeus. We were getting a description of life in the times of about 500 BC (BCE). Benton Hart's Father (Dale Hart) was an Archeologist in Greece (who originated the Classic Adventures [Greece] Bicycle Tours) and he played a role in the discovery and recovery of the ruins here at Nemea. It was cool having parts of his life shared with us.
Above Right: This is a [damaged] Corinthian Capitol recovered from the Temple of Zeus at Nemea.
Guess what, we're in Corinthia!
Above Left: A drawing of a Corinthian Column Capitol, other Greek column capitol styles are Ionian (plain/flat) and Doric (scroll).
Above Right: One of a few lithographs or sketch copies of the Temple of Zeus (one labeled as the Temple to Jupiter [Roman God]).
Above Left: Original Overhead image of the Temple of Zeus (probably shot in the mid-20th Century). This location was known, its sibling Stadia/Stadium for the Panhellenic Games was known to be held in this area but its location was unknown until a team of Archeologists (to include Dale Hart) discovered/uncovered it in the mid-20th century.
Above Right: A peek of the Temple of Zeus from inside its Museum.
Above Right: This is likely Benton Hart's parents Dale and Dianne Hart uncovering the passageway to the Stadium of the Nemean Games (which we will see in about 2 hours, after lunch). Dale, of course, was a well-known archeologist in these parts (and appreciated for his honest methods).
Above Left: The Starting Line Control (literally a rope line) for the Nemean Games, most of the pieces were found intact. Subsequent games like in Olympia were started in the same or similar fashion. It is important to note that a Lap was run straight to the end of the stadium and straight back (no oval tracks for human runners).
Above Right: A diarama of the Temple grounds back in its day.
This Spirit Tree at the Temple of Zeus, Nemea, Greece
Above: This Spirit Tree at the Temple of Zeus, Nemea, Greece.
Above Left: This Spirit Tree at the Temple of Zeus.
Above Right: A Goddess, Teresa.
The Temple of Zeus, Nemea, Greece
Above: The Temple of Zeus, Nemea, Greece.
Above: All about the Temple of Zeus.
In the 451 AD (CE) Emperor Theodosius, banned all Pagan activity (meaning non-Christian) and allowed for the systematic destruction of ancient artifacts, specifically this one, the Temple of Zeus. Man likely did the major destruction here, similar to what ISIS is presently doing to ancient stone carvings and temples in Asia and the Middle East.
When will man ever learn? - Kingston Trio
Lunch Café
The Stadium of Panhellenic Games at Nemea, Greece
Above Left: Ahead 100 meters.
Above Right: We went left.
Above Left: The layout.
Fun Observation: When English speaking archeologists helped on an expedition, the help placards always had Greek and English translations. If the site was helped by Germans, then the placards would have Greek and German translations. We have been to both types of archeological supported sites.
Above Right: It was windy (Terry is holding the flowers).
Above Left: The Athlete Entry Tunnel. This is the same tunnel as photographed (20 rows up) with Dale and Dianne Hart (Archeologists) in the Museum's Photo. The Olympia stadium (in 7 days) also has a similar entrance tunnel for athletes.
Above Right: Ancient Athlete Grafiti (I was here!).
Above Left: Athlete preparations area, outside of the tunnel.
Above Right: Water lined trough around the stadium.
Above: The Starting Foot Line, a runner's toe had to be placed in each groove and note that the Runners ran naked and only men could compete and women were not allowed to watch the races.
Our bike touring group was lining-up in the Nemean Stadium's Field.
Above Left (L-R): Sharon, Craig, Sarah Hart (Guide), Greg, (Lily-Hidden), Jerry, Don, Linda.
Above Right (L-R): Terry, Sharon, Craig, Sarah (Guide), Greg, (Lily-Hidden), (Don-Hidden), Linda, and Benton Hart (Guide).
Above Left: The field of the stadium/stadia.
Above Right: The Starting Mechanism's Mount.
Above: Hydration Hydraulics.
Note: there was a stream on the other side of the athletes' prep-area and the water was piped or irrigated into the stadium.
Above Left: This is the other end of the Starting Foot Line where mechanisms held the other end of the starting ropes.
Above Right: The far stand is the original judges podium. The near stand has placards from recent Hellenic Games as Nemea served as a kick-off point for those games (officiating and or torch lighting).
Above Left: Athletes Entrance/Exit Tunnel - We're departing. It is remarkable that the tunnel was still intact, albeit buried, for over a century.
Above Right: Saddle-up, move-em out.
The Return Ride by a Different Route from Nemea to Corinth/Korinthos
Above Left: Our first Greek Cemetery sighting.
Above Right: Red Grapes with drip irrigation.
Above Left: The tandem was in motion for the photo, we turned right.
Above Right: What a view.
Above: Passing through another small village. This village has some nice (to us) homes.
Above Left: We are loving Greece. The temperature is in the 90s F/30s C.
Above Right: If this were the USA West, I could tell you what that is, but here in Greece perhaps it is a big drying rack or maybe even a kids fort.
Above Left: Red Grapes.
Above Right: White Grapes (are more sensitive to too much sun and too much heat).
Above Left: Our first view of the Gulf of Corinth.
Above Right: Splitting the grapes.
Above: White Grapes.
Above Left: Cane plant varieties need more moisture than other grasses. We're in the plains and suburbs of Corinth/Korinth/Korinthos.
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![This is a [damaged] Corinthian Capitol, we're in Corinthia!](Greece/P9236159.JPG "This is a [damaged] Corinthian Capitol, we're in Corinthia!")
