ANCIENT NEMEA SANCTUARY OF ZEUS EARLY TEMPLE OF ZEUS Aerial view of the second Temple of Zeus   Beneath the Temple of Zeus there was an earlier temple, constructed in the first part of the 6th century, probably around the start of the biennial games in 573 B.C. This temple was violently destroyed in the late 5th century, when a pitched battle at Nemea destroyed most of the sanctuary of Zeus. Since the 4th century temple was built directly over the ruins of the early temple, the only element that is visible today is a foundation wall in the floor of the 4th century crypt. Based on other remains, it appears that the temple had a hipped roof of Corinthian tiles, decorated with antefixes and palmette-shaped ridge akroteria.   The Second Temple Oikoi Houses Reconstruction of the Second Temple Kilns Hero Shrine Altar of Zeus Xenon Sacred Grove Bath Top of Page   All materials from this site are copyrighted. Materials may be used with permission upon request. This web site was designed and developed by Susannah L. Van Horn; please direct comments and inquiries to: nemeaucb@berkeley.edu