ANCIENT NEMEA SANCTUARY OF ZEUS SACRED GROVE Planting pits in the Sacred grove to the SE of the Temple of Zeus Surrounding the Temple of Zeus is the Sacred Square which was deliberately left free from large construction in antiquity. This space was called the Epipolia, or open space, according to an inscription found on a boundry stone located nearby. Boundary stone with EPIPOLAS inscription [I 107] This open space contained a few monuments and two wells of considerable archaeological importance. The sacred grove was located southeast and south of the Temple of Zeus according to the twenty three planting pits found in this area. These planting pits were filled with a soft black earth and date to the Archaic and late 4th century BC according to the pottery found in the pits. Analysis of the organic material at the bottom of the pits indicated the presence of either cypress or fir trees, which would agree with Pausanias' 2nd century A.D. report that cypresses grew around the Temple of Zeus.   Early Temple of Zeus Oikoi Houses The Second Temple Kilns Hero Shrine Reconstruction of the Second Temple Xenon Altar of Zeus 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