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ANCIENT NEMEA

SANCTUARY OF ZEUS

THE SECOND TEMPLE

Columns of the Temple of Zeus from the West

 

The columns that still stand at Nemea belong to the Temple of Zeus that was constructed about 330 B.C. over the remains of the Early Temple. This temple stands at the end of the development of the Classical Doric temple, and foreshadows Hellenistic architectural forms. Hence the exterior columns are extraordinarily thin in proportion to their height.

Restored Ground Plan of the Temple of Zeus at Nemea, from B.H. Hill, The Temple of Zeus at Nemea (Princeton 1966) pl.XXIII

The plan displays an exterior colonnade with a canonical 6 columns on the short ends, but only 12 (rather than the Classical 13) on the long ends. The eastern facade was equipped with an approach ramp which is characteristic of the period. The rear porch (opisthodomos) typical of the Doric Temple is absent, and the interior had a Corinthian colonnade on three sides of the cella. Above was an Ionic colonnade so that all three architectural orders were present in the building.

Drawing of Corinthian Capital and Column from interior of the Temple of Zeus, from B.H. Hill, The Temple of Zeus at Nemea (Princeton 1966) pl.XXIII

 

At the back end of the cella, behind the Corinthian colonnade, a sunken crypt was approached by stone stairs. This was probably the site of a local oracle.

Cella of the Temple of Zeus from the East and above.

The carving -- both of the Corinthian capitals and especially of the Pentelic marble sima -- finds parallels with the Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea which has led scholars to suggest an influence from that temple, built under the supervision of Skopas of Paros, and the Temple of Zeus at Nemea.

 

Drawing of Sima from B.H. Hill, The Temple of Zeus at Nemea (Princeton 1966) Plate XVII.

 

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This web site was designed and developed by Susannah L. Van Horn; please direct comments and inquiries to: nemeaucb@berkeley.edu