ANCIENT NEMEA EARLY HELLENISTIC STADIUM KRYPTE ESODOS (STADIUM TUNNEL) Reconstruction of athlete entering stadium from the Krypte Esodos   The Krypte Esodos was the tunnel which allowed contestants to enter the stadium from the locker room, or Apodyterion. The tunnel is 36.35 meters long and is an example of a true vaulted arch that dates to approximately 320 BC. This tunnel allowed these athletes to make a dramatic entry onto the field of competition, and also served to separate them from the distractions of the crowd as they were about to take the field. Similar structures are found at other Early Hellenistic stadia such as Olympia and Epidaurus.  Graffiti scratched by athletes were found on the walls of this tunnel. In one case an anonymous athlete wrote "AKROTATOS KALOS" or "Akrotatos is beautiful." At some point after this inscription another athlete wrote his opinion on the subject by saying "TOU GRACANTOS" or "to the guy who wrote it!" Another block shows the name of Telestas, a victor in the boxing at Olympia ca. 340 B.C. and, above, the verb NIKV -- "I WIN!"   Dromos (running surface) Apodyterion (locker room) Theatron (seating) Stadium Home Page 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