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NEMEA

Greek Name

Νεμεα Νεμεια

Transliteration

Nemea, Nemeia

Latin Spelling

Nemea

Translation

Of Nemea (town)

NEMEA was the Naiad-nymph of the springs of the town of Nemea in Argolis (southern Greece). She was a daughter of the local river-god Asopos.

Nemea was probably identical to Pandeia, a daughter of Zeus and Selene, and Langia, the nymph of the town's spring.

PARENTS

[1.1] ASOPOS (Pausanias 2.15.3 & 5.22.6)
[2.1] ZEUS & SELENE (Scholiast on Pindar's Nemean Ode)

ENCYCLOPEDIA

NE′MEA (Nemea), a daughter of Asopus, from whom the district of Nemea between Cleonae and Phlius in Argolis was said to have received its name. (Paus. ii. 15. § 3, v. 22. § 5.)

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES

Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 15. 3 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) :
"The land [of Nemea in Argolis] was named, they say, after Nemea, who was another daughter of Asopos (Asopus)."

Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 22. 6 :
"The Phliasians [Sikyonians] also dedicated [statues at the shrine of Olympia in Elis] a Zeus, the daughters of Asopos, and Asopos himself. Their images have been ordered thus: Nemea is the first of the sisters, and after her comes Zeus seizing Aigina (Aegina); by Aigina stands Harpina."

Plutarch, Life of Alcibiades 16. 5 (trans. Perrin) (Greek historian C1st to C2nd A.D.) :
"Aristophon painted Nemea [goddess of the town of Nemea] with Alkibiades (Alcibiades) [an historical Athenian statesman] seated in her arms; whereat the people were delighted, and ran in crowds to see the picture."

According to the Scholiast on Pindar's Nemean Odes Nemea was a daughter of Zeus and the moon-goddess Selene.