Temple Dedicated To Goddess Nemesis Discovered Under Ancient Theater In Greece

Conny Waters - AnientPages.com - A temple dedicated to Goddess Nemesis has been unearthed under an ancient theater in Mytilene, on the northeast island of Lesvos, Greece.

In Greek mythology, Nemesis was a winged goddess of justice and revenge.  Often called "Goddess of Rhamnous", an isolated place in Attica, Nemesis was remorseless, and her name means “to give what is due. She was also known as Adrasteia, meaning "the inescapable".

Justice & Divine Vengeance Pursuing Crime, by Pierre Paul Prud'hon (1759-1823), French Neoclassical painter.

According to AMNA news agency, the remains of the her temple “were found in the south entry passage (parodos), under a series of large limestones. Latest dates show that the theatre had two construction phases, in the Hellenistic era (3rd century BC) and the Roman one (1st century AD). The temple itself dates to the 1st century AD and was identified by a stone altar for offerings and a series of dedicatory inscriptions by priests and prominent personalities.”

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Pavlos Triantafyllides, the leading excavator and head of the Lesvos Ephorate, explained that “the temple's location in southern parodos was not arbitrary, as an arena for gladiator duels was built in the orchestra during Roman times. "As their contests had to conclude with the serving of justice and the awarding of victory to the best gladiator, the existence of a temple to Nemesis was obligatory," Triantafyllidis said.

Ancient ruins of a temple dedicated to Goddess Nemesis. Credit: AMNA 

Nemesis’ cult may have originated at Smyrna, an ancient Greek city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia.

A festival called Nemeseia was held at Athens. Its object was to avert the vengeance of the dead, who were supposed to have the power of punishing the living, if their cult had been in any way neglected. This evolved into a festival giving homage to Adrasteia/Nemesis.

In Rome she was considered the patron Goddess of Gladiators & the Arena, and sacrifices were offered before every bout.

Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Staff Writer