The Plays néméens , celebrated in the sanctuary of Zeus to Némée in Argolide, were according to the tradition founded is by Héraclès after it had killed the Lion of Némée, that is to say by the Seven against Thèbes to commemorate the accidental death of a child, Opheltès, also called Archémore.

The first official plays with Némée were probably celebrated in 573 av. J. - C. and are integrated in the period the second and fourth year of each Olympiad.

The winner gained a wild crown of Céleri expenses.

The stage of Némée exists still today. One can see there the remainders of the tunnel which gave access the stage with Graffiti S of time.

See too

• the public plays in ancient Greece;

• the panhellenic Plays.