so called from Nemea, a village between the cities of Cleonae and Philus, where they were celebrated every third year. The exercises were chariot-races, and all the parts of the Pentathlon. These games were instituted in memory of Opheltes or Archemonus, the son of Enophtes and Creusa, and who was nursed by Hyppipele; who leaving him in a meadow while she went to show the besiegers of Thebes a fountain, at her return found him dead, and a serpent twined about his neck: whence the fountain, before called Langia, was named Archemonus; and the captains, to comfort Hyppipele, instituted these games. Others ascribe their institution to Hercules, after his victory over the Nemean lion. Others allow, that they were instituted first in honour of Archemonus; but intermitted, and revived again by Hercules. The victors were crowned with parsley, an herb used at funerals, and feigned to have sprung from Archemonus's blood. The Argives presided at these games.