so called from Nemea, a place situated between the cities of Cleone and Philus, where they were celebrated every third year. The exercises consisted of chariot-races, and all parts of the pentathlum. These games were instituted in memory of Opheltes or Archemorus, the son of Euphletes and Creusa, nursed by Hypsipyle, who, leaving him in a meadow whilst she went to show the besiegers of Thebes a fountain, found him dead on her return, and a serpent twined about his neck; and hence the fountain, before called Lasiqia, was named Archemorus, and these games were instituted to comfort Hypsipyle. Some, however, ascribe their institution to Hercules, after his victory over the Nemean lion; whilst others think that they were instituted first in honour of Archemorus, but intermitted, and afterwards revived again by Hercules. The victors were crowned with parsley, an herb used at funerals, and fabled to have sprung from Archemorus's blood. The Argives presided at these games.