Ancient Coin Stories

Kleonai was a small city between Corinth and Argos. However, it was known throughout Greece as the host of the Nemean Games.

Legend has it the city was founded by Kleone, who was the daughter of Pelops. Pelops was a king of Pisa and was venerated for founding the Olympic Games.

Pausanias describes the city as small and mentioned a sanctuary of Athene with a statue by Skillis and Dipoinos, who were apprentices of Daidalos, an ancient craftsman from myth who created wings of wax that enabled him to escape Crete, but his son Ikaros flew too close to the sun and fell to his death when his wings melted.

Pausanias also mentions a memorial to two spectators to the Isthmian Games who were killed on the way there by Herakles, who complained that they had fought against him in a previous war. There is also a temple to Herakles, who is depicted on this coin’s obverse, that may be seen today.

The Nemean Games were held every two years with the Isthmian Games held on the other years. It contained athletic contests, horse races, and eventually a music competition. In Hellenistic times the games were moved to Argos. The prize was a crown of wild celery, which is depicted on their coins. The games per legend were originally founded by Herakles after he killed the Nemean lion.