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Ancient Nemea on EU Heritage Label List
Posted On 20 Jun 2022
Ancient Nemea, Greece. Photo source: European Commission
The archaeological site of Nemea in the Peloponnese received the 2021 European Heritage Label by the European Commission during a two-day event that took place in Brussels earlier in June.
The Commission awarded the European Heritage Label to a total of 12 sites that have played a significant role in the history and culture of Europe and the building of the European Union.
The 2021 European Heritage Label has been awarded to the following sites:
- Archaeological Site of Nemea, Ancient Nemea (Greece)
- Vučedol Culture Museum and Archaeological Site, Vukovar (Croatia)
- Thracian Art in Eastern Rhodopes: Aleksandrovo Tomb, Haskovo (Bulgaria)
- Almadén Mining Park, Almadén (Ciudad Real) (Spain)
- Echternach Saint Willibrord Heritage, Ville d’Echternach (Luxembourg)
- Historic Centre of Turaida, Sigulda (Latvia)
- Medieval wall painting in Gemer and Malohont Regions, Rimavské Brezovo (Slovakia)
- The Oderbruch, Seelow (Germany)
- Palace of the European Commission of the Danube, Galați (Romania)
- Seminaarinmäki Campus, Jyväskylä (Finland)
- Ventotene Manifesto, Ventotene (Italy)
- MigratieMuseumMigration (MMM), Brussels (Belgium)
From top left to bottom right: Historic Centre of Turaida, Sigulda (Latvia), Aleksandrovo Tomb, Haskovo (Bulgaria), Seminaarinmäki Campus, Jyväskylä (Finland), Ventotene (Italy), Palace of the European Commission of the Danube, Galați (Romania), The Oderbruch, Seelow (Germany)
“Cultural heritage is Europe’s soul. These beautiful sites embody our rich history, they are geographical manifestations of who we are. The European Heritage label sites are amongst the greatest gifts Europe has to offer and it is our duty to preserve them at all costs,” said Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel.
Source: @GabrielMariya
The European Heritage Label aims to enhance people’s, and especially young people’s, understanding and appreciation of the European Union’s shared and diverse heritage while contributing.
Independent experts from across Europe recommended the 12 sites out of 21 sites pre-selected by participating member states under the 2021 EU Selection.
Ten years after the launch of this EU initiative in 2011, this sixth selection year brings to 60 the total number of sites holding the European Heritage Label.
Ancient Nemea is the second Greek site to receive a place on the European Heritage Label list. The Acropolis and its surrounding archaeological sites were the first to receive the label in 2014.
How brilliant, and a great vindication of Professor Stephen Miller’s decades of work. He was a Berkeley University Professor of Ancient Archaeology, and discovered the site at Ancient Nemea back in 1974. He worked there – and lived there – until his untimely death last December. That’s 47 years of devotion to Nemea (the site, the people and the stadium, not to mention the Temple of Zeus, nearby). The Modern Nemean Games, created by him (see http://www.nemeangames.org) and held every four years due to the hard work and commitment of the people of Nemea will take place all day this coming Saturday, 25th, with an Opening Ceremony at the Temple of Zeus on Friday evening, 24th June. Bravo Stephen! We will be there, running in your name and in your honour on Saturday. A million thanks to you from all who know and love this ancient site, brought back to life as a result of your longstanding passion and sheer determination.