The Peterson Museum serves as an educational showplace of Greek archaeology. It came about as the result of UC’s desire to make available to the public the results of the excavations at Nemea, as well as to provide a study and research center to students and scholars. To that end, Professor Stephen Miller spearheaded a fundraising effort to build the museum. The Peterson Museum, named after its major donor, Mr. Rudolph A. Peterson, was constructed by the University of California, and given to the Greek State in 1984. Although the Greek Government pays for the Museum’s utilities and the cleaning of the public areas, the Nemea Center’s continues to provide funds, to maintain the museum collections as well as to assist in the maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
The Museum area that is open to the public includes, in addition to artifacts from all over the site, a display of early views of the Temple of Zeus and visitors to Nemea; models of the Pan-Hellenic Sanctuary of Zeus in 300 B.C. and 500 AD, with the Basilica constructed over Xenon, and the Early Hellenistic Stadium; photographs, drawings, and explanatory text that reveal the history and activities of the archaeological site; and Neolithic and Bronze Age materials from various sites in and around Nemea, including the cemetery of Aidonia.
The Museum section not open to the public, to which UC has access priority, is the main storage and research workroom and the Thomas J. Long Study Room. These areas provide an excellent research facility that includes, storage area for the thousands of artifacts not on display, office/drafting space, a research library, a dark room, and a conservation laboratory.
Access:
For further details and pictures of the Museum please refer to: http://shelton.berkeley.edu/nemeaexcav//nemeamuse2.htm.