Starting Line (Balbis)

View looking east at the southern starting line of the track.  Athletes gripped the ridges in the stones with their toes in order to assist them in their starts.

The small square hole just below center was one of several carved in the stones.   Vertical pieces of wood were place in these, and they in turn supported two strings (one knee and the other waist high) that ran the length of the balbis.  There were used to help eliminate “false starts” by the runners.

 

For a map and introductory comments on the stadium at Nemea Click Here.