STEPHEN MILLER

                                              

 

Stephen G. Miller, the archaeologist who discovered the ancient stadium of Nemea, in the Peloponnese, and devoted his life to the revival of the Nemean Games passed away at the age of 79.

 

“With the loss of Stephen Miller, archaeology research has lost a great dedicated scientist, while Greece has lost a great friend,” said the Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni describing him as a man of scientific brilliance, humanity, and progressive thinking.

 

The University of California at Berkley, Classics professor dedicated his life to ancient Nemea.  Born in Indiana in 1942, Miller served as the director of the American  School of Classical Studies at Athens from 1982 to 1987 and as the head of excavations at ancient Nemea, under the auspices of UC Berkley for five decades.

Expressing his sorrow for the loss, US Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey Pyatt said Miller had “dedicated his life to deepening our understanding of Greek sport and strengthening the academic and people-to-people ties between the United States and Greece.

As director of the excavations at Nemea, in the early 1970s, Miller and his team uncovered the sanctuary of Zeus and the ancient stadium of Nemea, constructed around 330 BC.  Later in 1994, he set up the Society for the Revival of the Neman Games, and two years later the first contemporary Nemean Games took place.

 

“Stephen was an American Philhellene in the true sense of the word and we hope that his memory will live eternally through his important contribution in the field of archaeology and in the hearts of many people he touched,” said Pyatt.

 

Besides his overall contribution to archaeology and to Nemea, Miller published several books and scholarly articles.

He was rewarded for his work in 2005 with the title of the Great Commander of the Order of Honour and named an honorary Greek citizen.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotskis highlighted the decisive role Miller played not only in bringing then Nemean antiquities to light but also of raising awareness of the Nemean Games and sport.

 

“Stephen Miller deeply loved the people and culture of Modern Greece. He became “Stephanos” from Stephen long before he was honorary awarded the Greek citizenship in 2005.  We bid farewell to one of our own,” said Mr. Mitsotakis.  

PLEASE BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID - 19 SO THAT YOUR BELOVED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, THE WORD AND YOU WILL BE HEALTHY AND SAFE