NĔGŌTĬĀTŌRES, signified specially during the later times of the
republic Roman citizens settled in the provinces, who lent money
upon interest or bought up corn on speculation, which they sent to
Rome as well as to other places. Their chief business however was
lending money upon interest, and hence we find the words _negotia_,
_negotiatio_, and _negotiari_ used in this sense. The _negotiatores_
are distinguished from the _publicani_, and from the _mercatores_.
The _negotiatores_ in the provinces corresponded to the _argentarii_
and _feneratores_ at Rome.
NĔMEA (νέμεα, νεμεῖα, or νεμαῖα), the Nemean games, one of the four
great national festivals of the Greeks. It was held at Nemea, a
place near Cleonae in Argolis, and is said to have been originally
instituted by the Seven against Thebes in commemoration of the death
of Opheltes, afterwards called Archemorus. The games were revived
by Hercules, after he had slain the Nemean lion; and were from this
time celebrated in honour of Zeus. They were at first of a warlike
character, and only warriors and their sons were allowed to take part
in them; subsequently, however, they were thrown open to all the
Greeks. The various games were horse-racing, running in armour in the
stadium, wrestling, chariot-racing and the discus, boxing, throwing
the spear and shooting with the bow, to which we may add musical
contests. The prize given to the victors was at first a chaplet
of olive-branches, but afterwards a chaplet of green parsley. The
presidency of these games, and the management of them, belonged at
different times to Cleonae, Corinth, and Argos. They were celebrated
twice in every Olympiad, viz. at the commencement of every second
Olympic year, in the winter, and soon after the commencement of every
fourth Olympic year, in the summer.