{"id":2064,"date":"2016-05-10T19:43:03","date_gmt":"2016-05-10T23:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=2064"},"modified":"2018-01-28T14:39:20","modified_gmt":"2018-01-28T19:39:20","slug":"kerameikos-cemetery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=2064","title":{"rendered":"Kerameikos Cemetery"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 \u00a0Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Having visited Athens on many occasions, I have seen the Acropolis, more than once, as well as\u00a0many of the archaeological sites\u00a0throughout the city. \u00a0After a bit of research, I discovered one archaeological site that I had not explored\u00a0on my other sojourns…Kerameikos, the thirty\u00a0centuries old cemetery located on the northwest fringe of the city.<\/p>\n

Hurrying through my impromptu church tour, I wanted\u00a0to enter\u00a0the cemetery before it’s early closing at 3:00 pm due to the Holy Week schedule. \u00a0Having read many good things about the cemetery, I was determined to arrive with enough time to visit both the grounds and the museum.<\/div>\n
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Easy to reach, by walking the length of Ermou Street or via the metro (Keramiekos station, line 3), Kerameikos is just past the Monistiraki Flea Market and the Ancient Agora. \u00a0Near the end of Ermou, there is signage pointing you in the correct direction and you can actually gaze upon the ruins below though the gates while walking to the entrance.<\/div>\n
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\"image\"<\/a>\u00a0After paying my entrance fee of 2 euro, I made my way to the neo-classical styled museum. \u00a0Informed by the ladies in the ticket office that the museum would take about 40 minutes, I started first by inspecting the statuary located outside under the portico, then finally moving in to the interior. \u00a0Here, there is a vast display of burial-related artifacts, including marble sculptures, funerary urns, pottery, jewelry and toys. \u00a0Most notable is the stunning bull, in the interior courtyard, from the tomb of Dionysios of Kollytos. \u00a0A large number of original burial monument sculptures and grave markers are displayed at\u00a0the museum in the outer courtyard, with plaster replicas replacing in them in their original sites.<\/div>\n
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Museum entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Statuary on the portico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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From the tomb of Dionysios of Kollytos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Grave markers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The immense number of grave markers, located just outside of the museum are small and plain and not quite what one would expect in a graveyard, resembling more of an ancient road marker or small sign post. \u00a0These stark gravestones\u00a0resulted from a a decree in 317 BC that prohibited more elaborate monuments, such as those with statues, that were\u00a0in vogue at the time. \u00a0After passing the grave markers while exiting the museum, I moved out to the paths that clearly define and move you throughout the site.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The ancient district of Kerameikos was located within the city walls of Athens with many ceramic workshops in the area. \u00a0The outside part of Kerameikos served as the burial grounds. \u00a0Located within Kerameikos was the Sacred Gate, and the start of the Sacred Way, or Iera Odos, which connected Athens with Eleusus and used by the many pilgrims traveling between the two cities during the procession of Panathenia. \u00a0The Dipylon Gate, the main entrance to the city, was\u00a0the spot where Pericles gave his most notable speech honoring those who died in the first year of the Peloponesian war. \u00a0State graves were built on either side of the Dipylon Gate, for Athens notable warriors and statesmen, including Pericles and Cleisthenes. \u00a0The Dipylon Gate was also the starting point of the ancient Dromos (Road) leading to the Platonic\u00a0Academy.<\/div>\n
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Sacred Gate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Road to the Platonic Academy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The Pompeion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Pompeion, the preparation site for the Panathenaic procession in honor of Athena, was located between the Sacred Gate and the Dipylon Gate. \u00a0The original building was destroyed in 88 BC during the conquest and plundering of Athens and the Building of the Warehouses replaced it in the 2nd Century AD. \u00a0The Eridanos river which once passed through the Sacred Gate still flows beneath the site, having been covered over since the Roman period.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

On the Street of Tombs, replicas of gravestones of some of the most prominent citizens of Athens, can be seen here. \u00a0These graves were part of the public graveyard and these notable citizens were buried here at the public expense. The original gravestones are now housed in the National Museum.<\/div>\n
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Street of Tombs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Modern replicas of the burial monuments for Hegeso, daughter of Proxenios, and for Koroibos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Church of Agia Triada<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The Acropolis as seen from Kerameikos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Often overlooked by visitors, Kerameikos is one of the most significant historical monuments in Athens. \u00a0Comprising\u00a0much historical value, it assists visitors in understanding the ancient Athenian way of life and therefore is a “must-see”. \u00a0The church of Agia Triada serves as a beautiful background to the cemetery and outstanding views of many other\u00a0Athens sites can be seen from Kerameikos, such as the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill. \u00a0The area has been planted with Mediterranean vegetation and is large and open. \u00a0Not crowded and easy to navigate, the cemetery is a wonderful way to spend part of a day in Athens!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Springtime at Kerameikos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Kerameikos Cemetery<\/strong><\/div>\n