Keramikos Athens
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Keramikos: the ancient Greek cemetery
Cemeteries have always been an object of human curiosity. This may explain the mystic charm of Keramikos, the city's ancient cemetery dating back to the 12th century BC.
Walking around this site, you will come across many beautiful tombstones with depictions of the dead or scenes from mythology. You will also notice the ancient city walls as well as the Dipylon Gate and the Sacred Gate, built in the 5th century BC. Great processions - during the city's major religious festivals - have passed through these gates on the way to the Acropolis and the sanctuary of Eleusis.
The museum of Keramikos features a splendid collection of sculptures and pottery, some of them bearing rather indecent depictions.
Keramikos was named after Keramos, son of god Dionysos and Ariadne, who was the hero of the potters. The area of Keramikos in ancient times was center of pottery industry of the time. Keramikos area hosted for many centuries the basic cemetery of Athens. The earliest tombs date from the Early Bronze Age (2700-2000 BC), and until approximately the 6th century AD (Early Christian period).
Walking around this site, you will come across many beautiful tombstones with depictions of the dead or scenes from mythology. You will also notice the ancient city walls as well as the Dipylon Gate and the Sacred Gate, built in the 5th century BC. Great processions - during the city's major religious festivals - have passed through these gates on the way to the Acropolis and the sanctuary of Eleusis.
The museum of Keramikos features a splendid collection of sculptures and pottery, some of them bearing rather indecent depictions.
Keramikos was named after Keramos, son of god Dionysos and Ariadne, who was the hero of the potters. The area of Keramikos in ancient times was center of pottery industry of the time. Keramikos area hosted for many centuries the basic cemetery of Athens. The earliest tombs date from the Early Bronze Age (2700-2000 BC), and until approximately the 6th century AD (Early Christian period).
When was Keramikos cemetery discovered?
Photo from German Archeological Institute
What about the ancient Greek funeral customs?
photo: grave stele that at the tomb of Ampharete. It depicts Ampharete with her grandchild. The epigram of the stele shows that both have died at the same time. The epigram reads
"I hold here the child of my daughter, the beloved one, that I held on my lap when we were alive, and enjoyed the sunlight. Now I hold it dead, I, also dead"
Keramikos Useful Links
- Kerameikos museum - Museum or archaeological site of Kerameikos
- Kerameikos Museum is located to the left entrance of the archaeological site of Kerameikos. It houses the finds from the excavations carried out after its construction. The first pieces were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum, where they are still kept.
- Athens Hotels Keramikos
- For the greatest hotels in Keramikos find here the best rates, photos and information.
- Ancient Greek Festivals - Panathenaea
- Panathenaia, was a week-long religious and civic celebration which was the highlight of the Athens festival calendar.
- Ancient Athens Pictures
- Here you will find all kinds of pictures of Ancient Athens sites including the Acropolis, Parthenon, Keramikos and many more...
- Athens Museums
- Find list of Athens Museums with detailed information photos and contact information
- Exploring Athens: A different walk in Athens
- A different than usual walks in Athens would include a visit to Keramikos, Athens School of Fine Arts, Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Virtual Reality and Hellenic Cosmos museums, Ancient Olympia and Gazi in Technopolis.
- Athens Guide: Archaeological Sites
- Athens is known worldwide for its impressive monuments like the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Ancient Greek Agora, Keramikos, the temple of Olympian Zeus and more.
- Athens Sightseeing
- Sightseeing in athens greece is an exciting experience - Visit the greek parliament and the national garden, plaka and monastiraki
A speech that made Keramikos famous
Pericles said at Keramikos
For the whole earth is the tomb of famous men; not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions in their own country, but in foreign lands there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.
Ancient texts about Keramikos
The Funeral Oration of Pericles
You can also find Pericles Funeral Oration at Wiki Source.
Where is Keramikos?
how to get there
After leaving Adrianou street keep walking towards Ermou street until you reach Keramikos, the most important cemetery of the ancient Athenians.From Syntagma Square Kerameikos is within a 20-30 minutes distance (depending on how fast you walk). But there is also an easiest and more comfortable way to get to the area of Kerameikos. Use Athens metro line 3 (blue) and get off at Kerameikos metro station.
If you prefer using the buses to get to Keramikos, then pick 026, 027, 035, 811, 914 or G18 or the 21 trolley.
In case all these sound a bit confusing, use the interactive Athens Guide Map to get there.
Athens Metro Info
Keramikos
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sushilkin Sep 11, 2011 @ 3:34 pm | delete
- Nice Lens Thanks for sharing !!
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The_Philologist
Jul 20, 2011 @ 11:20 am | delete
- Beautiful article on a beautiful archaeological site. As an Athenian, this article was much appreciated.
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Morticella
May 30, 2011 @ 3:21 am | delete
- Very cultural lens I liked it Brava
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Margo_Arrowsmith
May 2, 2011 @ 10:10 am | delete
- You are driving me crazy! I want to go back so bad! When we were at Delphi it said that if you drink from the well you will go back 7 more times and I haven't done it once!
Oh, and go to My Greek Odyssey and read about the old woman in the book store. I mean these were the warmest people I have found any where.
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LucyClaire
Nov 9, 2010 @ 1:30 pm | delete
- The mass grave and Greek mythology must be fascinating to visit.
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- Load More
More about modern & ancient Athens
Keramikos neighborhood
Nowadays Keramikos is one of the most crowdy areas in Athens as people, especially the young visit its recreation areas. The most impressive part of modern Keramikos is Technopolis. Let me introduce you the old factory that has been transformed into an arts and culture meeting point. The old gas factory of Athens
A cultural park in the town centre of Athens is one of the recently constructed complexes the Greek capital takes pride of. It is called Technopolis and it is housed in the old coal gas factory which stopped operating in 1984. The old granaries, the tanks and the industrial furnaces have been transformed into exhibition areas (photography, painting, sculpture, comics etc), places where musical and theatrical performances can be carried out, conference rooms and any kind of cultural activity places. Greek Art and Culture
Technopolis is a modern centre of Art and Culture expanded in 30.000 square meters and composed of buildings in various shapes while the chimneys and the boilers of the old factory contribute to the establishment of Technopolis as an Art production factory. What is more, the public radio station "Athens 9,84" is housed in one of the buildings. There is also a museum devoted to the famous Greek soprano Maria Callas, which hosts objects related to her life. by Bella_Stella
Hello world! My name is Stella, travelling is my life and Greece my home country. I am here to rock your world!
Ola! Sou a Stella, viajar...
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