You can find Kerameikos (Greek: Κεραμεικός) archaeological site and park from the northwest of the Acropolis. It is located between Ermou, Peireos and Asomaton Streets. The entrance to the site is from the Ermou pedestrian street.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
In 478 BC the area was divided by the Eridanos River and Themistoclean Wall to Inner and Outer Kerameikos. The inner part was a famous residential area of potter´s and vase painters. The outer part was the most important cemetery of the Ancient Athens were the earliest tombs date from Early Bronze Age (2 700 – 2 000 BC). The wall had two gates, Dipylon and the Sacred Gate, by the roads to Eleusis and Acropolis.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
There is a great feeling of peacefulness when you enter the Kerameikos and start to walk down to the park. After hustle and bustle of the streets of Athens this place is unexpectedly silent. Strolling between ancient yards you can feel at the same time some holiness and history of the place around you.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
Archaeological excavations in the Kerameikos began in 1870 by the Greek Archaeological Society and were continued from 1913 by the German Archaeological Institute at Athens until now. Thanks to them, there is a small museum on the left side of the entrance. You can go inside and start to walk clockwise around the giant bull from the tomb of the Dionysios dominating the rooms of museum.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
From the four rooms you can find the most important findings from the Kerameikos excavations: archaic tombstones, grave reliefs, human statues, animal figures, vases of ancient Greek art and potsherds inscribed with the names of famous Athenians.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
The Museum of Kerameikos is small but beautiful and very informative. It has some excavation pieces out on the courtyard and a collection of grave marks right next to the museum building.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
The area is something that people usually bypass even it is a big outdoor park and has a great significance for the city of Athens. Visiting the site is a great experience, especially if you are a freak of The Ancient World. People working on the site are very friendly and if you are lucky, you can also spot one of the numerous little turtles living in the park.
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| Copyright 2011 Jan |
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