{"id":17481,"date":"2024-05-28T12:01:41","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T16:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/?p=17481"},"modified":"2025-10-16T12:49:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T10:49:16","slug":"ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos","title":{"rendered":"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Once a place where ancient potters lived and made vases, and also the site of Greece\u2019s largest cemetery, the ancient cemetery of <strong>Kerameikos boasts centuries of history that most tourists to Athens don\u2019t know they should explore<\/strong>. We love visiting Kerameikos for a relaxed morning\u2013 there\u2019s shade all year round and it is home to some of Athens\u2019 best off-the-beaten-path archaeological treasures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kerameikos-Cemetery--1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kerameikos-Cemetery--1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kerameikos-Cemetery--600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kerameikos-Cemetery--768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Kerameikos-Cemetery-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Kerameikos cemetery is a great spot to get off the beaten path in Athens. Photo credit: George E. Koronaios <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #443d47;color:#443d47\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #443d47;color:#443d47\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#The_remarkable_history_of_Kerameikos\" title=\"The remarkable history of Kerameikos\">The remarkable history of Kerameikos<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#Importance_of_Kerameikos_in_ancient_Athens\" title=\"Importance of Kerameikos in ancient Athens\">Importance of Kerameikos in ancient Athens<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#The_Sacred_Way_and_the_Dipylon_Gate\" title=\"The Sacred Way and the Dipylon Gate\">The Sacred Way and the Dipylon Gate<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#Where_can_you_see_the_gates_to_the_ancient_city_of_Athens\" title=\"Where can you see the gates to the ancient city of Athens?\">Where can you see the gates to the ancient city of Athens?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#Ceremonial_walk_to_the_Sacred_Gate\" title=\"Ceremonial walk to the Sacred Gate\">Ceremonial walk to the Sacred Gate<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#Excavations_and_Archaeological_Discoveries\" title=\"Excavations and Archaeological Discoveries\">Excavations and Archaeological Discoveries<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#New_discoveries_at_Kerameikos\" title=\"New discoveries at Kerameikos\">New discoveries at Kerameikos<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#What_is_inside_the_Kerameikos_Archaeological_Museum\" title=\"What is inside the Kerameikos Archaeological Museum?\">What is inside the Kerameikos Archaeological Museum?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#How_to_visit_the_Kerameikos_Archaeological_Site\" title=\"How to visit the Kerameikos Archaeological Site\">How to visit the Kerameikos Archaeological Site<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\/#Why_Kerameikos_is_a_must-visit_for_history_enthusiasts\" title=\"Why Kerameikos is a must-visit for history enthusiasts\">Why Kerameikos is a must-visit for history enthusiasts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_remarkable_history_of_Kerameikos\"><\/span>The remarkable history of Kerameikos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The history of the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos stretches way back. <strong>The earliest tombs in the area date from the Early Bronze Age (2700-2000 BC)<\/strong>. But the area went under a massive change in the fifth century B.C. when Themistocles, a renowned general and politician, ordered the construction of walls around the city of Athens. These walls cleaved the area of Kerameikos in two.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The parts of Kerameikos inside of the city walls became a<strong> neighborhood where potters lived, and was a center of production for those distinctive Greek vases and amphoras<\/strong>. The artisans collected clay from the nearby Eridanus River, which ran through the center of Athens but in modern times has been almost completely built over. The name Kerameikos actually takes its root from the same place as the word \u201cceramics\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tombs-in-cemetary-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17623\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tombs-in-cemetary-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tombs-in-cemetary-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tombs-in-cemetary-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/tombs-in-cemetary.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Many of the tombs in Kerameikos cemetery are in tact. Photo credit: Robert Wallace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Importance_of_Kerameikos_in_ancient_Athens\"><\/span>Importance of Kerameikos in ancient Athens<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The area outside the wall was used as a cemetery. Tombs were placed in tumuli, or burial mounds, or marked with monuments. The cemetery was<strong> the final resting place for high priestesses, noble Athenian families, warriors who died in battle<\/strong>, and decorated athletes through the Classical period to the Early Christian period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today the archaeological site looks like a <strong>sprawling park scattered with impressive marble pieces<\/strong>. As you meander amongst the many cypress, olive, and laurel trees you can get up close with the famous funerary monuments in the same plots the ancients built them. Don\u2019t be surprised if you also see tortoises sunning themselves on the ruins as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cemetary-tombs-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17624\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cemetary-tombs-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cemetary-tombs-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cemetary-tombs-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cemetary-tombs.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">You can really see the long history of the city as you&#8217;re walking through the cementary. Photo credit: dynamosquito<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Insider&#8217;s tip:<\/strong> Want to see more artifacts and ruins in the city? Check out our guide to finding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/greek-ruins-in-athens\">Greek ruins in Athens<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Sacred_Way_and_the_Dipylon_Gate\"><\/span><strong>The Sacred Way and the Dipylon Gate<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The walls Themistocles ordered built around the city of Athens opened at two monumental gates, remnants of which can both be seen inside the site of Kerameikos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_can_you_see_the_gates_to_the_ancient_city_of_Athens\"><\/span>Where can you see the gates to the ancient city of Athens?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dipylon Gate was a behemoth formal Athenian gate. It served as <strong>the beginning of the ceremonial Panathenaic procession, which went along the Panathenaic Way to the Acropolis<\/strong>. Athenians stored important objects and prepared for the Panathenaic procession inside a building called the Pompeion. The building had a large courtyard encircled with columns, some of which you can still stroll around on your visit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On one side of the Dipylon gate was a fountain, built between 307 and 304 BC that supplied water to Athenians and any thirsty visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Pompeion_in_Kerameikos_Cemetery_-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Pompeion_in_Kerameikos_Cemetery_-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Pompeion_in_Kerameikos_Cemetery_-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Pompeion_in_Kerameikos_Cemetery_-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Pompeion_in_Kerameikos_Cemetery_.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The ruins of the Pompeion are still visible inside the cemetery. Photo credit: George E. Koronaios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ceremonial_walk_to_the_Sacred_Gate\"><\/span>Ceremonial walk to the Sacred Gate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other side of the Diplylon gate was the Sacred Gate, which led east to the Sacred Way (<em>Iera Odos<\/em>). The Sacred gate was the starting point for the procession of the Eleusinian Mysteries. This procession was part of an intricate religious ritual carried out every fall which we still don\u2019t know all the details of. But we do know <strong>participants began their day-long ceremonial walk to Eleusis from the Sacred Gate, carrying sacred objects and chanting along the way<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between these two gates is the site where the ancient politician Pericles gave his famous Funeral Oration during the start of the Peloponnesian War around 431 BCE, to commemorate soldiers who had died in the battle. The speech (or a version of it) is recounted by the ancient historian Thucydides in his <em>History of the Peloponnesian War, <\/em>and has been the subject of dozens of classical paintings.<em> <\/em>We find <strong>there\u2019s something transformational about being able to stand right in the spot where Pericles was, looking across the same Athens he spoke about<\/strong> over 2000 years ago!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Sacred_Way-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Sacred_Way-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Sacred_Way-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Sacred_Way-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/The_Sacred_Way.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">What&#8217;s left of the Sacred Way. Photo credit: George E. Koronaios<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Excavations_and_Archaeological_Discoveries\"><\/span><strong>Excavations and Archaeological Discoveries<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Systematic excavations in Kerameikos began in 1870 and continue today. Since 1913 the German Archaeological Institute has been in an exclusive partnership with Greece to study the site\u2013 this is why you will see many of the site markers are in German.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"New_discoveries_at_Kerameikos\"><\/span>New discoveries at Kerameikos<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2002, archaeologists made an especially impressive find in Kerameikos: a marble Kouros\u2013a statue of a male youth\u2013excavated near the Sacred Gate. The statue measures almost 7 feet in height, and has an intricate braided hairdo. <strong>Now in the Kerameikos museum, the Kouros is believed to have been crafted by the famous Dipylon Sculptor<\/strong>. It appears to be the twin of a lesser-preserved Kouros excavated from the same area in 1916.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one expected such a rare find after 140 years of excavation in Kerameikos, but <strong>this 2002 Kouros was discovered along with some column pieces, a sphinx, and two lions, <\/strong>piled up under a river channel. It appears the ancient Greeks had used the marble artifacts to backfill road construction. We can\u2019t deny the Kouros is in great shape, but the close observer can see faint marks from cart wheels across its surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"615\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kouros--1024x615.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kouros--1024x615.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kouros--600x361.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kouros--768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/kouros-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kouros and sphinx busts excavated in the cemetery can be found in the museum. Photo credit: Katherine Soulis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_inside_the_Kerameikos_Archaeological_Museum\"><\/span>What is inside the Kerameikos Archaeological Museum?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Kerameikos Archaeological Museum hosts the Kouros and many of the site&#8217;s other protected treasures.<strong> One of our favorites is a relief of the goddesses Demetria and Pamphile that seem to stare right back at you. <\/strong>There are also some fantastic ancient tombstones including a marble bull from the Precinct of Dionysios of Kollytos erected around 345 BC that looks about ready to charge off its pedestal, and the famed column of Igesos erected around 410 BC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"728\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Demetria-and-Pamphile-728x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Demetria-and-Pamphile-728x1024.jpg 728w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Demetria-and-Pamphile-600x845.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Demetria-and-Pamphile-768x1081.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Demetria-and-Pamphile-1091x1536.jpg 1091w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Demetria-and-Pamphile.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Demetria and Pamphile await your visit to the museum. Photo credit: Tilemahos Efthimiadis <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The museum was originally built in 1937, and the artifacts are exhibited in a loosely chronological order, and gathered with objects found in similar sites. <strong>We recommend going to the museum first, and the archaeological site after<\/strong> so you can picture the artifacts in the places they were discovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Traveler&#8217;s tip<\/strong>: Want to see more Greek artifacts that will blow your mind? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/national-archaeological-museum-athens\">The National Archaeological Museum of Athens<\/a> is a must-visit when planning your Athens itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_visit_the_Kerameikos_Archaeological_Site\"><\/span>How to visit the Kerameikos Archaeological Site<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Visitors can access both the archaeological site and the museum for a combined price of \u20ac8. Tickets can be bought online, or in person\u2013 we recommend buying at the site because there\u2019s no worry of tickets to this insider attraction selling out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We also recommend going<strong> earlier in the morning to avoid tour groups and to be able to meander through the sloping hills and funeral monuments at your own pace<\/strong>. Both the museum and the site are open from 8am to 5pm every day, aside from Tuesdays when the museum opens at 10am.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dionysios-of-Kollitos-bull-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17629\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:779px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dionysios-of-Kollitos-bull-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dionysios-of-Kollitos-bull-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dionysios-of-Kollitos-bull-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Dionysios-of-Kollitos-bull.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The marble bull stood over the tomb of Dionysios Kollystos. Photo credit: Tilemahos Efthimiadis <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Kerameikos_is_a_must-visit_for_history_enthusiasts\"><\/span>Why Kerameikos is a must-visit for history enthusiasts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kerameikos is one of our don\u2019t-miss destinations to learn about the lives and deaths of the ancient Athenians, away from the crowds and amongst the olive trees.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to see more of Athens? Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/athens-walking-tour\">Ultimate Self-Guided Walking Tour of Athens<\/a> to see the best of what this vibrant city has to offer. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> &#8230; <a title=\"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\" aria-label=\"More on Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":17630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[680,676],"tags":[1113,1111,1112],"ppma_author":[1338],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Full of interesting landmarks that trace the remarkable history of Athens, come along as we tour the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Full of interesting landmarks that trace the remarkable history of Athens, come along as we tour the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Walks Tours Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-28T16:01:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-16T10:49:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"M. Lavelle\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@walks\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@walks\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"M. Lavelle\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"M. Lavelle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a13538fe1f3759db1ee283be6dcd6013\"},\"headline\":\"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-28T16:01:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-16T10:49:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\"},\"wordCount\":1320,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr\",\"keywords\":[\"athens cemetary\",\"Kerameikos\",\"Kerameikos cemetary\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Athens Things To Do\",\"Athens Travel Tips\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\",\"name\":\"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-28T16:01:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-10-16T10:49:16+00:00\",\"description\":\"Full of interesting landmarks that trace the remarkable history of Athens, come along as we tour the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Photo credit: dynamosquito https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dynamosquito\/\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Athens Things To Do\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/category\/athens-things-to-do\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Travel Guides & Blog | Walks\",\"description\":\"Blog and Travel Guides for the cities across the world\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Walks Tours\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":748,\"caption\":\"Walks Tours\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/walks\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/walkstours\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a13538fe1f3759db1ee283be6dcd6013\",\"name\":\"M. Lavelle\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/7b56a1f9d19605e3188e1c52e2ce65d6\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/033df57db5f4d8c1bc50f515405a0edd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/033df57db5f4d8c1bc50f515405a0edd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"M. Lavelle\"},\"description\":\"M Lavelle is a writer and journalist who has been living in Athens for almost a decade. A former classics major, she loves exploring ancient ruins scattered around the city and spending too much time in archaeological museums. She is also an enthusiastic aficionado of Athens' food scene, from the oldest taverna to the newest falafel shop.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/author\/m-lavelle\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos","description":"Full of interesting landmarks that trace the remarkable history of Athens, come along as we tour the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos","og_description":"Full of interesting landmarks that trace the remarkable history of Athens, come along as we tour the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos","og_site_name":"Walks Tours Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours","article_published_time":"2024-05-28T16:01:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-10-16T10:49:16+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"M. Lavelle","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@walks","twitter_site":"@walks","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"M. Lavelle","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos"},"author":{"name":"M. Lavelle","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a13538fe1f3759db1ee283be6dcd6013"},"headline":"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos","datePublished":"2024-05-28T16:01:41+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-16T10:49:16+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos"},"wordCount":1320,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr","keywords":["athens cemetary","Kerameikos","Kerameikos cemetary"],"articleSection":["Athens Things To Do","Athens Travel Tips"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos","url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos","name":"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr","datePublished":"2024-05-28T16:01:41+00:00","dateModified":"2025-10-16T10:49:16+00:00","description":"Full of interesting landmarks that trace the remarkable history of Athens, come along as we tour the ancient cemetery of Kerameikos.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Cemetery-of-Kerameikos.jpg?wsr","width":1200,"height":800,"caption":"Photo credit: dynamosquito https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dynamosquito\/"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/ancient-cemetery-of-kerameikos#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Athens Things To Do","item":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/category\/athens-things-to-do"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Why We\u2019re Obsessed with the Ancient Cemetery of Kerameikos"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/","name":"Travel Guides & Blog | Walks","description":"Blog and Travel Guides for the cities across the world","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Walks Tours","url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Walks_Logo_1000px.png","width":1000,"height":748,"caption":"Walks Tours"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/walkstours","https:\/\/twitter.com\/walks","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/walkstours\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/a13538fe1f3759db1ee283be6dcd6013","name":"M. Lavelle","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/7b56a1f9d19605e3188e1c52e2ce65d6","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/033df57db5f4d8c1bc50f515405a0edd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/033df57db5f4d8c1bc50f515405a0edd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"M. Lavelle"},"description":"M Lavelle is a writer and journalist who has been living in Athens for almost a decade. A former classics major, she loves exploring ancient ruins scattered around the city and spending too much time in archaeological museums. She is also an enthusiastic aficionado of Athens' food scene, from the oldest taverna to the newest falafel shop.","url":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/author\/m-lavelle"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":1338,"user_id":70,"is_guest":0,"slug":"m-lavelle","display_name":"M. Lavelle","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/033df57db5f4d8c1bc50f515405a0edd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Lavelle","first_name":"M.","description":"M Lavelle is a writer and journalist who has been living in Athens for almost a decade. A former classics major, she loves exploring ancient ruins scattered around the city and spending too much time in archaeological museums. She is also an enthusiastic aficionado of Athens' food scene, from the oldest taverna to the newest falafel shop. "}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17481"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17481"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17481\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23369,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17481\/revisions\/23369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17481"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.takewalks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=17481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}