Kerameikos

The Kerameikos ( Κεραμεικός ) is a district of Athens and is located northwest of the Acropolis. The name is derived from the pottery in ancient times. The Kerameikos is known primarily for the same excavation site.

The ancient cemetery

In the Kerameikos ( Κεραμεικός ) the most important ancient cemetery is located in Athens. This district was the main center of Attic pottery production. The Kerameikos is explored since 1913 by excavations of Athens Department of the German Archaeological Institute.

The Kerameikos cemetery was outside the city walls, as in ancient burial places usual. It is crossed by two roads, one emanating from the Holy Gate Processional Way to the Sanctuary of Eleusis and the Academy road that starts at the Dipylon Gate. It leads to Akademeia, the sanctuary of the hero Academos and seat -founded by Plato school of philosophy. From Pompeion between the two gates, the procession took its starting point at the Panathenaic festival. Especially on the road to Eleusis were numerous graves.

The numerous finds from excavations dating from the 3rd millennium BC to the Roman period are in the Athens National Museum and in the small Kerameikos Museum. It plans to expand the museum and a connection with the other archaeological sites in Athens. A sensation meant the Kouros 2002 found the so-called Dipylon Master, which is dated around 600 BC.

Through the stream of Eridanus Kerameikos is also a species-rich habitat. So there is a large population of Greek tortoises.