The Keramikos archaeological site in Athens is just what has remained of the Kerameon, which was once an influential and rich region of ancient Greece. In the days of old, it was home to the clans of potters (kerameis), who created those things that can be seen now in any historical museum of Greece. They occupied quite a large area along the banks of the Eridanus river.
It is considered that this was because of the ground level in this place was much lower than in other provinces (this was a very important aspect for the potters of those times). The development of pottery in this area contributed not only to the rise of trade, but also to environmental problems. Thus, Eridanus was once a rough, full-flowing river that was supplying animals and people with drinking water. However, starting from the classical era, people have begun to use this water object, turning it into a swampy stream, which even animals did not want to approach. Nowadays, it is an important wetland near the Sacred gate.
According to Pausanias, the name is not associated with the potters at all, but with Dionysus and Ariadne’ son Keramos.
In the 5th century BC, the walls of Athens were erected. They divided the area into two parts — the internal and external ones. The wall extended from the monumental gate of Dipylon to the Sacred gate. Each of the gates was located at the beginning of two main roads in Athens: the Panathenaic way (leading to the Acropolis) and the Sacred way (leading to Eleusis). Along these walls and outside the outer Keramikos was located, on the territory of which there was the formal city cemetery called Demosion Sema. It was there that Pericles delivered his funeral "Epitaph logos" speech. It was dedicated to the dead Athenians who fought courageously during the first year of the Peloponnesian war.
Scientists and archaeologists did not begin the research here for a long time. This place was known only from the texts of Thucydides and Pausanias, because there was a 9-metre waste deposit with small houses, craft workshops and a soap factory. The systematic excavations began here only in 1870. In 1997, the scientists of the German archaeological institute of Athens identified many burials here that were made from the 19th century BC to the late Roman period.
But it didn't last long. Constant flooding and saturated terrain forced the population to search for a more suitable place to live, and this area was actively used for burying.
Most of the graves that can be found here date back to the 2nd millennium BC. It should be mentioned that archaeologists discovered a huge number of ceramic products, decorations, clothing, and weapons right inside them. You can see them in Keramikos Museum, which is open in the park.
The form of the burial place directly indicates the sex, the age, social and family status of the deceased. For example, in the large graves rich Athenians from influential families were buried, while in simpler graves slaves, prisoners of war and criminals were entombed. The tombs of unmarried women were indicated by a pitcher or loutrophoros that were used to bring water from nearby wells during the burial ceremonies.
It should be mentioned that the Athenians were very sensitive to the subject of death, despite the fact that the mortality rate was very high because of the constant wars and conflicts. They created real works of art from marble, granite and ceramics on the graves of the soldiers fallen in battle. In this way they pursued several aims at once:
You can see the following attractions on the territory of the Keramikos archaeological site in Athens, Greece:
The park is located westwards from the Agora, near the Ermou street.
At the ticket offices of the park, you can buy a complex ticket that includes a visit to the Acropolis, the Ancient Agora, Hadrian's library, Olympion, the ancient Agora Museum of Athens, the Keramikos park and museum.
