Cities
Greece Athens Athina Historical landmark

Kerameikos Archaeological Site

Kerameikos Archaeological Site
About

The Kerameikos Archaeological Site, located northwest of the Acropolis, is one of the most significant yet often overlooked areas of ancient Athens. Named after the potters’ quarter (keramos means pottery), it served both as a bustling artisan district and as the city’s main cemetery. Stretching along the banks of the Eridanos River, Kerameikos was used as a burial ground from the 12th century BCE through the Roman period. It became especially prominent in the Classical era, housing the graves of notable Athenians, war heroes, and public figures. Monumental tombstones and elaborate sculptures mark the site, showcasing the artistry and reverence of Athenian funerary customs. The Sacred Way, which led to Eleusis, and the road to Plato’s Academy both passed through Kerameikos, making it a vital part of civic and religious life. Today, visitors can explore its peaceful ruins and the on-site museum, which displays burial offerings, pottery, and sculptures uncovered during excavations. Kerameikos offers a deeply human perspective on ancient Athens, bridging daily life, death, and remembrance.

Athens Greece
Location

The Kerameikos Archaeological Site is located in Athens, Greece, northwest of the Acropolis. It was historically the potters' quarter of the city, from which the English word "ceramic" is derived. The site also served as an important cemetery, with numerous funerary sculptures lining the Sacred Way, the road leading to Eleusis. The area was divided into Inner Kerameikos, which housed workshops, and Outer Kerameikos, which contained the cemetery. The site became more prominent after the construction of the Themistoclean Wall in the 5th century BC, which incorporated funerary sculptures and established two major city gates: the Dipylon Gate and the Sacred Gate. Excavations have revealed graves dating back to the 3rd millennium BC, along with significant monuments from the Classical period. Today, visitors can explore the remnants of ancient Athens, including tombs, sculptures, and the remains of the city walls. The site offers a glimpse into the artistic and cultural traditions of ancient Greece, making it a valuable historical landmark in Athens.

Acropolis Museum Acropolis Museum Athens National Archaeological Museum National Archaeological Museum Athens Museum of Cycladic Art Museum of Cycladic Art Athens Byzantine and Christian Museum Byzantine and Christian Museum Athens Benaki Museum Benaki Museum Athens Goulandris Museum Goulandris Museum Athens Numismatic Museum Numismatic Museum Athens War Museum Athens War Museum Athens Athens National Art Gallery Athens National Art Gallery Athens Athens Hellenic Motor Museum Athens Hellenic Motor Museum Athens Athens National Garden of Athens National Garden of Athens Athens Pedion tou Areos Pedion tou Areos Athens Mount Lycabettus Mount Lycabettus Athens Strefi Hill Strefi Hill Athens Filopappou Hill Filopappou Hill Athens Antonis Tritsis Park Antonis Tritsis Park Athens Acropolis of Athens Acropolis of Athens Athens Parthenon Parthenon Athens Temple of Hephaestus Temple of Hephaestus Athens Temple of Olympian Zeus Temple of Olympian Zeus Athens Odeon of Herodes Atticus Odeon of Herodes Atticus Athens Theatre of Dionysus Theatre of Dionysus Athens Tower of the Winds Tower of the Winds Athens Philopappos Monument Philopappos Monument Athens Hadrian's Arch Hadrian's Arch Athens Acropolis Fortress Acropolis Fortress Athens Daphni Monastery Daphni Monastery Athens Hellenic Parliament Athens Hellenic Parliament Athens Athens Varvakios Agora Varvakios Agora Athens Zappeion Hall Zappeion Hall Athens Presidential Mansion Presidential Mansion Athens Plaka Plaka Athens Monastiraki Monastiraki Athens Anafiotika Anafiotika Athens Syntagma Square Syntagma Square Athens Panathenaic Stadium Panathenaic Stadium Athens Technopolis Technopolis Athens Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center Athens Athens Riviera Athens Riviera Athens Epigraphical Museum Epigraphical Museum Athens Athens National Historical Museum Athens National Historical Museum Athens Ancient Agora of Athens Ancient Agora of Athens Athens Roman Agora Museum Roman Agora Museum Athens Frissiras Museum Frissiras Museum Athens Herakleidon Museum Herakleidon Museum Athens Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum Ilias Lalaounis Jewelry Museum Athens National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens Athens Museum of Greek Folk Art Museum of Greek Folk Art Athens Hellenic Children’s Museum Hellenic Children’s Museum Athens Museum of Popular Instruments Museum of Popular Instruments Athens Philatelic and Postal Museum Philatelic and Postal Museum Athens Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology Athens Museum of the City of Athens Museum of the City of Athens Athens Gennadius Library Gennadius Library Athens Jewish Museum of Greece Jewish Museum of Greece Athens Museum of Pavlos & Alexandra Kanellopoulos Museum of Pavlos & Alexandra Kanellopoulos Athens Tatoi Palace Tatoi Palace Athens National Theatre of Greece National Theatre of Greece Athens Rex Theatre Rex Theatre Athens Onassis Stegi Onassis Stegi Athens Megaron Athens Concert Hall Megaron Athens Concert Hall Athens Pallas Theatre Pallas Theatre Athens Badminton Theatre Badminton Theatre Athens Peiraios 260 Peiraios 260 Athens Benaki Museum of Contemporary Art Benaki Museum of Contemporary Art Athens Athens Municipal Gallery Athens Municipal Gallery Athens Eleni Koroneou Gallery Eleni Koroneou Gallery Athens Rebecca Camhi Gallery Rebecca Camhi Gallery Athens Bernier/Eliades Gallery Bernier/Eliades Gallery Athens The Breeder Gallery The Breeder Gallery Athens Kalfayan Galleries Kalfayan Galleries Athens DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art Athens National Observatory of Athens National Observatory of Athens Athens Penteli Observatory Penteli Observatory Athens

User attributes