Another part of my last minute sightseeing involved the Kerameikos, an area of the city that was used for centuries as a burial ground for the Athenian dead. I first went there in October, but on that trip forgot to bring my camera- I knew that before I went I wanted to go back and get some photots.
So, in ancient times generally the dead were not buried within the city. In prehistoric times, people were buried in the area that is now the agora, but later most burials occurred in the Kerameikos, which is an area that was technically outside of the ancient city.
The Kerameikos is a very nice site to visit- it's not nearly as popular as the Acropolis or even the Agora, so Emma and I had it pretty much to ourselves. There is a nice museum where they have displayed the finds from the site, and then the site itself is nice.
Replicas of many of the grave markers have been laid out, so you get an idea of what it must have been like back in ancient times.
There's a lovely view of the Acropolis!
Of course, the site was not entirely used for burials. This is the tomb of the Lacedaimonians, but it is on the road that once led to Plato's academy. The Kerameikos got its name because it was the potter's quarter, and it also was the place where there were several important gates into the city- the Dipylon gate and the Sacred Gate, for example. Also in this area, you can see large amounts of Athens' old walls.
So, in ancient times generally the dead were not buried within the city. In prehistoric times, people were buried in the area that is now the agora, but later most burials occurred in the Kerameikos, which is an area that was technically outside of the ancient city. 
The Kerameikos is a very nice site to visit- it's not nearly as popular as the Acropolis or even the Agora, so Emma and I had it pretty much to ourselves. There is a nice museum where they have displayed the finds from the site, and then the site itself is nice. 
Replicas of many of the grave markers have been laid out, so you get an idea of what it must have been like back in ancient times. 
There's a lovely view of the Acropolis!
Of course, the site was not entirely used for burials. This is the tomb of the Lacedaimonians, but it is on the road that once led to Plato's academy. The Kerameikos got its name because it was the potter's quarter, and it also was the place where there were several important gates into the city- the Dipylon gate and the Sacred Gate, for example. Also in this area, you can see large amounts of Athens' old walls.
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