When touring the city of Athens, adventurous exploration of the ancient wonders is a given. Sometimes, however, it's better to get off the beaten path.
Neglected because of its famous brother the Acropolis, Kerameikos is an ancient cemetery that was once the home of Athens' potters. It was originally outside the city walls, but today, it falls within the boundaries of the metropolis.
There is a sense mystery to the site. Who once lived here? What did they do? Some of the tombstones date back to the third millennium BC,with the most recent bearing the names of individuals from the sixth century AD.
In addition to serving as the burial ground for ancient Greeks, there are a series of famous monuments located here. Some pieces of the city wall, including the Sacred Gate and the Dipylon Gate are also among the ruins displayed at Kerameikos
This site is also where the Panathenaic procession began. The staging area, or what's left of it, can be seen on the property.
According to the Histovirus.com, Kerameikos is one of the most overlooked sites in the world.
The best way to explore the ancient sites of Greece is with a group of small travelers.
Skip the Acropolis and head to Kerameikos on a Grecian adventure
Posted on Monday, Feb. 28th, 2011
