Archaeological Site of Kerameikos

The Archaeological site of Kerameikos is one of the most important in Athens and is located at the end of Ermou Street. Unfortunately, the area to which visitors have access is only a small part of the ancient municipality of Kerameon. There is also the Dipylon, the imposing double gates of the Themistoclean Wall dating from 478 BC. Part of them still exist. Many ancient tombs with tomb reliefs are preserved in the area, the copies, since the originals are part of the exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Kerameikos which is located in the same area. In the wider area, there was also the famous "Demosion Sema", the cemetery where war heroes were buried. In general, the area was used as a cemetery until the end of the Roman period, in the 6th century. Finally, some historical scholars argue that the ancient district of Kerameikos got its name from the hero Keramos. Others still believe that the name came from the workshops of pottery, which operated there for many centuries.