First Cemetery of Athens, Cemetery in central Athens, Greece
Description
The First Cemetery of Athens is a Christian burial ground in central Athens Municipality featuring neoclassical monuments, three chapels, and sculptures set among pines and cypresses. The site covers around 225,000 square meters and displays marble monuments crafted by artisans from the 19th and 20th centuries.
History
Athens established this burial ground in 1837 after interments within church walls were prohibited following liberation from Ottoman rule. The first graves appeared on open land beyond the city limits of that time.
Culture
Stonemasons trained on Tinos island shaped Pentelic marble into figures and reliefs that still adorn many burial sites today. The sleeping maiden by Yannoulis Chalepas remains one of the most recognized works visitors discover among the grave rows.
Practical
The grounds sit behind the Temple of Olympian Zeus on Anapafseos Street and open daily from 8 in the morning until 7 in the evening. Visitors can walk the main pathways, though some sections lie on uneven ground.
Did you know?
Heinrich Schliemann, Melina Mercouri, and Nobel laureate Odysseas Elytis rest here among around 12,000 graves separated by religious community. Each section follows its own burial customs and shows different styles of tomb design.
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