Private Funeral Monuments (Athens)

 memorial, cemetery, archaeological site

Kerameikos Ancient Cemetery. This area, between the Sacred Way and the so-called Street of Tombs, contains most of the remaining monuments set up in honor of private citizens. Some of the most famous pieces of funereal art from classical times come from this site. Most of what you see now are reproductions, as the originals have been carted off to museums all over the world. A few of the originals are in the Kerameikos museum. Everybody's favorite tends to be the haunting memorial to Hegesos (original in the Athens Archaeological Museum), ca. 410 BC, which shows the deceased woman with her handmaiden, gazing mournfully at a jewel box. Personally, I like the monument topped with the roaring lion. --grecodan