The Friends of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens present a guided tour of the
THE “FIRST CEMETERY”
(PROTO NEKROTAPHEIO)
OF ATHENSby Dr. Stavros Paspalas
on Saturday 19th February 2011, 12 noon
The “First Cemetery” of Athens is one of the city’s greatest kept secrets. Understandably a place of human sorrow, it is also provides, though, a fascinating window into the history of Greece from the nineteenth century through to the present day. Among the thousands of graves, there are hundreds of Greece’s foremost politicians, military leaders, revolutionaries, benefactors, academics, tycoons, artists, actors and actresses, and churchmen –many of them household names. Even more importantly the cemetery is the country’s largest repository of sculpture, as the funerary monuments date back to the 1830’s. The cemetery is truly a sculptural garden through which the various artistic currents present in Greece can be appreciated, from the temple-like tomb of Heinrich Schliemann to the most recent, “modern” monuments.
Athens’ “First Cemetery,” which is also something of an oasis parkland, rates with the famous Highgate (London) and Père Lachaise (Paris) cemeteries, and definitely rewards a visit.
We shall meet at the entrance of the Cemetery, at the end of Anapafseos St. Mets.
Cost: Members Euros 10.00 Guests Euros 15.00
The “First Cemetery” may be approached either by taking a bus that follows a route along Ilioupoleos and/or Vouliagmenis Avenues or those that pass the point where Kallirois Street becomes Ardittou (near Aghia Photini). Alternatively, one can take the tram to the Leophoros Vouliagmenis stop and walk up Anapafseos St.
You may pay on the day but PLEASE CALL the Office of the AAIA at 210 924 3256 to BOOK.
