Kerameikos site

This book includes photographs of monuments and exhibits from the archaeological site and the museum of Kerameikos, which are under the authority of the 3rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, as well as the National Archaeological Museum.

Systematic research during the Kerameikos seasonal work done in 2020-2021 revealed that on the southwestern side of the Kerameikos street in front of the Dipylon, there were potter`s workshops of the 5th century BC and next to them a large plant for the processing of olives and the  production of olive oil. This is the earliest olive mill known from Athens so far.

Resumo: Este artigo é sobre o cemitério do Kerameikos, em Atenas, e a análise da prática da magia do katadesmos. Nosso objetivo é analisar as funções simbólicas dos ritos funerários e a cerimônia de amaldiçoar alguém.
Palavras-chave: Kerameikos; Atenas; ritos funerários.

Abstract: This paper is about Kerameikos in Athens and an analysis of the katadesmos practices magic. Our aim is to analyze the symbolic functions of this funerary ritual in the ceremony to curse someone.
Keywords: Kerameikos; Athens; funerary ritual.

Wells in Athens: The contribution of wells in the Athenian Kerameikos
Jutta Stroszeck

Surface water in the Athenian plain is mainly restricted to the three rivers Ilissos, Kephissos and Eridanos and a few creeks. The rivers originate from abundant springs and are nourished by more springs in the river beds. Surface water resources within the area of the ancient city, though, are very limited: there are mainly the springs around the Acropolis rock. Digging for water, therefore, was necessary for a growing population. The oldest known water installations in Athens are wells: About two dozen wells were dug in the area west of the Acropolis during the Neolithic period, attesting to settlement activity there. Like in the ancient oriental languages, in ancient Greek the word for well (φρέαρ) is also used for underground cisterns, attesting to similarity in construction.
Ancient water installations in Athens have been the focus of intensive research since the 19th century, conducted by city planners, engineers and archaeologists: Since the availability of water had not changed much since antiquity, water was also scarce in the newly developed capital of Greece, as attested by writers commenting on the situation since in the winter 1834-1835 the court of king Otto had moved to Athens. In hope for the possible benefit of the contemporary situation, research was conducted in order to learn from methods that were used during the peak of the classical period.

Due to the highly developed structures of classical Athens, apart from the archaeological data produced through excavations, we have a wealth of literary and epigraphical sources concerning wells in the city. The information provided concerns, among other things, building, maintenance, use and administration of wells and the quality of water. In addition, representations on red-figure vases allow for a glance onto the life around wells.
The excavated Kerameikos wells give a typical picture for the city. Some of the questions related to ancient wells in Athens can be answered by looking at these examples.
Archaeological data can also be used to cross-check information given in written sources: For example, the information in Plutarch, Solon 2, that wells in Athens could reach a depth of about 18 m, is confirmed by a well near the Sacred Gate that was investigated in 2014, having a depth of at least 17 m below surface.
Taking the Kerameikos wells as an example, some points are discussed that may help a systematic approach of research on ancient wells:

1. Topographic position and relation to building structures on the surface
There are wells in ancient public (near the roads, near the gates, inside the bath complex and the Pompeion, in sanctuaries) and private (living quarters) areas of the site.

2. Building techniques
There are unsecured earth wells, wells with timbered walls, and – mainly since the 4th century BC – wells boarded with clay cylinders as well as stone built wells of various forms. There are also in situ examples of well-brims of various forms, and sometimes the drawing mechanisms can be reconstructed.

3. Finds in wells
Apart from the finds that testify to the use of the well (jugs, pitchers, amphorae, funnels a.s.o.), there are items dropped accidentally, but also items that were obviously sunk there on purpose, either to hide them where they are not likely to resurface - or in order to protect them: f. ex. curse tablets, bulks of archive material, sculptures. Sometimes, votives for the water deities can be found. Another kind of finds is related to the discontinuation of the well in its proper function: mainly debries mixed with soil, dead animals etc.

4. Period of use
Wells have very variable periods of use. Some were in use only for a few months or years, while others have been in use over hundreds of years, which makes them some of the most durably built structures overall. While the date when the well was dug is sometimes hard to determine, the archaeological data usually provide dates for when the well was put out of use, either by being filled up or by being finally covered and forgotten.

5. Function of wells and the groups of people using its water
By looking at the information provided above and in comparison to other sites and monuments, it can be possible to analyse the groups that had access to the well water and hence the function and importance of each well for the community.