# First Cemetery of Athens
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{{Short description|Cemetery in Greece}}
{{Infobox cemetery
| name = First Cemetery of Athens
{{nobold|{{lang|el|Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών|italic=no}}}}
| image = File:Α' Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών.jpg
| imagesize = 266
| caption = Aerial view of the First Cemetery of Athens
| map_type =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|37|57|47|N|23|44|16|E|display=inline,title}}
| established = 1837
| country = [Greece](/source/Greece)
| location = Central [Athens](/source/Athens)
}}
[[File:DSC-0033-First-Cemetery-of-Athens-august-2017.jpg|alt=|thumb|Tomb of Sofia Afentaki with the ''[Sleeping Female Figure](/source/Sleeping_Female_Figure_(Chalepas))'' statue, a work of [Yannoulis Chalepas](/source/Yannoulis_Chalepas).]]
[[File:Averoff grave.jpg|thumb|Tomb of [Georgios Averoff](/source/Georgios_Averoff).]]
[[File:Schliemann grave.jpg|thumb|Tomb of [Heinrich Schliemann](/source/Heinrich_Schliemann).]]
[[File:Theodoros Kolokotronis.jpg|thumb|Tomb of [Theodoros Kolokotronis](/source/Theodoros_Kolokotronis).]]
The '''First Cemetery of Athens''' ({{langx|el|Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών}}, ''Próto Nekrotafeío Athinón'') is the official cemetery of the City of [Athens](/source/Athens) and the first to be built. It opened in 1837 and soon became a prestigious cemetery for [Greeks](/source/Greeks) and foreigners.
The cemetery is located behind the [Temple of Olympian Zeus](/source/Temple_of_Olympian_Zeus%2C_Athens) and the [Panathinaiko Stadium](/source/Panathinaiko_Stadium) in central Athens. It can be found at the top end of Anapafseos Street (Eternal Rest Street). It is a large green space with [pine](/source/pine)s and [cypress](/source/cypress)es.[[https://www.thisisathens.org/arts-entertainment/sightseeing/first-cemetery-athens/ The First Cemetery of Athens ]]
In the cemetery there are three churches. The main one is the Church of [Saint Theodores](/source/Saint_Theodore_(disambiguation)) and there is also a smaller one dedicated to [Saint Lazarus](/source/Lazarus_of_Bethany). The third church of Saint Charles is a [Catholic](/source/Catholic) church. The cemetery includes several impressive tombs such as those of [Heinrich Schliemann](/source/Heinrich_Schliemann), designed by [Ernst Ziller](/source/Ernst_Ziller); [Ioannis Pesmazoglou](/source/Ioannis_Pesmazoglou); [Georgios Averoff](/source/Georgios_Averoff); and one tomb with a famous sculpture of a dead young girl called ''I Koimomeni'' ("The Sleeping Girl") and sculpted by [Yannoulis Chalepas](/source/Yannoulis_Chalepas) from the island of [Tinos](/source/Tinos). There are also burial areas for [Protestants](/source/Protestants) and [Jews](/source/Jews), however, this segregation is not compulsory.
The cemetery is under the Municipality of Athens and is declared a historical monument.
==Notable interments==
* [Sylva Akrita](/source/Sylva_Akrita), politician and anti-junta activist[{{cite news |first=|last=|title=Σύλβα Ακρίτα: Την Δευτέρα η κηδεία της στο Α’ Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών |url=https://www.newsit.gr/politikh/sylva-akrita-tin-deytera-i-kideia-tis-sto-a-nekrotafeio-athinon/4559817/ |work=Newsit.gr |date=2025-12-24 |access-date=2025-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251229142328/https://www.newsit.gr/politikh/sylva-akrita-tin-deytera-i-kideia-tis-sto-a-nekrotafeio-athinon/4559817/ |archive-date=2025-12-29 |url-status=live}}]
* [Odysseas Androutsos](/source/Odysseas_Androutsos), hero of the [Greek War of Independence](/source/Greek_War_of_Independence)
* [George Averoff](/source/George_Averoff), [philanthropist](/source/philanthropist), businessman
* [Sotiria Bellou](/source/Sotiria_Bellou), singer
* [Nikolaos Bourandas](/source/Nikolaos_Bourandas), police and fire service general, politician
* [Yannoulis Chalepas](/source/Yannoulis_Chalepas), sculptor
* [Christodoulos](/source/Christodoulos_of_Athens), Archbishop of Athens
* [Chrysostomos II](/source/Chrysostomos_II_of_Athens), Archbishop of Athens
* [Richard Church](/source/Richard_Church_(general)), general
* [Jules Dassin](/source/Jules_Dassin), director, actor
* [Stratos Dionysiou](/source/Stratos_Dionysiou), singer
* [Dorotheus](/source/Dorotheus_of_Athens), Archbishop of Athens
* [Odysseas Elytis](/source/Odysseas_Elytis), poet, 1979 [Nobel Laureate](/source/Nobel_Prize_in_Literature) in literature
* [Demetrios Farmakopoulos](/source/Demetrios_Farmakopoulos), painter
* [George Finlay](/source/George_Finlay), historian
* [Adolf Furtwängler](/source/Adolf_Furtw%C3%A4ngler), [archaeologist](/source/archaeologist)
* [Manolis Glezos](/source/Manolis_Glezos), journalist, WWII hero, and politician
* [Dimitris Horn](/source/Dimitris_Horn), actor
* [Humphrey Jennings](/source/Humphrey_Jennings), filmmaker
* [Georgios Kafantaris](/source/Georgios_Kafantaris), [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece)
* [Dimitrios Kallergis](/source/Dimitrios_Kallergis), statesman
* [Konstantinos Kanaris](/source/Konstantinos_Kanaris), hero of the [Greek War of Independence](/source/Greek_War_of_Independence), admiral, statesman
* [Tzeni Karezi](/source/Tzeni_Karezi), actress
* [Manos Katrakis](/source/Manos_Katrakis), actor
* [Nikos Kavvadias](/source/Nikos_Kavvadias), poet
* [Theodoros Kolokotronis](/source/Theodoros_Kolokotronis), pre-eminent leader of the [Greek War of Independence](/source/Greek_War_of_Independence), general
* [Marika Kotopouli](/source/Marika_Kotopouli), actress
* [Ellie Lambeti](/source/Ellie_Lambeti), actress
* [Grigoris Lambrakis](/source/Grigoris_Lambrakis), politician
* [Zoe Laskari](/source/Zoe_Laskari), actress
* [Vassilis Logothetidis](/source/Vassilis_Logothetidis), actor
* [Orestis Makris](/source/Orestis_Makris), actor
* [Yannis Makriyannis](/source/Yannis_Makriyannis), merchant, military officer, politician, author
* [Manolis Mantakas](/source/Manolis_Mantakas), army officer, and politician
* [Alexandros Mavrokordatos](/source/Alexandros_Mavrokordatos), politician
* [Melina Mercouri](/source/Melina_Mercouri), actress, politician
* [Andreas Michalakopoulos](/source/Andreas_Michalakopoulos), politician
* [Dimitris Mitropanos](/source/Dimitris_Mitropanos), singer
* [Dimitri Mitropoulos](/source/Dimitri_Mitropoulos), conductor, pianist, composer
* [Nikitaras](/source/Nikitaras), hero of the [Greek War of Independence](/source/Greek_War_of_Independence)
* [Kostis Palamas](/source/Kostis_Palamas), poet
* [Alexandros Panagoulis](/source/Alexandros_Panagoulis), politician, poet, democracy activist
* [Antonios Papadakis](/source/Antonios_Papadakis), [University of Athens](/source/University_of_Athens)' greatest benefactor
* [Georgios Papadopoulos](/source/Georgios_Papadopoulos), military dictator during the [Regime of the Colonels](/source/Greek_military_junta_of_1967%E2%80%9374)
* [Dimitris Papamichael](/source/Dimitris_Papamichael), actor and director
* [Alexandros Papanastasiou](/source/Alexandros_Papanastasiou), lawyer
* [Andreas Papandreou](/source/Andreas_Papandreou), [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece)
* [George Papandreou](/source/George_Papandreou_(senior)), [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece)
* [Kalliroi Parren](/source/Kalliroi_Parren), feminist
* [Katina Paxinou](/source/Katina_Paxinou), actress
* [George Polk](/source/George_Polk), American journalist murdered during the Greek Civil War
* [Théodore Ralli](/source/Th%C3%A9odore_Ralli), painter
* [Alexandros Rizos Rangavis](/source/Alexandros_Rizos_Rangavis), poet
* [Georgios Roubanis](/source/Georgios_Roubanis), athlete
* [Demis Roussos](/source/Demis_Roussos), singer
* [Alekos Sakellarios](/source/Alekos_Sakellarios), director, screenwriter, lyricist
* [Rita Sakellariou](/source/Rita_Sakellariou), singer
* [Christos Sartzetakis](/source/Christos_Sartzetakis), [President of Greece](/source/President_of_Greece)
* [Dionysis Savvopoulos](/source/Dionysis_Savvopoulos), singer[{{cite news | title =Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos buried in a state funeral | date = 26 October 2025 | publisher =AP News | language = en| url =https://apnews.com/article/greece-savvopoulos-funeral-singer-ad2c37112439aec86740fe5c6b875ae7}}]
* [Heinrich Schliemann](/source/Heinrich_Schliemann), amateur [archaeologist](/source/archaeologist) who excavated the site of [Troy](/source/Troy)
* [Sophia Schliemann](/source/Sophia_Schliemann), his second wife, philanthropist
* [Giorgos Seferis](/source/Giorgos_Seferis), poet
* [Seraphim](/source/Seraphim_of_Athens), Archbishop of Athens
* [Angelos Sikelianos](/source/Angelos_Sikelianos), poet
* [Costas Simitis](/source/Costas_Simitis), [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece)
* [Spyros Spyromilios](/source/Spyros_Spyromilios), military officer
* [Michael Tositsas](/source/Michael_Tositsas), benefactor
* [Charilaos Trikoupis](/source/Charilaos_Trikoupis), [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece)
* [Antonis Tritsis](/source/Antonis_Tritsis), [Mayor of Athens](/source/Mayor_of_Athens)
* [Vassilis Tsitsanis](/source/Vassilis_Tsitsanis), [rebetiko](/source/rebetiko) composer
* [Ioannis Varvakis](/source/Ioannis_Varvakis), member of [Filiki Eteria](/source/Filiki_Eteria)
* [Thanasis Veggos](/source/Thanasis_Veggos), actor
* [Sofia Vembo](/source/Sofia_Vembo), singer
* [Aliki Vougiouklaki](/source/Aliki_Vougiouklaki), actress
* [T.H. White](/source/T.H._White), author
* [Emmanuil Xanthos](/source/Emmanuil_Xanthos), a founder of the [Filiki Eteria](/source/Filiki_Eteria)
* [Nikos Xilouris](/source/Nikos_Xilouris), singer and composer
* [Nikos Zachariadis](/source/Nikos_Zachariadis), politician, [General Secretary](/source/General_Secretary) of the [Communist Party of Greece](/source/Communist_Party_of_Greece) (KKE) from 1931 to 1956
* [Napoleon Zervas](/source/Napoleon_Zervas), [Hellenic Army](/source/Hellenic_Army) officer and WWII resistance leader
* [Ernst Ziller](/source/Ernst_Ziller), architect
* [Xenophon Zolotas](/source/Xenophon_Zolotas), [Prime Minister of Greece](/source/Prime_Minister_of_Greece)
== Gallery ==
File:Athens Cemetery - Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών - panoramio.jpg|Entrance
File:Graves at the First Cemetery of Athens 01.jpg|Graves at the First Cemetery of Athens
File:Atenas, Primer Cementerio 15.jpg|Angel statue
File:Grave of Sir Richard Church.jpg|Grave of [Richard Church](/source/Richard_Church_(general))
File:Archbishop Damaskinos grave.JPG|Grave of [Damaskinos of Athens](/source/Damaskinos_of_Athens)
File:Tomb of Konstantinos Kanaris in Athens.png|Grave of [Konstantinos Kanaris](/source/Konstantinos_Kanaris)
File:Atenas, Primer Cementerio 05.jpg|Grave of [Adamantios Korais](/source/Adamantios_Korais)
File:Papandreou grave.jpg|Grave of [Andreas Papandreou](/source/Andreas_Papandreou)
File:Grave of Kalliroi Parren.jpg|Grave of [Kalliroi Parren](/source/Kalliroi_Parren)
File:Sofia Vembo(3).JPG|Grave of [Sofia Vembo](/source/Sofia_Vembo)
File:Graves at the First Cemetery of Athens 03.jpg|General view
File:DSC-0036-athens-first-cemetery-2017.jpg|Entrance to the chapel
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{no footnotes|date=January 2017}}
* ''[Papyrus Larousse Britannica](/source/Papyrus_Larousse_Britannica)'', 2006
==External links==
* {{commons category inline|First Cemetery of Athens}}
* {{Find a Grave cemetery}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:First Cemetery Of Athens}}
Category:Cemeteries in Greece
Category:National cemeteries
Category:Eastern Orthodox cemeteries in Greece
Category:Roman Catholic cemeteries
Category:Anglican cemeteries in Europe
Category:Lutheran cemeteries
Category:Buildings and structures in Athens
Category:Tourist attractions in Athens
Category:1837 establishments in Greece
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [First Cemetery of Athens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Cemetery_of_Athens) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Cemetery_of_Athens?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.