Paros Ancient Cemetary in Paroikia

Later on in the 5th century B.C. the burials were rather innovatively placed in huge marble vases and in certain cases in enormous structures with plinths.

The Hellenistic and Roman era saw the introduction of marbled sarcophagi which in itself was very unique. Officially planned excavations started in the year 1983 which coincided with the building of the edifice of the Municipal Cultural Centre of Paros located in close proximity to the Paros harbor. Excavation works went on till the year 1985 and it is during one such excavation session that archaeologists came across the ancient cemeteries and were unanimous in their opinion that this was indeed one of the most significant cemeteries in the entire Cyclades.

Excavating the area was not an easy job and tested the skills of the archaeologists who had to encounter a marshy area with deep rooted plants which acted as a kind of protection from the the water. The archaeologists had to literally drain out the water by using high velocity water-pumps.

As of today, the monuments with their customary sarcophagi have been comprehensively renovated, thus enhancing the appeal of the cemetery. The principal excavation site has been converted into a splendid archaeological park and the best part about the park is that it is eminently noticeable from all sides. For an up-to-date illustration of the cemetery, there is an exclusive interpretation zone which rather scientifically depicts the many facets of the cemetery by way of high resolution photography.

Soldiers' bones in urns--evidence of a forgotten battle fought around 730 B.C. Did these men perish on their island home of Paros, at the center of the Aegean Sea, or in some distant land?

The cemetery is significant in many ways as it provided fascinating insights into the changing funeral practices down the ages. It also throws light on the state of civilization in ancient Greece. There is enough evidence of the dead soldier’s urns, 120 of them who perished. No body knows how they died. But one thing is very apparent. It was a devastating tragedy. The manner in which the dead soldiers’ near and dear ones paid the ultimate tribute to their departed folks by way of placing their cremated vestiges in massive vases is certainly a one-of-its-kind instance and unmatched by any other ancient cemeteries.