Jewish Cemetery of Thessaloniki

📍 Karaoli ke Dimitriou 28, Thessaloniki, 562 24, Greece, Θεσσαλονίκη, Grecia

Deceased

53.441

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Grecia

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About the cemetery

The cemetery was located at the site of Aristotle University campus between Egnatia Street and Agiou Dimitriou Street. Today's monument is located on the territory of the University, 140 meters from the gate from the side of Agiou Dimitriou street, on the right from the main valley. The source for the cemetery boundaries is a map found here: https://tetysolou.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/μία-απέραντη-περιοχή-γεμάτη-νεκροταφ/ (for establishing the approximate boundaries in context with the neighbooring buildings) and the map found in "In Memoriam" book, p. 120 (for establishing the exact detailed boundaries). The result is a very detailed outline, which can be seen at the cemeterie's photos. The peculiar shape of the cemetery has evolved because the two divisions (north and south) were divided by the neighborhood of Ayia Fotini (with triangular shape, at the left of Egnatia street), which was demolished too, and possibly was built over the Muslim section of the cemetery, demolished after the exchange of populations in the mid-1920's. There was a big Donme section (followers of Sabetay Tzvi), which was in the triangle area of the cemetery now overbuilt by the faculty of Economics, Social & Legal Sciences. This is the place where the old football field of Iraklis was. Before 1890, the cemetery west border was the line of the walls of the city, but then the authorities decided to enlarge Hamidiye avenue (now Ethnikis Aminis), and they destroyed the westernmost part of the cemetery. The cemetery contained approximately 300.000 to 400.000 tombs, and was one of the biggest in Europe. Possibly was in continuous use for more than two millennia (excavations during the 1960's discovered an ancient necropolis with many tombs and tombstones - of persons belonging to Jewish, Christian, and ancient Greek religions). Destruction started during the WWII, ended at the last years of 1940's. No tombstones are preserved in situ. Some were retrieved and positioned in the cemetery monument, and four or five more are placed at random places in the university park. The vast majority of the tombstones has become building material (and pavements...) and now are scattered at the wider Thessaloniki area. See also: https://www.esjf-surveys.org/survey/thessaloniki-old-jewish-cemetery/ Sources for the photos that depict general views of the cemetery: http://thess.gr/blog/author/mayor-rison - Photothèque CICR - kis.gr - https://tetysolou.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/μία-απέραντη-περιοχή-γεμάτη-νεκροταφ/ - Ben Zvi Institute (Molho Photo Collection) - Wikipedia - https://culture.thessaloniki.gr/kart-postal/ktiria-egkatastaseis/

Contact & location

Locality: Θεσσαλονίκη
Karaoli ke Dimitriou 28, Thessaloniki, 562 24, Greece
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