Ancient funerary complex

Was this hill once a hive of activity, or did silence always reign here? The Ancient funerary complex at Korakonero reveals glimpses into the burial practices of Rhodes in late Hellenistic and Roman times. Unlike the grand cemeteries within city limits, Korakonero housed tombs carved into the soft poros rock. Some are simple cist graves, while others are elaborate subterranean chambers. Imagine these chambers, adorned with architectural fronts – arched colonnades, perhaps, or columns supporting architraves. These more luxurious tombs, mimicking temple facades with their metopes and triglyphs, contained cists within their walls where the deceased were laid to rest. The purpose of these grand complexes remains a mystery. Did they belong to wealthy families, their opulence a testament to earthly riches? Or were they the domain of religious groups, their grandeur reflecting a desire for a glorious afterlife? Adding another layer to the enigma, Korakonero was once a quarry. This practical use of the land preceded its transformation into a city of the dead, where the living carved out spaces to honor those who had passed. Discovered and restored by Italian archaeologists before World War II, the complex still holds secrets. The altars and stelai, placed atop the subterranean chambers, stand as silent witnesses to a past shrouded in mystery.