Kerameus

In ancient Greece, Kerameus (Κεραμεύς) designated a potter, or more broadly, a worker in clay. It also referred to the district of Athens inhabited by potters and other ceramic artisans. This area was located northwest of the Acropolis, stretching on both sides of the Eridanos stream.

The Kerameikos, as the district was known, was divided into two sections: an inner Kerameikos, located within the city walls, and an outer Kerameikos, situated outside the walls. The inner Kerameikos was primarily residential and contained workshops. The outer Kerameikos was a major burial ground, particularly known for its elaborate grave monuments and stelai. It also housed public buildings and was traversed by the Panathenaic Way, the processional route for the Panathenaic festival.

The Kerameikos was a vital center for Athenian commerce and craftsmanship, and its potters were renowned for their skill in producing pottery of various types, including amphorae, kraters, kylixes, and other vessels used for storage, serving, and decoration. The pottery produced in the Kerameikos played a significant role in Athenian economy and trade, as these vessels were exported throughout the Mediterranean world.

The term kerameus is etymologically related to the Greek word keramos (κέραμος), meaning potter's clay or earthenware. The English word "ceramic" is derived from keramos.