Heraklion Jewish Cemetery
Drone survey:
Perimeter map:
Country:
GreeceRegion:
CreteDistrict:
HeraklionSettlement:
HeraklionSite Address:
There are two possible locations of the Heraklion Jewish Cemetery. According to the workers of the Historical Museum of Crete in Heraklion, the cemetery was located at the site of what today is the OFI Stadium, which was built in 1960s, located between Parnassou Street, Isavron Street and Kantanou Street (GPS coordinates 35.33787, 25.11498).
Elderly locals believe that the cemetery was located on the site of what today are residential buildings between Petlempouri Street, Isavron Street, Kontu Street and Kantanou Street (GPS coordinates 35.33888, 25.11405).GPS coordinates:
35.33787, 25.11498 or 35.33888, 25.11405Perimeter length:
511 or 356 metresIs the cemetery demolished:
YesType and height of existing fence:
No fenceGeneral Site Condition:
The cemetery was totally demolished and overbuilt from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s. Today, the OFI stadium and residential buildings are located on the former cemetery site. A small operating Armenian cemetery is located near the stadium.Number of existing gravestones:
No tombstones preserved on the site itself. There are at least two Hebrew epitaphs from the Heraklion Jewish Cemetery in the Crete Archaeological Museum, dating from 1590 and 1645.Urgency of erecting a fence:
Fence is not needed. The cemetery is overbuilt.Land Ownership:
municipality/PrivateDrone surveys:
YesThe cemetery was totally demolished and built up from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s.
Survey teams learned of litigation procedures between an American Jewish organisation and stadium developers surrounding the destruction of the Jewish cemetery. ESJF’s local coordinator is gathering more information on the topic.
