Restoring Ancient Voices: The Baby Amphorae of Paros

Ελληνικά | Français

In the Kakapetra area of Parikia, beneath a quiet plot of land known as “Stavros,” lies one of the most moving archaeological discoveries in the Cyclades: the southern cemetery of the ancient city of Paros.

Since 2015, rescue excavations led by the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades have uncovered more than 100 burials spanning all types — but perhaps none more poignant than those of newborns and foetuses, tenderly laid to rest inside ceramic amphorae. This ancient burial practice, known as enchytrisma, offered the smallest and most vulnerable members of society a sacred resting place.

What makes Paros’ southern cemetery exceptional is the sheer scale of this practice. While infant burials typically account for around 30% of ancient cemetery populations, here they represent nearly 50%, a remarkable and historically significant anomaly, likely linked to the nearby Asklepieion, the sanctuary of the god of healing.

Four of these amphorae, the most representative of the enchytrisma practice, have been identified for conservation and restoration. Found in fragments after more than 2,400 years underground, they now await the careful hands of a conservator to bring them back to life.

Your donation will fund:

• The professional conservation and restoration of all 4 amphorae (3 months of specialist work)
• The organisation of a temporary exhibition in the archaeological museum of Parikia — “Exhibit of the Month” — so that museum visitors can come face to face with this deeply human story of loss, care, and ancient custom
• A specially designed display case, informational materials, and burial reconstruction drawings
• An opening cocktail to which every donor will be personally invited

The total budget for this project is €6,000, and every contribution brings us closer to sharing these stories with the world.

More than sun and sea

Paros is celebrated for its beauty, but its truest richness lies beneath the surface. Projects like this one are part of a growing effort to deepen the island’s cultural offer and give visitors a reason to connect with Paros beyond the beach: to be moved, to learn, and to carry something meaningful home with them. Restoring and exhibiting these amphorae is a step toward a Paros that is as rich in experience as it is in landscape, where cultural heritage becomes an encounter, not just a backdrop.

Join us at the opening

Every donor who contributes to this campaign will be personally invited as a guest of honour at the opening of the exhibition in Summer 2026. Come and witness firsthand what your generosity helped bring back to life — and stand in the presence of objects that have waited over two millennia to be seen again.

These amphorae are more than artefacts. They are the last embrace of parents who lived 24 centuries ago. Help us honour them.