| Cemetery Description: |
Compiled By Sammy Mordos 2009. The present location of the cemetery is not that of the earliest Jewish cemetery in Zakynthos. It is documented that the Jews of the island were given land where they could bury their deceased separate from Christians. It appears that the earliest burials were within a Christian cemetery and that in 1519 they were given their own cemetery. The reference to this cemetery is also noted in a document dating back to 1545. On February 25, 1656, under the Republic of Venice, the cemetery land was taken by the Venetians to be used for a Catholic church (St. George) . Outside the church there was a plaque noting that the former Jewish cemetery had dated back to 1281.
The present cemetery has been at this location since 1656. There are many graves that are now illegible and have not been included on this list Translated by the Museum of Kehila Kedosha Janina and reprinted with permission. |
