Kozma utcai izraelita temető

We finally visited the Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery on a day when it was open. It is quite an amazing place.



like so many old things in Budapest, it is in bad shape with large sections now returned to forest and, in some areas, graves hidden by undergrowth.

But the grave stones that can be seen are, in many cases, quite amazing.

One of things we have seen here and the New Public Cemetery next door, is that first names (listed second) on the markers for husband and wife are the same. Her name seems to be derived from his. Don't know what this is about.

There are large sections under the canopy of a forest that has grown over the cemetery.

And the lanes that allow movement about the grounds are completely shrouded as it is a country lane leading to country estate.

Unlike a christian cemetery there are no statues of angels or children here and very few people of any sort depicted. Only classical forms generally on a more modest scale than their christian counterparts.

These forested sections are large enough that from the ground level, they appear endless.

Hajós Alfréd, who is interred beneath the family structure seen below, was the first olympic swimming champion and the first Hungarian olympic champion. He competed in the first modern olympics in 1896 in Greece. He won ⅔ of the swimming events in the competition! No other person has won such a large fraction of all swimming events in a single games.

His connection to the family whose grave is described below his marker at the top is unclear to me.

The large black stones lining this lane make an imposing row of sentinels.

The holocaust memorial is filled with thousands of names.

It is a place of contemplation and reflection.

yet, there are still names being added to the list by family members.

Closer to the front gate as a series of mausoleums with statues outside.

And one mausoleum in an art nouveau style. Although my photo attempts were not very good, you can see through the iron doors that there are gilted designs inside.

Other people were satisfied with merely ornate stone work atop their final resting place.

Well worth a visit when you are in town.