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| Santorini History and Archaeology |
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From Akrotiri until today
The prehistoric civilization of Akrotiri is perhaps the most remarkable period in the whole history of Santorini. The city, which flourished in the second millennium BC, played an important role in shaping the cultural identity of the whole Aegean region. Blessed with a large harbor on the main sea routes across the Aegean, and enjoying the privileged position of being one of the Mediterranean's most cosmopolitan centers, the civilization of Akrotiri was in contact with the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean, of Crete and of main land Greece. The area was inhabited from at least as early as the latter phase of the Neolithic Age and, during the third millennium BC, the fishing village of Neolithic times evolved into an important regional center; by the beginning of the second millennium it had also become a wealthy port.
But at the end of the 18th or the beginning of the 17th century BC, the city was leveled by a powerful earthquake. It rose again from the ruins, however, with only slight modifications to the original street plan. The new city, with its large buildings and rich mural decoration, was buried by lava in the great volcanic eruption of the Late Bronze Age (1600 BC). Parts of the buried city have been brought to light in excavation by the archaeologist Spyros Marinates. From the end of the 13th century BC the island was once again inhabited. We learn from Herodotus that five generations before the Trojan War, Phoenicians led by Cadmus settled here. They were followed, eight generations later (end of 12th century BC) by Spartans, who named the island after their leader, Thira.
By the 9th century BC Thira was a totally Doric colony, an inward looking community which played no part in the cultural development of the other Cycladic islands. In the late 9th - early 8th century BC Thira was among the first places in the Greek world, along with Crete and Milos, to adopt the Phoenician alphabet for the writing of Greek. In the Archaic period (7th and 6th centuries BC) the island was in communication with Crete, Paros, Attica, Corinth, Rhodes and lonia, but did not allow these contacts to influence its old conservative ways. The only break with tradition was the founding of Kyrene (630 BC) the only Thiran colony, on the northern coast of Africa. According to Herodotus the Thirans came here in obedience to an oracle in order to exorcise the drought which had plagued their island for the last seven years.
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Santorini DVD |
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This DVD is comprehensive Santorini guide and includes movie about island, area history and beautiful wedding locations....more
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