The second most important, in terms of chronology, civilization of the island is associated with the city of Thira at Messa Vouno. Ancient Thira was the only urban center on the island from the 9th century BC to the coming of Christianity. The long and narrow rock formation of Messa Vouno (to the east of the Monastery of the Prophet Bias, 369m above sea level) offered an ideal vantage point from which to look out over the southern Aegean, and its advantages did not escape the attention of the Spartan colonists who settled here at the end of the 12th century BC.

Before their arrival the island, which, according to Herodotus, had had its name changed from Strongili to Kallisti - meaning beautiful - because of its beauty, had been inhabited for eight generations by Phoenicians. The excavations conducted by Baron Hitler von Gaertringer were confined to the site of public buildings and so we do not have a comprehensive picture of the whole ancient city. The amphitheatric layout of the city which we see today is characteristic of the Hellenistic period, but because of the position of the city this was probably also the way it was laid out in earlier times: the houses and public buildings disposed in a terraced pattern down the inclining terrain of the long, narrow backbone of the hill, with the cemeteries on the Seteda slope uniting Messa Vouno with Prophitis Ilias.

At the center of the city lay the agora, with the houses and other public buildings placed around it: The former extending to the east at the same level as the agora in order not to obstruct the view of the sea, and the latter standing in more imposing positions on the western slope. Particularly conspicuous is the theatre, built during the rule of the Ptolemies (3rd century BC). (3rd century BC). The most important festival in the Thiran calendar, as in those of all the Doric cities, was the Karneia, held in honor of Apollo.

The centerpiece of the festival were the gymnopaidies, the gymnastic displays held under the full moon in the most sacred site of ancient Thira, a square at the south-eastern edge of the city specially designed to accommodate the event. Inscriptions on the city walls include praise and expressions of admiration for the physical beauty of the naked athletes who danced and sang hymns of praise to Apollo.

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