Santorini volcano. The eruption, where it is, photos, the death of the Minoan civilization, interesting facts
in love with books. Mutually
My Mediterranean love) Fairy tale island, simple, dried up, but insanely beautiful and cozy.
A visiting card of Greece, a Mecca for lovers and romantics, the land of enchanting sunsets and at the same time dormant mortal danger. 
Santorini now
The Santorini archipelago is a group of five islands:
The main island - Thira (Thira) 75.8 sq. km, coastline - 70 km, population of about 8,000 inhabitants.
Terasia (Thirassia) 9.3 sq. km, about 250 inhabitants (excursions are made here by boat with a visit to the volcano and thermal springs)
Aspronisi 0.1 sq. km, not populated
Old Kameni (Palea Kameni) 0.5 sq. km, 1 inhabitant
New Kameni (Nea Kameni) 3.4 sq. km, not inhabited. 
Yes, there are many letters again, but this is the last time) probably)) the history of the island is very interesting and its attractive power is amazing. Santorini Fira is associated with one of the most catastrophic volcanic eruptions in the history of mankind, as well as one of the most mysterious and alluring myths, the legend of Atlantis.
I will try to briefly retell) the epic nature of what happened in ancient times on the island leads me to some kind of almost sacred awe)
Great cataclysm
The Mediterranean is located - African and Eurasian, and therefore
« Most of the islands in the Aegean are the result of volcanic activity. One of these islands, which is part of the Cyclades archipelago, is Thira (Fira). Thira, together with the islands of Thirasia, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and Aspro, is part of a group of islands in the form of a ring called Santorini.»
“The history of Santorini began 80 thousand years ago, when a new volcano was born in the southern Aegean. He “notified” the Mediterranean about his birth with a powerful eruption and ashfall, traces of which are still found today all the way from Italy to Cyprus. Over time, the volcano grew, rose above the water, attached to itself three rocks sticking out of the sea and turned into an island fifteen kilometers across. Then its activity fell, the volcano “fell asleep”, overgrown with grass and forest, and became similar to other habitable islands of the Aegean Sea.”
In the most common version, Thira is represented as a volcanic cone, although there are theories that the island was a complex group of volcanic cones fused with each other, located mainly along its periphery, and the inner part was partially occupied by a lagoon or a plain.
Freely located in the middle of the sea, warmed by the sun, it attracted people with fertile soils. It is believed that the first name of the island was Strongili, Round.
“It is difficult to say when the first people appeared on the island - it is only known for certain that long before the advent of our era, life on its shores was already in full swing: cities stood, gardens bloomed, ships moored in the port with goods from Egypt, from Crete, from other islands of the Cyclades archipelago ... "
“The inhabitants of Santorini knew the system of measures and calculus, they mined lime and built complex vaulted structures, painted walls with fantastic frescoes. They successfully developed agriculture, weaving, pottery.
The village of Akrotiri in the south of the island was a colony of Crete and one of the centers of the Cretan-Minoan civilization. During excavations near it from 1967 to 1974 (only some forty years ago) expedition of Spyridon Marinatos discovered
a whole residential quarter, consisting of spacious two- and three-story houses with facades lined with stone slabs. Many houses probably collapsed into the sea at the time of the explosion of the volcano, which split the edges of its crater, on the slopes of which the settlement discovered by Greek archaeologists was located. But even from the surviving remains, one can imagine a populous and prosperous seaside city that once stood here.
also found
“Amazing in beauty and thoroughness of execution, wall paintings that adorned the interiors of almost all the houses discovered during excavations in the surviving part of the settlement. In terms of their artistic merit, these paintings are in no way inferior to the frescoes discovered long before that in the palaces of Knossos, Pylos, Tiryns and Mycenae. Among them there are works that are completely unique in their artistic and historical value. In all of the Aegean art, there is hardly anything comparable to the amazing picturesque frieze depicting a whole squadron of ships cruising along the coasts and islands of the Aegean, or perhaps the Mediterranean Sea.
And just at this wrong time (approximately between 1500 and 1640 BC, data refined as dating methods improve) the volcano woke up from a thousand-year "hibernation". There is no historical evidence of this event, but the picture can be reconstructed from volcanological data and observations of other eruptions, such as the explosion of Krakatoa in Indonesia, etc.
The catastrophe was monstrous, the eruption began with an explosion. “A giant black “sultan” shot up over the island. A few minutes later, the shock wave, having overcome 130 km, reached Crete: the mountains shuddered, the walls of the royal palaces cracked. Stunned and frightened, the Cretans ran out of their dwellings: in the north, where the sea was always serenely blue, a black cloud swirled, all in crimson reflections. Devouring space, she rapidly approached.
Impenetrable, suffocating darkness then covered not only Crete, but also Palestine - biblical legends and Egyptian chronicles testify to this. The ash fall lasted, probably for several days, after which the force of the explosions began to wane, but Santorini was shaken by a new, no less terrible cataclysm.
The eruption devastated the magma chamber under the volcano, and the entire middle of the island - more than 80 cubic kilometers of rock - fell into the underground void with a roar that should have been heard at such a distance as Norway. Norway, can you imagine? Sea water rushed into the formed abyss, it fell directly on the red-hot lava. Huge volumes of water instantly turned into steam, the pressure of which grew at a tremendous speed.
Santorini exploded like a steam boiler. From this explosion, vibrations of the earth's surface and its local subsidence occurred. But the most terrible was the formation of a new tsunami wave, which surpassed the first in its size and power.
A huge wave, the height of which supposedly reached from 100 to 200 m, hit the northern coast of Crete. This wave finally destroyed the entire Minoan fleet, and the buildings on the island, and part of the population of Crete and the Cyclades. The Cretan-Minoan civilization suffered such damage that it could not recover from it in the future.
Strongili no longer existed. From the round island there were only torn edges with dizzying cliffs going to the inner bay 380 meters deep - the so-called caldera. Black, red, yellow rocks - that was the "flesh" of the old volcano torn open by the explosion and collapses.
“The whole island was covered with a thick layer of pumice, the thickness of which in some areas reaches over 30 meters. Boulders of basalt erupted from the volcanic vent with such force that they caused damage to many houses in Akrotiri.
"At a speed of 150 km per hour and at a temperature of more than 600 degrees, the lava burns everything in its path."
The explosion on Strongili is considered one of the strongest in the history of our planet. Add to this an earthquake, tsunami and fires and you get a picture of a real apocalypse for the Mediterranean region.
“The Santorini volcano changed almost the entire Mediterranean beyond recognition, and the sound wave from the explosion circled the entire planet several times. The ash that rose into the atmosphere changed the climate for many thousands of kilometers from the epicenter for several years.
The dispersion of the contents of the crater, according to various estimates, reaches 500-700 km, affecting Africa, mainland Greece, the Middle East
“The volcano threw out a huge amount of pumice. And pumice is lighter than water. As a result, the entire eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea was covered with pumice for many years. Navigation became impossible.
« The eruption of Thera sent European civilization down a different path.
Perhaps Tyra erased an entire continent. For example, the legendary Atlantis.
Under the caldera at a depth of three hundred meters under water and a layer of ash, perhaps, lies a dead city.
At 800 kilometers from Tyra, the eruption was observed in Egypt. It is even mentioned in the Bible. The eruption of the volcano and the tsunami are associated with such a biblical event as the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, and in particular, the famous passage of Moses across the sea, when the sea receded (low tide before the tsunami) and the Jews passed, and the army of the pharaoh was destroyed by the oncoming huge wave. »
Living on a volcano
When Marinatos began excavations, archaeologists expected to find a second Pompeii, but something warned the inhabitants of the danger and they left the settlement in advance.
“No valuables, no jewelry, no seals or other signs of power were found in Akrotiri, and no human or animal remains were found, except for one pig skeleton. The time period between the earthquake and the awakening of the volcano is unknown. One year must have passed since the seeds that had been in the ruins of the houses since the earthquake began to germinate when the first volcanic ash covered them.
But for some reason people like to live on a volcano) And even after such a disaster, the former Strongili did not fall into disrepair. Centuries passed, history turned into a legend, and the inhabitants returned to the island. Only already others.
Phoenician, Dorian and Roman ships moored to its shores at different times. The Dorians liked the island so much that in the 2nd century BC they decided to found a city on the main island called Thera in honor of King Theras (the modern name is Fira). In the Hellenistic period, Thera served as a naval base for the Ptolemaic dynasty, later passed to the Romans, in the 4th century the first Christian church appeared on the island.
Santorin received its current name in 1204 from the Franks - in honor of Saint Irene. The Franks preferred to move the capital to the eastern, steep bank, building a fortress on the rock of Skaros. Later, not far away, right on the crest of the caldera, the modern capital of Santorin, Fira, also grew up.
A series of bloody quarrels between the dukes who owned the Cyclades, attempts by Byzantium to recapture Santorini, raids by the Turks - a relatively calm life for Santorini came only in 1579, when the island was finally annexed to the Ottoman Empire. For some reason, the Turks granted autonomy to Santorini, allowing the inhabitants to elect their elders themselves. Either the Turks were fascinated by the Santorini windmills (in Turkish the island was called "Deymertsik" - "Little Mill"), or they were confused by the renewed activity of the volcano.
The new inhabitants of Santorin got a hard lot. The former greatness of the island has remained forever buried under a layer of volcanic ash, along with its fertile soil, clean springs, convenient harbors. The dry earth continued to retain traces of fire and looked more like pumice. The grapevine had to be twisted into a ring so that it would not be broken by the wind. And the fishermen had to take a whole journey to get down to the boats.
Permanent eruptions
But the volcano itself did not let people relax
Scientists are aware of another powerful cataclysm associated with the Santorini volcano, which occurred approximately 25 thousand years ago, and many smaller ones.
1) Santorini disturbed the Greeks in 197 BC. e., then the island of Palea Kameni arose.
2) An eruption in 236 BC separated Thirassia from the northwestern edge of Thira.
3) In 726, the island of Palea Caimeni grew significantly
4) A terrible volcanic eruption sank half of Palea Kameni in 1452.
5) The southern coast of Santorini went under water in 1570. Three years later Malaya Kammeni appeared.
6) In 1650 Columbus was stranded
7) An underwater eruption with poisonous gases, which occurred around 1700 in the northeast of Oya, resulted in the death of thousands of people and animals.
8) During 1707-12. The new Kammeni appeared above the water. 5 years!
In 1707, sailors saw something black in the middle of the Santorini bay. They decided that these were the remains of a sunken ship, and hurried there, but ... ran into the rocks! These rocks moved, and the sea around them changed its color from green to red, from red to yellow. Heavy smoke and flames erupted from the depths - the population of the island was seized by panic: people decided that the fire was about to spread to the island itself. The lava island grew before our eyes, gradually turning into a giant black "spider" resting in the center of the bay. The sea, meanwhile, boiled and burned like butter in a frying pan, and the waves threw dead fish ashore. Every night, flames flared up over the bay, which rose high into the sky and scattered over the stunned people "star rain". This went on for almost a month...
9) In 1866, a series of eruptions lasting two years led to the appearance of the islet of Afotessa, which then disappeared again.
On January 26, 1866, stones fell from the ancient cone of Nea Kaimeni, on the 30th the number of stones increased. The inhabitants of the island noticed that in many places of the bay the water became noticeably warmer than before. Clouds of steam rose from the water, spreading the smell of sulfur. The next day, steam began to burst out of the water with noise, a slight underground rumble was heard, cracks appeared on land, and many houses in the villages scattered across the archipelago cracked. Then the frightened inhabitants, seeking salvation, moved to the largest of the islands. On February 1, volcanic activity intensified, and around noon in the middle of the bay, a black jagged rock, shrouded in white steam, emerged from the water, giving rise to the island of Georgios, which joined Nea Kaimeni on February 5. On February 13, after a strong underwater rumble, another island appeared on the surface of the water, called Afroessa. And finally, on February 20, the underwater eruption reached its maximum. There was a terrible explosion on Georgios. A huge column of ash and steam rose to a height of several hundred meters, and red-hot pieces of lava flying out of the sea rose up to at least 500 meters. Soon a third island arose, which then formed one whole with Afroessa. Eruptions continued throughout the year, with periods of increased volcanic activity alternating with periods of relative calm.
10) In 1920, the formation of New Kammeni again, there were no casualties.
11) In 1925-26 connected Malaya and New Kammeni, did not entail major destruction. And it looked like this:
12) The volcano last woke up in 1956, causing a strong earthquake and tidal waves 17 meters high. 50 people died on the island. This earthquake destroyed most of Santorini's houses and many residents were forced to leave the island, leaving only about 400 people on the island.
Not everyone could withstand such "performances". People left the "devil's island", but many soon returned. In order to survive on the volcano, where there is not a single normal tree, there is really no clay, no sand, no stone, the Santorini began to dig horizontal caves - “skafts” in the malleable volcanic tuff.
"Cave" life in Santorini continued until 1956, when the island suffered a catastrophic earthquake. A new misfortune drove the inhabitants out of their burrows forever. The horror of the prospect of being flattened in the thickness of the rock cannot be experienced twice - people did not want to return to their homes, although it was the skafts that survived: the viscous tuff withstood the vibrations of the firmament, while all the ground buildings collapsed.
Santorini Volcano (crater diameter - 1680 m; height was 1.5 km) is an active shield volcano on the Greek island of Santorini (Thira).
History of the Santorini volcano eruptions
For the ancient Cretans, Thira acted as a metropolis island: the slopes of Mount Santorini were occupied by the capital and other settlements, and at its foot there was a harbor.
Due to the eruption, which dates back to 1645-1600 BC, settlements on the island and on the Mediterranean coast were killed. So, because of the tsunami that arose (height - 18 m), the Minoan civilization of Crete was destroyed (the ash cloud spread over 1000 km). In addition, this process led to the collapse of the volcanic cone, and sea waters poured into the resulting abyss.
It is worth noting that the island of Thira “shaked” more than once: the largest (Minoan) earthquake is dated 1628 BC, the next (the most powerful) - 1380 BC, and the last - 1950 (now the volcano " sleeping”, but not extinguished). The reason lies in the fact that Thira is located at the junction of the Eurasian and African plates, which is why this area is indented by volcanic relief and volcanic activity is manifested here.
What is interesting: Plato, the author of the dialogues Critias and Timaeus, described Atlantis as an island-state that disappeared from the face of the earth under mysterious circumstances. Existing versions say that: the island of Thira is Atlantis; Atlantis was destroyed by the explosion of the Santorini volcano.
Santorini for tourists
The crater of the Santorini volcano is located on the island of Nea Kameni (there are active mini-craters - sulfur compounds come to the surface from them) - everyone is taken there in small boats and on larger tourist boats.
Are you going to climb the crater of the volcano - you will climb a rocky lava path to a height of 130 meters; if you wish, you can walk around the crater, from here you will see a wonderful panorama of the island of Santorini and the Aegean Sea. Do not forget to provide yourself with water (there are no sources of fresh water on Nea Kameni) and comfortable shoes. In addition, it is worth taking a bathing suit with you, since a trip to the volcano is combined with a visit to the healing thermal springs in Palea Kameni (another attraction of the island is the Church of St. Nicholas), in which you can and should swim (prefer a dark-colored swimsuit - because due to the high content of various minerals, it can be stained).
The sea excursion includes several stops:
- First stop - Volcano (charitable contribution - 2.5 euros): an English-speaking guide will tell you about legends and interesting facts, after which tourists will have free time to enjoy unforgettable views and create unique photographs.
- The second stop is the springs of Palea Kameni (30 minutes - 1 hour will be allocated for swimming).
- The third stop is Thirassia: there for two hours you can admire the local beauties, relax on the beach, visit one of the 21 churches, as well as a Greek tavern, where visitors will be treated to local delicacies.
- The final stop is Oia, where you can visit the souvenir shops and admire the famous sunsets. The western part of the resort overlooks the Amoudi Bay. The eastern part of the resort also deserves attention - from there a view of the Gulf of Armenia opens.
And after a busy sightseeing day, tourists are returned back to the old port of Fira (the approximate cost of the tour is 42 euros).
Attractions of the island of Santorini
On Santorini, a volcanic island, tourists will be offered to visit the Archaeological Reserve (a visit will cost 5 euros; open from 8 am to 8 pm in June-October; non-working day - Monday), located in Akrotiri. Excavations were carried out in its vicinity and the ruins of the city of the Minoan civilization were discovered, namely, 2-3-storey houses well preserved under the ashes of the volcano, the facades of which were lined with stone slabs; wall paintings that adorned the interior; Houseware; marble anthropomorphic sculptures; animal figurines; various vessels; the only golden object in the form of a statuette of a golden ibex.
In addition, the Archaeological Museum deserves the attention of tourists (it is a repository of finds found during the excavations of Ancient Fira and Akrotiri - funerary artifacts, red and black-figure vases, vessels with geometric patterns and other things; admission costs 3 euros) and the Museum of Prehistoric Fira (the exposition allows you to admire Neolithic ceramics, a jug from Megalochori, a Minoan vase from Akrotiri and other interesting items; a visit will cost 3 euros) in the city of Fira.
And travelers are happy to relax on the amazing local beaches, covered with both red and black sand. Pay attention to the Perivolos beach, where you can rent a straw umbrella and sunbed, go diving or windsurfing, and also hold a wedding ceremony.
Santorini is the number one destination in Greece according to Tripadvisor. And indeed it is. The Acropolis of Athens pales in comparison to this extraordinary island.
In fact, Santorini is a group of islands in the Aegean Sea. The group includes the islands of Thira, Thirassia, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and Aspro. The population of Thirasia is very small, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and Aspro are generally uninhabited, therefore the main island of Thira is simply called by the name of the archipelago.
Volcano Santorini
The main attraction of the island is the Santorini volcano. Arriving in Santorini, it is simply impossible not to visit the volcano - the island is the volcano. The exception is the peak of Santorini, but more on that later. The volcano is active. The island shakes regularly. The last serious earthquake here occurred in 1956.
Until 1500 BC the island had a round shape and was called Strongila. The Santorin volcano, which was located in the center of the island, had a height of 1.5 km. About one and a half thousand years BC, an event occurred that decisively changed both the history of the ancient world and the shape of the island - an eruption with a force of up to 7 points on the eruption scale. As a result of the eruption, the crater of the volcano collapsed and a huge caldera (funnel) was formed, which was immediately filled with the sea. The area of the sea surface of the caldera reaches about 32 square meters. miles, and a depth of 300-400 m. From ancient Strongyla, only the currently visible crescent with a sheer cliff of more than 300 m in the western part and gentle beaches in the eastern part remained.
This is what Santorini looks like today. In the very center there is an island-crater (Palea Kameni), surrounded by a flooded caldera and individual islands. Source: Wikipedia.
After filling the crater of the volcano with water, it evaporated and a huge explosion occurred (the effect of a steam boiler), which caused a huge tsunami, presumably from 100 to 200 m high, that hit the northern coast of Crete. The consequence of the tsunami was the decline of the Minoan civilization. The catastrophe was completed by strong earthquakes and volcanic ash thrown out over a considerable distance. A tsunami several tens of meters high destroyed everything that was on the islands of the Aegean Sea, on Crete, in the coastal Greek settlements, northern Egypt, everyone who lived on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, and suspended the development of civilizations for a thousand years. There is a version that it was this tsunami that killed Atlantis.
If you look closely at the satellite image, then the mountain is clearly visible on the right. This is the peak of Santorini. It has nothing to do with the volcano and was here before it. It has exactly the same structure and origin as all the other islands of the Cyclades archipelago.
From the side of the island, the caldera is framed by sheer slopes. It is on these slopes that the top attractions are located - the cities of Fira and Oia.
Sheer cliffs around the caldera of Santorini volcano. The dark island in the center is a crater.
Santorini is conditionally a Greek island. This can be seen in architecture, culture, names and Catholics. The name of the island itself is of Latin origin - Santa Irini (in Greek it would be Agios Irini). Obviously Latin names are also found among settlements - Emporio, Perissa, Messario, etc.
Carter of Santorini volcano. Oia is visible in the background, and even further, the island of Ios.
I'm very skeptical of crowds of tourists, but this island built one. We spent five days on the island and did not have time to see everything.
Transport in Santorini
Volcano Santorini
The ruins of the Minoan city on Cape Akrotiri
Akrotiri is the name of the excavations at the site of a Bronze Age settlement attributed to the Minoan civilization. The name of the excavations is given by the name of a modern village located on a nearby hill. The original name of the ancient settlement is unknown. It was buried under a layer of ash from a volcanic eruption around 1500 BC, and as a result, it is surprisingly well preserved. According to experts, before the city was covered with volcanic ash, there was a strong earthquake, in connection with which the residents managed to leave their homes on time.
The Akrotiri Museum is one of the most civilized places in Santorini. It's clean, tidy and well thought out. The infrastructure is very reminiscent of the pyramids of Guimar not Tenerife. I did not like only paid parking (3 euros). We have not seen more paid parking lots in Santorini.
The Akrotiri Excavation Museum is a branch of Tenerife in Santorini.
Shortly before the completion of the excavations in 2005, the roof that covered the entire excavation area collapsed, killing one of the visitors. The excavations were not damaged, but after that the object was closed to the public. In June 2008, it was announced that Akrotiri would be closed to tourists until at least 2010. I don't know exactly when it was opened, but the museum is open.
red beach
The Red Beach is in close proximity to Akrotiri. The beach is like a beach, only red. For such a popular and organized beach, surprisingly poor parking and approach. Poor aunts hardly make their way over stones and other gullies. Parking by the beach resembles an average Novgorod yard.
black beach
The black beach in Santorini is everywhere. A volcano is a volcano. There are beaches with very small pebbles - they are called sandy. They are located in the beach villages of Perissa and Kamari.
Surprisingly, beach holidays are developed in Santorini. The beach villages and beaches here are so-so, if you want a beach, go somewhere else (better not to Greece at all).
Peak of Santorini
Santorini Peak is the highest point on the island. At the peak is the NATO radar and the peak itself is closed to the public. However, almost at the very top, there are viewing platforms. The entire archipelago is clearly visible from the peak.
Santorini Volcano is a legendary volcano on the island of Santorini (Thira) in the Aegean Sea. The eruption of the Santorini volcano, which happened three and a half thousand years ago, is considered the largest volcanic event on Earth in history.
As a result of a monstrous eruption, the crater of the volcano collapsed, and a huge caldera was formed, which was instantly filled with the waters of the Aegean Sea. The explosion of the Santorini volcano led to the death of the Aegean civilization, settlements on the islands of Crete and the Mediterranean coast. According to some scientists, the state that died as a result of the explosion is the legendary Atlantis.
Santorini is a group of several islands that make up the Cyclades archipelago. Among them are the island of Thira, Palea Kameni, Thirassia, Nea Kameni and Aspro. They are built in the form of a ring, in the nutria of which there is a deep (up to 400 meters) volcanic caldera. The inner coast of the largest island - Thira - is a steep slopes, the height of which reaches three hundred meters. Whereas the outer edge is gentle comfortable beaches with black lava sand washed by the waves of the Aegean Sea.
Tourists love Santorin for its interesting history and wonderful vacations, which are possible in the picturesque romantic town on the island. Many hotels provide visitors with cozy rooms and houses for accommodation. The excellent service and infrastructure of modern Thira is in stark contrast to its ancient predecessor. The archaeological reserve, where excavations are still ongoing, is one of the most popular places in Santorini.
In addition, everyone can take a yacht trip to the islets of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, located in the center of the caldera. These islands are nothing but the result of the activity of the legendary Santorini volcano. Before the eyes - alien landscapes, under the feet - quite hot earth, and through its thickness in places trickles of hydrogen sulfide make their way. The volcano is sleeping, but not extinguished. Its last activity was observed in 1950. And at any moment Santorini can wake up again.
Volcano Santorini - PHOTO
Since ancient times, volcanoes have attracted and at the same time frightened our ancestors. Most people, when they hear the word "volcano", imagine a high conical mountain that periodically spews tons of ash and lava into the sky. However, this is only one of many types of volcanoes found in nature - there are also underwater, fissure and dome-shaped structures that differ not only in shape, but also in behavior.
Greece is home to over half a dozen majestic volcanoes - some active, others dormant. If you are looking for a place for an unforgettable summer vacation and memorable adventures, then a trip to one of them will be a great option. Breathtaking views, clear water and a variety of natural landscapes distinguish volcanic resorts from the rest of Greece.
The volcano of the same name on the Santorini Islands is one of the most famous not only in Greece, but throughout the world. In 1600 B.C. e. its most powerful eruption occurred, as a result of which the city of Akrotiri was completely destroyed, and only 3 remained of the large archipelago of islands - Thira, Therazia And Aspronisi. Historians believe that the legends of this natural disaster could form the basis of stories about Atlantis.
Thira Island, which became the epicenter of the eruption, since ancient times belonged to the Cretans, who were skilled sailors and traders. On the very slope of the mountain they built their capital, and at the foot of the island - a harbor for the merchant fleet. In 1628 B.C. e. a strong earthquake began on the island, which forced the inhabitants of the island to leave their homes and sail away from Tyra. A few hours later, a column of black smoke began to escape from the mouth of the volcano, and lava flows covered the slopes of the mountain. A powerful explosion tore apart the peak, and the shock wave caused a strong tsunami that wiped out coastal settlements and the harbor with the remnants of the fleet. The central part of the island, under its own weight, fell into the depths of the sea, forming a large lagoon with steep banks.
Last time Santorini volcano woke up in 1950, but this eruption was only a faint echo of the Minoan catastrophe. The depleted bowels of the volcano are unlikely to ever harm people, but serve as a good reminder of the vulnerability of human civilization.
Total for Methana peninsula there are more than 30 small volcanoes, but the largest of them stands out noticeably in the relief. Volcanic activity here began more than 1 million years ago, and the last recorded eruption occurred about 300 years ago. In 1922, seismologists predicted a new eruption, but this event never happened.
Near the volcano there are many hot springs and gas emissions are observed, which indicates its deep activity. Historians believe that it is with the sources of underground gases that the cult of the ancient Greek seers, the Pythia, is associated. According to studies, some constituents of gases tend to oversaturate the human body with harmful substances, causing oxygen starvation and hallucinations, which people of antiquity take as prophecies of the gods.
Methana Peninsula It has been inhabited by people since about 10 millennium BC. e. The first formed settlements that bore traces of civilization appeared here in the 6th millennium BC. e. Excavations that took place here at different times revealed ancient sanctuaries and art objects dating back to 1500-1200 BC. e.
In the works of Ovid, Strabo and Pausanias, one can find reliable descriptions of the eruption of several volcanoes in the northwestern part of the peninsula. In addition, they mention gas and hot water Methane sources. Today, Methana is famous not only for its beautiful volcanic landscapes, but also for its healing mud and thermal waters.
Milos Island, which is part of a volcanic island arc, is known throughout the world thanks to the discovery of a statue of Venus or Aphrodite de Milo. There is also an ancient volcano, the last strong eruption of which dates back to the period of 90,000 BC. e. During Roman rule, another natural disaster happened on the island - the volcano gave rise to a strong mudflow that buried the whole city under it. Due to the volcanic past, deposits of barite, bentonite clays and silver accumulated in the sediments of the island, which contributed to the development of trade relations between Milos and other policies and countries.
Today, only a crater, barely visible in the relief, remains from the Milos volcano. Sometimes the bowels of the earth make themselves felt by small gas emissions or hot springs.
In addition to the remains of a volcanic crater, Milos is famous for its sandy beaches - there are more than 70 of them on the island.
The second most famous volcano greece located on a small Nisyros island. This tectonic structure belongs to the youngest formations, because it appeared only 160,000 years ago. Despite the fact that the volcano is now showing some activity, tourists are quite rare here, which allows you to see it well and slowly.
The last major eruption, which happened in 1888, left behind a crater with a diameter of 25 meters. Now in the crater itself and around it you can observe the "lunar landscape" - the desert area is covered with multi-colored secretions of fumaroles and the remains of a substance erupted from the deep parts of the volcano.
The influence of volcanoes on the development of Greek culture
The volcanic eruption, accompanied by fiery streams, columns of smoke and clouds of ash, was perceived by ancient people as a punishment of the gods. The main goal of the life of any person was to incline a higher power to his side, appease with rich sacrifices and constant prayer.
The patron saint of volcanoes in the mythology of Ancient Greece was Hephaestus. He controlled not only the forces of nature, but was also a skilled blacksmith. According to Homer, Hephaestus was the son of Hera, the wife of Zeus. The goddess, annoyed by her husband's betrayal, gave birth to Hephaestus herself, from her thigh. The boy was born very weak, and besides, he was limping on both legs. The goddess, upset by this state of affairs, did not find anything better than to throw her son into the depths of the sea, hoping for his death. But the sea took Hephaestus into its arms. The second mother for the blacksmith god was Thetis, the patroness of the seas.
Hephaestus spent his youth and early youth on the seabed, where he did what he loved. Forged products that came out from under his hammer were not only beautiful, but also reliable. One day, when Hephaestus found out about the deeds of his mother, he forged a beautiful golden throne, and sent it as a gift to Olympus. Hera gladly accepted the offering, but as soon as she sat on the throne, invisible bonds bound her. Zeus, through his messengers, begged Hephaestus to release the goddess, but he remained adamant. Finally, Dionysus managed to get the blacksmith drunk, and in this form, deliver to Olympus. Seeing his mother chained to the throne, Hephaestus had mercy and forgave her. Since then, the son of Hera has taken an honorable place in the assembly of the gods, although he continued to engage in exclusively physical labor.
In Roman mythology, which adopted most of the features of antiquity, the god Vulcan corresponded to Hephaestus. According to the myths, he caused earthquakes and eruptions by working diligently with a hammer in his forge.
The activity of volcanoes often caused the death of entire cities and the collapse of civilizations. People were attracted by the beauty and grandeur of the volcanic structures, and often they were not even aware of the danger that lurks several kilometers below them. This is how the developed Mycenaean-Minoan civilization, which consisted of many ancient cities and settlements, sunk into oblivion. Modern historians believe that it is this incident, which occurred 1600 years before the beginning of a new era, that underlies the legends of Atlantis.
The island arcs of Greece, on which active and extinct volcanoes are located, are interesting objects for conducting tourist routes. White and black sand beaches, hot springs and therapeutic mud are perfect for people who want to relax with benefits. In addition, choosing a vacation near the volcano, you will get a unique opportunity to see all the greatness of nature with your own eyes.
Sanctuary of Apollo at Bassae.
Athens. Standing Attala
Standing Attala - a long gallery - a portico was built by the king of Pergamum Attalus II (159-138 BC), as a gift to the Athenians. Attalus spent a lot of time in Athens, learning philosophy and other sciences. Stoya is a large two-storey complex portico with a double colonnade and rows of shopping arcades behind the colonnade. The building was made from local materials: marble for the façade and columns, and limestone for the walls. The building was 116 meters long and was designed for 42 trading places. From that time on, the Stoa became the largest trading building in Athens, until it was destroyed by the ancient Germanic Heruli tribe in 267 AD. e. From its remnants, the city walls of Athens were fortified.
Sithonia. Travel romance for two
Hospitable Greece, covered with divine legends, is rightfully known as an oasis of serenity, tranquility and virgin nature. Two hearts that are looking for a romantic getaway will find it here, on the Sithonia peninsula, on the shores of the Aegean Sea. In this wonderful land, where the gentle sun gently touches the skin, and the turquoise waves refresh with coolness, it is so easy to feel like "celestials", carefree and happy. On a delightful sandy shore or in a picturesque bay, on a flowering mountainside or on a spacious terrace, lovers will not leave the feeling that the idyllic beauties of Greece were created exclusively for the two of them.
Crete. Spinalonga island.
Greek islands. Kythira Island
This island, with an area of 278 km2, is separated from the mainland (the Peloponnese peninsula) by a narrow strait of about 7 nautical miles. The harsh landscape of the island is very peculiar and in many ways different from the landscapes of the seven islands of the Ionian Sea. The inhabitants of the island until recently were characterized by increased isolation.