| The archeologist's pickaxe begun unearthing | | | | volcano. The cause must now be sought |
| Santorini's exciting history in the mid-19th century, | | | | elsewhere. |
| when the volcanic Thiran earth was excavated | | | | The oldest evidence of human settlement in the |
| for use in the construction of the Suez Canal. It | | | | region is traced back to the Early Bronze Age, in |
| was then that the first traces of a prehistoric | | | | the mid-3rd millennium BC. Artifacts found in |
| settlement came to light. The first buildings of the | | | | Akrotiri show that Santorini had contact with |
| Prehistoric-era were discovered in 1866. French | | | | Minoan Crete as well as mainland Greece during |
| and German archeologists continued the research. | | | | the Middle Bronze Age (1900- 1 600 BC). |
| However, it was the Greek archeologist Spyridon | | | | The city of Akrotiri was destroyed by the great |
| Marinatos, a professor at the University of | | | | eruption. But it appears that this was preceded by |
| Athens, who conducted the most important | | | | smaller eruptions that prompted residents to |
| excavations. | | | | depart beforehand, taking with them their most |
| These excavations, which began in 1967, were | | | | valuable possessions. One can also deduce this |
| based on a bold theory that Marinatos first | | | | from the fact that no human or animal skeletons |
| suggested in 1939. According to this theory, the | | | | or valuable objects have been found on the island. |
| eruption of the Santorini volcano took place in c. | | | | After the disaster, two to three centuries passed |
| 1500 BC, burying a prehistoric city under tons of | | | | before the island was re-inhabited. |
| ash, while concurrently generating the collapse of | | | | The Phoenicians, who settled in the island around |
| the Minoan palaces in Crete. | | | | 1300 BC, called it Calliste ("Most Beautiful") |
| Excavations uncovered an excellently preserved | | | | because of its exceptional natural beauty. in the |
| Bronze Age city, which confirmed this aspect of | | | | late 12th c. BC, the Spartans, led by Thiras, |
| Marinates' theory. | | | | arrived on the island and changed its name from |
| Since then, scholars of Aegean prehistory have | | | | Calliste to Thira. |
| been preoccupied with establishing the date of the | | | | In Hellenistic times Thira was the naval base of |
| eruption. Marinatos' view prevailed for many | | | | the Ptolemies. During the Byzantine era the island's |
| years. However, excavations conducted over the | | | | population shrunk. Thira was given to Nicolas |
| past 15 years and the dating of finds from | | | | Sanudo, Duke of Naxos, in 1335, and to the |
| prehistoric Thira by scientific methods | | | | Ottomans in 1566. |
| demonstrate that the eruption occurred much | | | | In the 18th century, with pirate incursions in the |
| earlier, around 1050 BC. The collapse of the | | | | region all but ceasing, Santorini began to show |
| Minoan palaces two centuries later can no longer | | | | Significant expansion in agriculture, shipping and |
| be connected to the eruption of the Thira | | | | trade. |