Santorini, which during classical times was known as Thera, is an island in the southern Aegean Sea. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago, the remnant of a volcanic caldera.
Santorini is the result of an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed the earliest settlements on what was before a more massive single island.
The resulting volcanic caldera is a giant central crater filled with water surrounded by high cliffs on three sides. The depth of the caldera, at 400m, so largest ships can anchor in the protected bay.
The island is the site of one of the most massive volcanic eruptions in recorded history.
The Minoan eruption occurred some 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization.
This enormous eruption may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through a gigantic tsunami.
Another theory proposes that this eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis.
Santorini was named by the Latin Empire in the thirteenth century, and is a reference to Saint Irene, from the name of the old cathedral on the island.
The name Thera was revived in the nineteenth century as the official name of the island and its central city, but the colloquial name Santorini is still in widespread use.
Museums in Santorini
- Akrotiri Archaeological Site
- Museum of Prehistoric Thera
- Archaeological Museum of Thera
- Maritime Museum, Santorini
- Greek Proverbs and Quotes
Santorini Museums
- Island: Santorini
- Greek: Σαντορίνη
- Population: 15,600
- Country: Greece
Museums in Santorini Map
Oia, Santorini – 360 views
Akrotiri Archaeological Site – 360 view
Thira, Santorini – 360 views
A Virtual Tour of Greek Museums and Historic Sites
- Athens Museums
- Ancient Corinth Museums
- Delos Museums
- Delphi Museums
- Ancient Mycenae Museums
- Epidaurus Museums
- Heraklion, Crete Museums
- Meteora Museums
- Milos Museums
- Mystras Museums
- Olympia Museums
- Pella Museums
- Santorini Museums
- Thessaloniki Museums
- Greek Proverbs and Quotes
Akrotiri, Archaeological Museum, and New Archaeological Museum in Santorini
Santorini | The Archaeological Museum
Santorini: The Prehistoric Museum at Fira
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“But afterward there occurred violent earthquakes and floods, and in a single day and night of misfortune all your warlike men in a body sank into the earth, and the island of Atlantis in like manner disappeared in the depths of the sea. ”
– Plato
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