Akrotiri archeological site and the volcanic eruption in Santorini.

Akrotiri is Santorini’s main attraction, and one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. Before the enormous volcanic eruption around 1625 BC, Akrotiri was a thriving Minoan village with an important commerce activity with Crete and other Mediterranean ports. However, the village met a catastrophic fate; the volcanic eruption engulfed Akrotiri in vast quantities of lava, just as it did the rest of the island.

Akrotiri was rediscovered a few thousand years later, more specifically in 1866, when pots and vestiges of a settlement were found in the area. Serious excavations did not start until more than a hundred years later. They were led by Professor Spyridon Marinatos who had decided to prove his theory that the volcanic eruption of Santorini was the reason why the Minoan civilization perished.Ironically, Marinatos suffered a fatal fall in 1974 during the excavations. His death resulted from this accident, and he was laid to rest in the excavation area, the focus of his life’s work.

The site offers a glimpse into the lives of people in Greece during the Minoan period. The structural engineering of that era is particularly impressive, with some houses reaching three stories high and featuring indoor running water. Excavations have yielded few valuables or pieces of jewelry, and no human or animal bones have been found, leading to the belief that the villagers were forewarned about the eruption and escaped to safety, likely to Knossos in Crete.

Photo Credit: lesamoureuxduvoyageig

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