The greatest natural disaster to strike the ancient world!

When and how? When the volcano in the island's centre ejected tephra for 4 days, burying the city of Akroriri, then collapsing and sending a tsunami throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.

The island of Santorini, Thira, Fira or Thera, was thus formed by one side of the caldera (crator) of a volcano. The central part having been partially submerged by the sea leaving a roughly crescent-shaped land mass which now forms the island.

As it was our second visit we arrived by plane at the airport on the west side of the island. We therefore missed the awe-inspiring sight and geologically intriguing layers of different coloured, dark pumice at the receiving port.

Our view of the caldera was truly awe-inspiring from our hotel even if the numerous steps resulted in our loss of wheel no. 4 on my suitcase.





Also we were there to view the once a year lighting spectacle on the island opposite.

However our antiquity tour helped us concentrate on the Minoan period and the 'lost' Minoan town of Akroriri where painted walls and beautifully carved furniture (in the museum) evidenced the sophisticated lifestyle of the Minoans.

This city had been buried in the eruption of 1500 BC and has been preserved as a kind of "Pompeii". It has recently been opened under its new shelter and its many walkways.

10,000 square metres of the city has been opened up (the French school of Archeology first explored the ravine at Akroriri in 1867 to show that a pre-historic city lay beneath tons of volcanic ash 60 metres thick).






And so the greatest natural disaster struck the ancient world. the last eruption being recorded in 1956. And on average every 20000 years an event like this may occur.

How will you be remembered?

It is a question, silent it may be, yet something that concerns all of us as we slip nearer to the top of the queue.
What have you written to those who you leave behind... when your final moment does come?
Is it your wish that your name remains in eternity?
Well, it depends on your name of course and...what you have achieved in the years of your life.
All this matters!

So of all the sights seen on our last escapade this one does stick in my mind. Was it his foot size? Or did he impress me as the founder of the city we visited...the remains thereof...remains that he made sure in which he would be included. No, he was indeed the founder of the city, TEMENOS, founded in the mid century 3rd B.C. And the founder's name, ARTEMIDOROS of APOLLONIOS from PERGE of PAMPHYLIA. Now wasn't that name worth recalling? One can't ignore his feet either.

So this PRIEST, who in his old age settled in Thera founded a number of sanctuaries embellishing the city. However his open-air sanctuary was chisilled out of the rock by Artemidoros himself. His altars, relief decorations and numerous inscriptions decorate the place today.

 The throne of the goddess of Tyche; the lion of
Apollo Stephanephoros;the eagle of Zeus Olympios and the dolphin of Poseidon Pelasios completes the set with the portrait of Artemidoros wearing a wreath.







We found Dolphins throughout our tour of Crete also.

 Even if you don't discover this history, a visit will fill you with great sights of the local geographic land marks.
Kamari, the volcanic beach resort plus remains of the city on top of the hill overlooking the now present airport feeding the tourist mecca of Santorini will make your visit worthwhile.