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.
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