Santorini

Santorini of yester year | Volcanoes | Santorini today

 

Santorini of yester year

Gazing upon the three islands of Thira, Thirasia and Aspronisi, one can realise the original shape of the island and understand the name Strongyle (The Circular One) by which it was known in ancient times according to the ancient historian Herodotos.

Human presence on the island according to the archaeological finds at Akrotiri was first recorded in the Bronze Age in 3000 BC. The buildings containing wonderful wall-paintings, furniture and pottery show the island’s great development and prosperity. During the second millennium BC, the volcano erupted, dragging a part of the island to the depths of the ocean along with its civilization. Later the island became a Spartan colony under their leader King Thira, from whom it took its present official name of ‘THIRA’. Then the town of Ancient Thira on the mountain of Mesa Vouno was founded with the two seaports on the coastal areas of Oia (Kamari) and Elefsis (Perissa), thus turning the island into an invaluable naval base. In the 6th century BC, Thira created its own currency and the two dolphins became the official emblem of the island.
During the Byzantine era, the island adopted Christianity and from the 4th century onwards, an organized church existed there named Episkopi Thira under the bishop Dioskouros. It is worthy of note that Alexios Komninos built the church of Panagia Episkopi at Mesa Gonia. During the Byzantine years, the greatest problem faced by the Aegean islands including Santorini was that of pirates. Due to this, the islanders built the Kastelia (castles) to protect their villages. There are five Kastelia on the island, ‘Skaros” at Imerovigli, the ‘Kasteli of Agios Nikolaos’ at Oia, the ‘Kasteli of Pyrgou’, the ‘Kasteli of Goula’ at Emboreio, and the Kasteli at Akrotiri.

In 1204 the island was conquered by the Venetians (Crusaders). The name Santorini appeared at that time, originating either from the church of Santa Irini in Perissa or from Santa Irini in Riva Thirassia. Santa Irini (the present-day island of Santorini) was annexed to the Duchy of Naxos and later came under Ottoman rule. Trade prospered greatly at that time. In 1830 it was united with the new Greek State.