Atlantis, Minoans & Antiquity

The connection between Santorini and the Atlantis myth has fascinated researchers for decades. Plato's description of a highly developed island civilization that "sank into the sea in a single day and night" matches many details of Minoan Santorini: the circular island, the advanced architecture, the sudden downfall. The theory is scientifically disputed, but the parallels are astonishing.

The Minoan Presence

Akrotiri was not an isolated settlement but a cosmopolitan trade center in the network of the Minoan world. The frescoes show connections to Crete (bull symbols), Egypt (Nile landscapes), and the Middle East (exotic animals). The city had running water, sewage systems, multi-story houses, and art of astonishing vitality — all during the Bronze Age, when Northern Europe was still in the Stone Age.

Antiquity and Middle Ages

After the eruption, the island was uninhabited for centuries. It wasn't until the 9th century BC that Doric Greeks from Sparta arrived and founded the city of Thera on Mesa Vouno (the rock above Perissa) — after which the island is officially named today. Thera was a significant naval base and founded the colony of Cyrene in Libya around 630 BC.

In Byzantine times (from the 4th century), numerous churches and monasteries were built. The name Santorini comes from the Crusaders of the 13th century, who named the island after the church of Santa Irene (Agia Irini). Under Venetian rule (1207–1579), fortress settlements (Kasteli) were built, the remains of which are still visible in Oia, Pyrgos, and Emporio. The Ottomans ruled from 1579 to 1821, after which Santorini became part of Greece.

The earthquake of 1956 (7.7 on the Richter scale) destroyed large parts of the villages of Oia, Fira, and Imerovigli. The population shrank dramatically (from 15,000 to under 6,000), as many emigrated to Athens. It was only the emerging tourism from the 1970s that brought the island back — and transformed it into the luxury destination it is today.