10 Amazing Facts About Akrotiri, the Bronze Age City Wiped Out by a Volcano

Nearly 4000 years ago, and 1500 years ago Pompeii Buried by volcanic ash, the Bronze Age city of Akrotiri was destroyed by one of the world’s most powerful volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions In history. The discovery of the buried city on the modern Greek island of Santorini in the 1860s revealed the astonishing sophistication of the ancient city’s civilization, but also raised a number of surprising questions. The most important of which is: Why were no human remains found in the ruins? Let’s find out.

1. The Minoan eruption was the second largest volcanic eruption in history.
2. Akrotiri was buried under 60 meters of pumice stone.
3. Thera may have inspired the tale of Atlantis.
4. Workers building the Suez Canal discovered the buried city.
5. Excavations at Akrotiri revealed an advanced trading civilization.
6. There is some debate as to whether Akrotiri was truly Minoan.
7. No human remains have been discovered in the ruins of Akrotiri.
8. One of the victims of the Thera eruption has been found, but not in Akrotiri.
9. You can walk the streets of Akrotiri today.
10. Santorini is still volcanically active.

The Minoan eruption was the second largest volcanic eruption in history.

In Bronze Age Greece, around 1645 BC, a series of… Earthquakes Raised one of the most Powerful volcanic eruptions In recorded history now known as the Minoan eruption. Long sleeper Thira volcanoin the Aegean Sea about 70 miles from Crete, exploded and spewed tons of ash and pumice across the Mediterranean, causing much of the island to collapse and send tsunami In multiple directions. To give an idea of ​​the vast scope of the eruption, the explosion formed a huge crater with an area of ​​about 32 square miles.

(the The largest eruption In recorded history it was the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815, which caused global changes in climate patterns and contributed to the emergence of Europe.A year without summer“In 1816.)

Akrotiri was buried under 60 meters of pumice stone.

The eruption destroyed the island of Thira (now Santorini), which was formed from a half-sunken portion of the volcano’s caldera, and covered AkrotiriIt is a major city and an important stop on the Mediterranean trade routes, in a thick layer of pumice. The disaster wiped out all life on the island and left the city frozen in time. Evidence from the excavated city suggests that the area was affected by archaeology Many earthquakes In the years before the eruption, it is clear that many buildings had been repaired in the years before the eruption. Some archaeologists believe that this geological instability indicates that the city was partially abandoned by the time it was buried under ash.

Thera may have inspired the tale of Atlantis.

After earthquakes and a volcanic eruption, the island of Thira was left devastated. These dramatic events seem to match the basis The legend of Atlantis. Plato first wrote about the mythical island and how the advanced society that lived there angered the gods, causing the entire island to sink into the ocean. Most historians agree that Plato was using the symbol to warn against moral decline, but some researchers actively sought to find the lost civilization, believing that the circular shape of Santorini and the destruction of the impressive settlement at Akrotiri could reflect the supposed fate of Atlantis. However, no conclusive evidence has been found, and several other sites have been put forward as potential contenders. The most convincing evidence that Santorini is not Atlantis is Plato’s statement that the mythical land existed outside Europe In the Atlantic Ocean.

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Workers building the Suez Canal discovered the buried city.

In 1867, builders were excavating volcanic soil from Santorini to use in building the tower. Suez Canal In Egypt, they discovered a number of important antiquities. However, another century passed before proper excavations began. Greek archaeologist Spiridon marinatus He led the excavation and hoped to prove or disprove the idea that Minoan civilization On the nearby island of Crete, it collapsed as a result of the eruption of the volcano Thera.

He soon lost interest in this theory because when he opened the first test trenches, he was astonished to find perfectly preserved Bronze Age buildings two and three stories high. Many of them are richly decorated with frescoes. Marinatos soon realized that he had a much greater discovery than he had anticipated.

Excavations at Akrotiri revealed an advanced trading civilization.

Archaeologists have found fragments of pottery indicating the presence of Akrotiri It was first settled in the Neolithic period (in the 5th millennium BC), and by the time the volcano buried it during the Bronze Age, it had developed into a highly advanced maritime city. The huge warehouses within the city indicate that Akrotiri served as an important trading center between mainland Greece, Crete, and the eastern Mediterranean. Commodities such as olive oil, metals, and pottery were traded throughout the region in a network that also spread culture and ideas.

The architecture was also impressive: Paved streetsThe two- and three-story buildings, the sewerage system, and the well-designed buildings with public squares where people could gather showed the sophistication of urban planners. In comparison, during this same period in Great Britain, most people lived in wooden and mud frames One-story round housesThe roads were unpaved, and England did not have an effective sewerage system until the arrival of the Romans in 43 AD.

There is some debate as to whether Akrotiri was truly Minoan.

From about 3000 BC to 1100 BC, the Minoan civilization flourished on the island of Crete. The advanced culture was named after the (possibly) legendary King Minos, who was said to have built the incredible Palace in Knossos An underground labyrinth inhabited by the legendary Minotaur. The Minoan civilization is remarkable as Europe’s first example of an advanced society, and archaeologists have uncovered a culture rich in fine arts, palaces and sophisticated writings all centered on the island of Crete. Civilization declined in the decades following the eruption of Thira, leading to some speculation The disaster hastened its end.

Minoan influence spread through the civilization’s abundant trade in the region, but archaeologists debate whether Akrotiri, about 70 miles away, can be classified as Minoan. Excavations at Akrotiri revealed a cosmopolitan city that made use of similar means Architectural devices Such as those found on Crete, such as light wells to improve lighting in dark interiors and wooden columns to support the upper floors of buildings. The artwork and frescoes also show strong similarities to examples found at Knossos on the island of Crete. However, there is also evidence of the influence of other nearby neighbours, e.g CycladesEspecially in the geometric patterns found on pottery. Ultimately, Akrotiri’s location allowed it to benefit from close links with other advanced cultures, allowing the city to develop into a unique and thriving cultural center.

No human remains have been discovered in the ruins of Akrotiri.

One of the most surprising things about the excavations at Akrotiri is that – unlike Pompeii – not a single body has been found, despite extensive archaeological work at the site. Several theories have emerged to explain the mystery.

Historians have assumed that multiple earthquakes that preceded the volcanic eruption forced the population to abandon the city, but evidence of ongoing repairs to Akrotiri’s buildings seems to refute this idea and suggest that people returned after the earthquakes. Another theory is that the earthquakes provided residents with sufficient warning of an eruption, allowing them to erupt evacuation. Some archaeologists believe that future excavation of the ancient port may finally solve the mystery because, in theory, they will discover the bodies of those who died in the tsunami while waiting to escape Akrotiri on ships.

One of the victims of the Thera eruption has been found, but not in Akrotiri.

There may be some evidence to support the tsunami theory. Archaeologists believe the disaster caused at least four tsunami waves that swept layers of volcanic ash over the Turkish coast. In recent excavations in Çeşme Baglara in TürkiyeScientists from Ankara University worked on the wreckage of an ancient tsunami, and were astonished to discover the first known human victim of the eruption, lying in a layer of ash beneath several pits believed to have been dug by those who rescued the survivors. The placement of the skeleton at the bottom of the pits means that, unfortunately, the person was not recovered alive from the ashes.

You can walk the streets of Akrotiri today.

the Archaeological site Visitors are allowed to walk the ancient streets and see buildings and artifacts from the Bronze Age city. However, many of the beautiful frescoes and more important works of art have been removed to museums, such as the Museum Archaeological Museum of Thira In Fira, the capital of Santorini, and National Archeology Museum In Athens. The frescoes reveal amazing details of daily life in ancient Greece, such as depictions of two young men boxing and a fisherman carrying a school of fish he has just caught, giving modern visitors a connection to this ancient civilisation.

Santorini is still volcanically active.

In just two weeks in January and February 2025, Santorini saw 1200 earthquakes Its strength ranges from 1.0 to 5.2. Volcanologists monitoring the area have noted that there appears to be a huge earthquake Magma tank Beneath Santorini and the neighboring submerged Colombo volcano, which moves between the two with seismic activity. Like the ancient inhabitants of Akrotiri, many modern residents of Santorini chose to evacuate as the earthquakes became more frequent. The volcano did not erupt – this time – and people were able to return to their homes.