The History Of Santorini Island

The History of Santorini. It has taken thousands of volcanic eruptions to form the island of Santorini. In the last 400,000 years, the Santorini volcano has erupted over 100 times. The bowels of the earth regurgitating magma rock and ash to ever increase the land mass of the island.

Before the last big eruption occurred in 1,600bc, the Island was called Strongili meaning, “round”. Therefore, Santorini or Strongili was a rounded Island, unlike the crescent shape we see today.

History Of Santorini. The Minoan Eruption

3,500 years ago 1,600 BC. Strongili was the centre of one of the biggest volcanic eruptions ever to visit the face of the earth.

The so-called “Minoan” eruption. A blast so catastrophic it blew Strongili apart. Fragmenting the Island in several places.

At the time of the eruption, a thriving community existed on Strongili. It is not sure whether the population was linked to the Minoan settlers in Crete 70km to the south. There have so far been no human remains discovered from the history of Santorini, archeological dig in Akrotiri.

Which leads the archeologicalists and scientists to believe, the islanders had warning that something big and devastating was about to happen thus giving them time to evacuate the island.

The many frescos, which have been uncovered, also suggest that these people were not of the Minoan race the frescos depict an entirely different culture.

The volcano spewed over 30 cubic kilometers of magma, rock and volcanic ash into the atmosphere burying the remains of Strongili.



The Caldera.
Beneath the volcano, where the magma had been stored, was now a hollow chamber. This chamber was huge, many kilometers deep and wide.

The volcano collapsed into this chamber, and following were billions of tons of ocean pouring into the empty chamber.

The resulting caldera is the biggest in the world. Now submerged the volcano continued spewing its magma into the sea, a new landmass formed from this cooling magma, which can be seen in the middle of the caldera Nea kameni (young Burnt) and is actually the bottle stop or cork, which was once the open spout of the main volcano.

Tsunami The Tsunami, which followed, must have had devastating results to neighboring Islands…

Therefore, it goes that, over 2,000 years passed, the islands cooled, vegetation started taking root birds found nesting places, and the Island populated again.So continued the history of Santorini

The first settlers needed shelter which they constructed, by digging into the soft volcanic pumice stone, to make their small dwellings. This activity still goes on today. Some islanders dig storerooms for fishing nets and workshops to repair their boats; they can be seen dotted around the beaches of the Island.

Pirates

The early settlers, afraid of pirate attacks, started building their cave dwellings into the cliff faces. They could easily hide from any invaders who chanced upon the islands.

Over the years, this practice evolved into the towns of Oia to the north and Fira the capital in the centre.

Another good hiding tactic was to build their villages in small valleys, when viewed from the sea; these villages were completely hidden from view.

The cave dwellings extended across the island into villages as the people of santorin learned the benefits of building their houses underground.

During the long hot summer months the cave dwellings stay cool and, during the winter months, the insulation of the soil keeps the rooms warm.

The arched roofs are a unique feature of Santorini architecture, and can be attributed to these early cave diggers.

The lack of timber on the island also contributed to the arched construction.

Joining one vertical wall with another by an arched roof is the cheapest way of construction; you do not need expensive supports to hold up the roof.

Captains Houses.

A class system evolved from this style of architecture. The wealthy cargo ship owners and captains who were responsible for supplies to the islands and the thriving export industry, decided to stamp their mark as a measurement of their wealth and hierarchy. They did it….

By changing the design of their houses.

“Captains houses” as they are named. Stand high on the cliffs and in prime position in the villages.

Below them, the cave houses of the lower classes, the deck hands, fisherman and workers of the Island. Captain’s houses are also found in the many villages here on Santorini Island.

Captains Houses have two major design features, they are free standing, and more importantly, they are constructed with flat roofs. From the inside of these houses however, the rooms still incorporate the arched roof design of the lowly classes after all, it is a lot cheaper to construct...Talk about mutton dressed as lamb!

The majority of the captain’s houses are now home to museums, government offices, schools, hotels and a few are standing abandoned and derelict.

From the outside, a tall wall usually surrounds the buildings; a single wooden gateway opens onto a courtyard or garden. Ornamental and pretty balconies overlook the lowly cave dwellings.

For sure, these houses stood like palaces amongst the slums of the cave dwellings hanging from the cliffs below.

It is ironic then, thanks to the tourist industry, the captain’s houses now hold a less prominent and less attractive, accommodation alternative, for visitors to Santorini Island.





History Of Santorini. Works of Art For the majority of tourists staying in the pricey caldera view area, the best view on the island. Living in one of the expensive cave dwelling hotels, or apartments, is little price to pay for the experience alone.

The Owners of these dwellings have transformed the spaces into comfortable living areas, with all the usual refinements found in any up market hotel.

Works of art adorn the whitewashed walls. Pretty pastel colors of pinks yellows and reds transform these architectural delicacies into works of art. Some even boast their own swimming pools and Jacuzzis.

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