Akrotiri (prehistoric city)

Akrotiri is an ancient settlement from the Bronze Age on the Greek island of Santorini. People lived there long ago, but the place was destroyed by a big volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC. Because of the eruption, many things from Akrotiri were covered in ash, which helped keep them safe for us to find today.

One of the most exciting things found at Akrotiri are beautiful wall paintings called frescoes. These paintings give us a glimpse into the lives and art of the people who lived there thousands of years ago. The site was first dug up, or excavated, by scientists in 1967, and they continue to learn more about this amazing place.

Even though we don’t know the real name the people of Akrotiri called their home, the place is named after a nearby village also called Akrotiri. It is a very important place for learning about the ancient Cycladic culture.

History

Akrotiri started as a small fishing and farming village a very long time ago, around the fifth millennium BCE. Over time, it grew into a bigger and more important place. It became a key spot for trading, especially with other cultures around the Aegean Sea. The town was well-planned, with paved streets and good drainage systems. People there made fine pottery and other crafts.

Then, around the 16th century BCE, a big volcanic eruption changed everything. The eruption buried Akrotiri in ash, but this also helped protect many of its beautiful wall paintings, called frescoes, for us to see today. Scientists use different methods, like studying tree rings and comparing objects from the town, to guess when exactly this eruption happened.

Excavations

Akrotiri was buried by the huge Theran eruption in the middle of the second millennium BCE (during the Late Minoan IA period). Like the Roman ruins of Pompeii, it is very well-preserved. People have found frescoes, pottery, furniture, good drainage systems, and tall buildings at the site.

Even though it was a Cycladic settlement, Akrotiri is linked to the Minoan civilization because of writing in Linear A and similar styles in artifacts and frescoes.

The first digs on Santorini were done by a French scientist in 1867. Later, in the years 1895–1900, a German scientist dug up ruins from a much later time. In 1967, a scientist named Spyridon Marinatos began big excavations and quickly found parts of the buried city. After Marinatos passed away, another scientist took over.

Many of the found objects are shown in a museum far from the site (Museum of Prehistoric Thera). Only one gold object was found, hidden under a floor, and no human remains were found, suggesting people left the city safely.

In 2018, a small shrine with a marble statue of a woman was found near a place where a golden goat was discovered in 1999.

Frescoes

See also: Wall Paintings of Thera

The wall paintings in Akrotiri are very important for learning about Minoan art because they are in much better shape than older paintings found at Knossos and other places on Crete. Most of those older paintings have only small pieces left.

Artists in Akrotiri used natural colors like white, yellow, red, brown, blue, and black for their paintings. They did not use the true fresco method very often. Instead, they started painting when the plaster was still a little wet but finished the work on a dry surface. This means the paint sticks well in some places but can peel off in others.

During the digging, experts found many well-preserved wall paintings. In 1968, they found the first pieces in Sector Alpha, showing the face of a person from Africa, the head of a blue monkey, and big blue birds flying.

In 1969, they found the painting called the Blue Monkeys in Room Beta 6, which made people very excited. The monkeys in the painting are climbing on rocks that look like the volcanic rocks near the site today.

In 1970, the Spring Fresco was found in Room Delta 2. It was the first painting discovered still in perfect condition and exactly where it was originally placed. The wall behind it was not strong, so the painting had to be taken down right away to save it. Saving this painting was a careful process that helped experts learn a lot.

Artifacts

The digs at Akrotiri uncovered many different items, especially pottery from the Late Cycladic period. Pottery was very important in ancient Greek life, and at Akrotiri, there was a lot of it because the town was left very quickly.

Pottery was used for many things, like storing goods, carrying items, cooking, eating, and even as bathtubs or oil lamps. The shape and design of each piece often told us what it was used for.

We also found clues about furniture from the volcanic ash that covered the city. This ash left shapes of wooden furniture, which scientists used to make casts. Common furniture pieces included small tables with three fancy legs.

In one house called the 'House of the Benches,' many animal horns were found. These horns, from cows, sheep, and goats, had been changed with fire and painted, but we do not know why.

Connecting path

There is a path leading down from the first houses of the modern settlement to the parking lot where people dig at Akrotiri. This path connects the old digging area to the town of Akrotiri. It was marked clearly and opened again in September 2012. It is kept in good shape regularly, thanks to help from people from many countries who volunteer . The people who live nearby have supported this work and help take care of the path, working together with the volunteers. You can use this path for mountain biking, hiking, and many other fun activities.

Panorama of Akrotiri excavation.