Santorini and the Legend of Atlantis
Many people believe that Santorini once was the Lost City of Atlantis
The mythological nature of Santorini Island which is part of the Cyclades chain of Greek islands spanning the Aegean sea that divides Turkey and Greece has long been documented. Greek legend points to the island being created as part of a miracle which can be proved by the scientific assertion that the island was actually created as a result of a titanic eruption of the islands still active volcano sometime prior to the Bronze Age.
There is also a connection, although somewhat tenuous of the island being connected with the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Tourists who stay in Santorini luxury hotels can actually hear from the staff and locals how the Greek philosopher Plato made the assertion if interpreted correctly that the city of Atlantis was part of Santorini island and was populated by the islands previous civilization the Minoans.
Plato tells about an island of circular shape and concentric structures. Santorini (Thera, Thira) does have an impressive concentric geographic setting and seems that had it before the Minoan eruption as well. Studies that have been done the latest 30 years in Akrotiri excavations show that the structures of this ancient city were concentric indeed. The famous mural in the West House of Akrotiri (studied by Heiken and McCoy in 1990) shows a flowering landscape of an island and the departing Therean fleet and some concentric water-land structures as well.
Some people believe that Atlantis got its name from Atlantic Ocean... This is wrong of course. The name of Atlantis derived from Atlas, the giant of Greek mythology who held the sky upon his shoulders.
The race of the Atlantians was strong, tall and healthy, they lived in peace and had all the virtues. But as the years were passing, they became sinful and involved in crimes. They started to fight against other cities and subjected other races to their cruel power. Only the Athenians (the citizens of Athens), had their own army, fleet and moral power by that time and were able to defeat and stop Atlantians from subduing the world. Because of that bad behavior of Atlantians, the Gods' anger against Atlantis was so strong, that they created a tremendous volcano eruption and an earthquake that destroyed it in a single day and sunk it into the sea, covering everything with lava and volcanic ash.
Although there is no actual evidence, the local legend and some of the names of Santorini hotels still point to a connection and the centre of the island which has actually re-submerged into the ocean (sunk into the sea by the anger of Gods) as a result of a massive eruption in the bronze age also fuels speculation that the islands central crater (the caldera) may have been the location of the lost city of Atlantis.
Certainly this connection does not harm the island fabulous and mystical reputation and tourist flock by the thousands to Santorini hotels each year to enjoy the unique geological effects of the islands many eruptions. These effects range from allowing Santorini hotels to be perched perilously close to three hundred meter high cliff top edges, to allowing the ongoing development of fabulous beach side Santorini hotels. The overall result of the Atlantis myth is that it gives the somewhat mystical nature of the islands natural geology even more mystery as visitors ponder what may have originally been there.
We probably will never know for sure if Atlantis was really existed...
But Santorini exists and is considered as one of the best holiday destinations in the world!
Suggested Santorini Hotels
Ianthe Apartments & Villa in Oia
Antoperla Luxury Hotel & Spa in Perissa
Veggera Santorini Hotel in Perissa
Maison Des Lys Santorini Luxury Suites in Akrotiri
More Santorini Hotels
Many people believe that Santorini once was the Lost City of Atlantis
The mythological nature of Santorini Island which is part of the Cyclades chain of Greek islands spanning the Aegean sea that divides Turkey and Greece has long been documented. Greek legend points to the island being created as part of a miracle which can be proved by the scientific assertion that the island was actually created as a result of a titanic eruption of the islands still active volcano sometime prior to the Bronze Age.
There is also a connection, although somewhat tenuous of the island being connected with the legendary lost city of Atlantis. Tourists who stay in Santorini luxury hotels can actually hear from the staff and locals how the Greek philosopher Plato made the assertion if interpreted correctly that the city of Atlantis was part of Santorini island and was populated by the islands previous civilization the Minoans.
Plato tells about an island of circular shape and concentric structures. Santorini (Thera, Thira) does have an impressive concentric geographic setting and seems that had it before the Minoan eruption as well. Studies that have been done the latest 30 years in Akrotiri excavations show that the structures of this ancient city were concentric indeed. The famous mural in the West House of Akrotiri (studied by Heiken and McCoy in 1990) shows a flowering landscape of an island and the departing Therean fleet and some concentric water-land structures as well.
Some people believe that Atlantis got its name from Atlantic Ocean... This is wrong of course. The name of Atlantis derived from Atlas, the giant of Greek mythology who held the sky upon his shoulders.
The race of the Atlantians was strong, tall and healthy, they lived in peace and had all the virtues. But as the years were passing, they became sinful and involved in crimes. They started to fight against other cities and subjected other races to their cruel power. Only the Athenians (the citizens of Athens), had their own army, fleet and moral power by that time and were able to defeat and stop Atlantians from subduing the world. Because of that bad behavior of Atlantians, the Gods' anger against Atlantis was so strong, that they created a tremendous volcano eruption and an earthquake that destroyed it in a single day and sunk it into the sea, covering everything with lava and volcanic ash.
Although there is no actual evidence, the local legend and some of the names of Santorini hotels still point to a connection and the centre of the island which has actually re-submerged into the ocean (sunk into the sea by the anger of Gods) as a result of a massive eruption in the bronze age also fuels speculation that the islands central crater (the caldera) may have been the location of the lost city of Atlantis.
Certainly this connection does not harm the island fabulous and mystical reputation and tourist flock by the thousands to Santorini hotels each year to enjoy the unique geological effects of the islands many eruptions. These effects range from allowing Santorini hotels to be perched perilously close to three hundred meter high cliff top edges, to allowing the ongoing development of fabulous beach side Santorini hotels. The overall result of the Atlantis myth is that it gives the somewhat mystical nature of the islands natural geology even more mystery as visitors ponder what may have originally been there.
We probably will never know for sure if Atlantis was really existed...
But Santorini exists and is considered as one of the best holiday destinations in the world!
Suggested Santorini Hotels
Ianthe Apartments & Villa in Oia
Antoperla Luxury Hotel & Spa in Perissa
Veggera Santorini Hotel in Perissa
Maison Des Lys Santorini Luxury Suites in Akrotiri
More Santorini Hotels
