of its geographical location the cosmopolitan merchant harbour was builtand today is admired by many visitors.

During the mid-Cycladic period (2000-1650 B.C.), the town of Akrotiriplayed a significant role in the transportation of commodities and in the de-velopment of metallurgical activities, making it a pioneer of progress notonly in the Aegean, but in the Mediterranean in general. The materialwealth created by these activities allowed the inhabitants of the town notonly to survive after every catastrophe caused by a destructive earthquake,but also to rebuild and decorate the town with impressive buildings. Uniqueworks of art that were saved in the ruins of each catastrophe constituteclear evidence of this continuous development. Artistic creations displayinga wide variety of colours, picture presentations and narrative scenes on the

·Ó·Ù‡¯ıËΠÛÙÔ ÎÔÛÌÔÔÏ›ÙÈÎÔ ÂÌÔÚÈÎfi ÏÈÌ¿ÓÈ, ÙÔ˘ ÔÔ›Ô˘ Ù· ÂÈ‚ÏËÙÈο ÂÚ›-È· ‚ϤÂÈ Û‹ÌÂÚ· Ô ÂÈÛΤÙ˘.∫·Ù¿ ÙË ªÂÛo΢ÎÏ·‰È΋ ÂÚ›Ô‰Ô (2000-1650 .Ã.) Ë fiÏË Ùo˘ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›o˘

‰È‰ڷ̿ÙÈÛ ÛÔ˘‰·›Ô ÚfiÏÔ ÛÙË ‰È·Î›ÓËÛË ·Á·ıÒÓ Î·È ÛÙËÓ ·Ó¿Ù˘ÍË ÌÂÙ·Ï-ÏÔ˘ÚÁÈÎÒÓ ‰Ú·ÛÙËÚÈÔÙ‹ÙˆÓ Ô˘ ÙËÓ ¤ÊÂÚ·Ó ÛÙËÓ ÚˆÙÔÔÚ›· ÙˆÓ ÂÍÂÏ›ÍÂˆÓ fi¯ÈÌfiÓÔ ÛÙÔ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô ·ÏÏ¿ Î·È ÛÙË ªÂÛfiÁÂÈÔ ÁÂÓÈÎfiÙÂÚ·. √ ˘ÏÈÎfi˜ ÏÔ‡ÙÔ˜, Ô˘ ÔȉڷÛÙËÚÈfiÙËÙ˜ ·˘Ù¤˜ ·¤ÊÂÚ·Ó, ¤ÙÚ„ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ηÙÔ›ÎÔ˘˜ Ù˘ fiÏ˘ fi¯È ÌfiÓÔÓ· ÂÈ‚ÈÒÓÔ˘Ó ÌÂÙ¿ ·fi οı ÌÂÁ¿ÏË ÛÂÈÛÌÈ΋ ηٷÛÙÚÔÊ‹ ·ÏÏ¿ Î·È Ó· ÙËÓ ·ÓÔÈ-ÎÔ‰ÔÌÔ‡Ó Î·È Ó· ÙËÓ ÛÙÔÏ›˙Ô˘Ó Ì fiÏÔ Î·È ÈÔ ÂÈ‚ÏËÙÈο ÔÈÎÔ‰ÔÌ‹Ì·Ù·.∞„¢‰Â›˜ Ì¿ÚÙ˘Ú˜ ·˘Ù‹˜ Ù˘ Û˘Ó¯ԇ˜ ·Ó¿Ù˘Í˘ Â›Ó·È Î·È Ù· ÌÔÓ·‰Èο ¤ÚÁ· Ù¤-¯Ó˘ Ô˘ ÛÒıËÎ·Ó Î¿Ùˆ ·fi Ù· ÂÚ›ȷ οı ηٷÛÙÚÔÊ‹˜. √È Î·ÏÏÈÙ¯ÓÈΤ˜ ‰Ë-ÌÈÔ˘ÚÁ›Â˜ Ô˘ ÂΉËÏÒÓÔÓÙ·È Ì ÙËÓ ÔÏ˘¯ÚˆÌ›·, ÙȘ ÂÈÎÔÓÈÛÙÈΤ˜ ·Ú·ÛÙ¿ÛÂȘ ηÈÙȘ ·ÊËÁËÌ·ÙÈΤ˜ ÛÎËÓ¤˜ ÛÙËÓ ·ÁÁÂÈÔÁÚ·Ê›· Ù˘ ªÂÛÔ΢ÎÏ·‰È΋˜ ÂÚÈfi‰Ô˘ ·Ô-ÙÂÏÔ‡Ó ÚÔ‚·ıÌ›‰Â˜ Ù˘ ÌÂÁ¿Ï˘ ˙ˆÁÚ·ÊÈ΋˜ Ô˘ ı· ÎÔÛÌ‹ÛÂÈ Ì ÙÔȯÔÁڷʛ˜ٷ ÎÙ‹ÚÈ· Ù˘ ÂfiÌÂÓ˘ Î·È ÙÂÏÂ˘Ù·›·˜ Ê¿Û˘ (ÀÛÙÂÚÔ΢ÎÏ·‰È΋˜ 1) ÛÙË ˙ˆ‹ Ù˘fiÏ˘. ∏ ÙÂÚ¿ÛÙÈ· ¤ÎÚËÍË ÙÔ˘ ËÊ·ÈÛÙ›Ԣ ÂÚ› Ù· ̤۷ ÙÔ˘ 17Ô˘ ·È. .Ã., Ì·˙› ÌÂ

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Akrotiri excavation - Sector A: Pithoi storeroom∞Ó·Ûηʋ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›Ô˘ - ∆Ô̤·˜ ∞: ∞Ôı‹ÎË ›ıˆÓ

ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

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Thera/SantoriniBy Professor Christos Doumas*

The use of Theraic land by the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps forthe insulation of the Suez Canal lead to the discovery of prehistoric antiq-uities (1866), marking the beginning of archaeological research on theCycladic islands. Small-scale excavation research was carried out threeyears later (1870) by the French School of Archaeology on the site ofFavatas, north of the present day Akrotiri. In 1967 Spiros Marinatos inau-gurated the excavation to the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri on behalf of theArchaeological Society.

The prehistoric town of AkrotiriThanks to the digging up of deep pits for the foundationof columns for the new shelter, it is now possible for usto outline the history of the prehistoric settlement onthe southern coast of the island. Established during theNeolithic period (during the 5th millennium B.C.), thesmall Neolithic village followed the development of theCycladic civilisation of the 3rd millennium B.C. (proto-Cycladic period) and thanks to the strategic importance

£‹Ú·/™·ÓÙÔÚ›ÓË∞fi ÙÔÓ Î·ıËÁËÙ‹ ÃÚ›ÛÙÔ ¡Ùԇ̷*

∏ ¯ÚËÛÈÌÔÔ›ËÛË ıËÚ·˚΋˜ Á˘ ÁÈ· ÙË ÌfiÓˆÛË ÙˆÓ ÙÔȯˆÌ¿ÙˆÓ ÛÙË ‰ÈÒÚ˘Á· ÙÔ˘™Ô˘¤˙ ·fi ÙÔ °¿ÏÏÔ Ì˯·ÓÈÎfi Ferdinand de Lesseps (1866), ·ÔÎ¿Ï˘„ ÚÔ˚ÛÙÔ-ÚÈΤ˜ ·Ú¯·ÈfiÙËÙ˜ ÛËÌ·‰Â‡ÔÓÙ·˜ ÙËÓ ·Ú¯‹ Ù˘ ·Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈ΋˜ ¤Ú¢ӷ˜ ÛÙ· ÓËÛÈ¿ÙˆÓ ∫˘ÎÏ¿‰ˆÓ. ªÈÎÚ‹ ·v·ÛηÊÈ΋ ¤Ú¢v· ÂȯÂÈÚ‹ıËΠÙÚ›· ¯ÚfivÈ· ·ÚÁfiÙÂÚ·(1870) ·fi ÙËÓ °·ÏÏÈ΋ ∞Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈ΋ ™¯oÏ‹ ÛÙË ı¤ÛË º·‚·Ù¿˜ ÓÔÙ›ˆ˜ ÙÔ˘ ÛË-ÌÂÚÈÓÔ‡ ¯ˆÚÈÔ‡ ∞ÎÚˆÙ‹ÚÈ. TÔ 1967 Ô ™‡ÚÔ˜ ª·ÚÈÓ¿ÙÔ˜ ÂÁηÈÓ›·Û ÙËÓ ·Ó·Ûη-Ê‹ ÛÙËÓ fiÏË Ù˘ ∂Ô¯‹˜ ÙÔ˘ ÷ÏÎÔ‡ ÛÙÔ ∞ÎÚˆÙ‹ÚÈ ÁÈ· ÏÔÁ·ÚÈ·ÛÌfi Ù˘∞Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈ΋˜ ∂Ù·ÈÚ›·˜.

∏ ÚÔ˚ÛÙÔÚÈ΋ fiÏË ÙÔ˘ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›Ô˘Ã¿ÚË ÛÙË ‰È¿ÓÔÈÍË ‚·ıÈÒÓ ÛηÌÌ¿ÙˆÓ ÁÈ· ÙË ıÂÌÂÏ›ˆÛË ÙˆÓ ÛÙ‡ÏˆÓ ÁÈ· ÙÔ Ó¤ÔÛÙ¤Á·ÛÙÚÔ Û‹ÌÂÚ· ›̷ÛÙ Û ı¤ÛË Ó· ÛÎÈ·ÁÚ·Ê‹ÛÔ˘Ì ÙËÓ ÈÛÙÔÚ›· ÙÔ˘ ÚÔ˚ÛÙÔ-ÚÈÎÔ‡ ÔÈÎÈÛÌÔ‡ ÛÙË ÓfiÙÈ· ·Ú·Ï›· ÙÔ˘ ÓËÛÈÔ‡. π‰Ú˘Ì¤ÓÔ Î·Ù¿ ÙË ÓÂÔÏÈıÈ΋ ÂÚ›Ô-‰Ô (̤۷ Ù˘ 5˘ ¯ÈÏÈÂÙ›·˜ .Ã.) ÙÔ ÌÈÎÚfi ÓÂÔÏÈıÈÎfi ¯ˆÚÈfi ·Ú·ÎÔÏÔ‡ıËÛ ÙËÓÂͤÏÈÍË ÙÔ˘ ΢ÎÏ·‰ÈÎÔ‡ ÔÏÈÙÈÛÌÔ‡ Ù˘ 3˘ ¯ÈÏÈÂÙ›·˜ .Ã. (¶ÚˆÙÔ΢ÎÏ·‰È΋ÂÚ›Ô‰Ô˜) Î·È ¯¿ÚË ÛÙËÓ ÛÙÚ·ÙËÁÈ΋˜ ÛËÌ·Û›·˜ ÁˆÁÚ·ÊÈ΋ ı¤ÛË ÙÔ˘

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Professor Christos Doumas

position on the one hand, and their artistic talent on the other hand.Moreover, one can interpret the large variety of subject matter, and in par-ticular the depiction of exotic places with unknown animals and plants inthe environment of the Aegean, as another source of rivalry amongst thewidely travelled seamen of Akrotiri. Nowhere else in the Aegean can onewitness similar competition.

Nevertheless, the town of Akrotiri had become a cosmopolitan mer-chant harbour just as the exotic objects that have emerged from its ruinsconfirm. The rich and widely travelled seamen competed with each otherin decorating their homes with wall paintings with subject matters that por-trayed their own identity. The exotic places with the flora and fauna thatwas unknown in the Aegean inspired admiration amongst craftsmen andmanual workers of the land whilst simultaneously were raising the prestigeof those who contributed to the town’s wealth, of the merchants and of theseamen. However, this wealth gradually transformed the character of thetown’s inhabitants. Any archaeologist who delves into the ruins of the townhas the feeling that he is witnessing the history of a consumer society.

* Christos Doumas, Professor Emeritus University of Athens,Director of the Akrotiri Archaeological Excavations

·Ó·‰Â›ÍÔ˘Ó Î·Ï‡ÙÂÚ· ÙËÓ ÎÔÈÓˆÓÈ΋ ÙÔ˘˜ ı¤ÛË ÔÈ ÌÂÓ, ÙÔ Î·ÏÏÈÙ¯ÓÈÎfi ÙÔ˘˜ ٷϤ-ÓÙÔ ÔÈ ‰Â. ø˜ ¿ÌÈÏÏ· ‰Â ÌÂٷ͇ ÙˆÓ ÔÏ˘Ù·ÍȉÂÌ¤ÓˆÓ Î·È ÎÔÛÌÔÁ˘ÚÈÛÌ¤ÓˆÓ Ó·˘-ÙÈÎÒÓ ÙÔ˘ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›Ô˘ ı· ÌÔÚÔ‡Û ӷ ÂÚÌËÓ¢ı› Î·È Ë ÌÂÁ¿ÏË ÔÈÎÈÏ›· ıÂÌ¿-ÙˆÓ, ΢ڛˆ˜ ÂÎÂ›ÓˆÓ Ô˘ ·ÂÈÎÔÓ›˙Ô˘Ó ÙÔ›· Â͈ÙÈο Ì ˙Ò· Î·È Ê˘Ù¿ ¿ÁÓˆÛÙ·ÛÙÔ ÂÚÈ‚¿ÏÏÔÓ ÙÔ˘ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô˘. ¶·ÚfiÌÔÈ· ¿ÌÈÏÏ· ‰Â Ê·›ÓÂÙ·È Ó· ›¯Â ÚÔËÁÔ‡ÌÂÓÔÛ ÔÏfiÎÏËÚË ÙËÓ ÂÚÈÔ¯‹ ÙÔ˘ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô˘.

øÛÙfiÛÔ, Ë fiÏË Ùo˘ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›o˘ ›¯Â ÂÍÂÏȯı› Û ¤v· ÎoÛÌooÏ›ÙÈÎÔ ÂÌoÚÈ-Îfi ÏÈÌ¿vÈ, ηıÒ˜ Ì·ÚÙ˘ÚÔ‡Ó Ù· Â͈ÙÈο ·ÓÙÈΛÌÂÓ· Ô˘ ·Ó·‰‡ÔÓÙ·È Ì¤Û· ·fi Ù·ÂÚ›ȿ Ù˘. √È ÏÔ‡ÛÈÔÈ ÔÏ˘Ù·ÍȉÂ̤ÓÔÈ Ó·˘ÙÈÎÔ› Ù˘ ·ÌÈÏÏÒÓÙ·Ó Ó· ‰È·ÎÔÛÌ‹-ÛÔ˘Ó Ù· Û›ÙÈ· ÙÔ˘˜ Ì ÙÔȯÔÁڷʛ˜ Ô˘ Ì ٷ ı¤Ì·Ù¿ ÙÔ˘˜ ‰È·ÙÚ¿ÓˆÓ·Ó ·ÎÚÈ-‚Ò˜ ·˘Ù‹ ÙÔ˘˜ ÙËÓ È‰ÈfiÙËÙ·. ∆· Â͈ÙÈο ÙÔ›· Ì ·Ó›‰· Î·È ¯ÏˆÚ›‰· ¿ÁÓˆÛÙË ÛÙÔ∞ÈÁ·›Ô ÚÔηÏÔ‡Û·Ó ÙÔÓ ı·˘Ì·ÛÌfi ÛÙÔ˘˜ Ù¯ӛÙ˜ Î·È ÙÔ˘˜ ¯ÂÈÚÒÓ·ÎÙ˜ Ù˘ Á˘ÂÓÒ Ù·˘Ùfi¯ÚÔÓ· ·Ó¤‚·˙·Ó ÙÔ Î‡ÚÔ˜ ·˘ÙÒÓ Ô˘ Û˘Ó¤‚·ÏÏ·Ó ÛÙÔÓ ÏÔ‡ÙÔ Ù˘fiÏ˘, ÙˆÓ ÂÌfiÚˆÓ Î·È ÙˆÓ Ó·˘ÙÈÎÒÓ. √ ÏÔ‡ÙÔ˜ fï˜ ·˘Ùfi˜ ÌÂÙ¤ÙÚ„ ÛÙ·‰È·-ο Î·È ÙÔÓ ¯·Ú·ÎÙ‹Ú· ÙˆÓ Î·ÙÔ›ÎˆÓ Ù˘ fiÏ˘. √ ·Ú¯·ÈÔÏfiÁÔ˜ Ô˘ ·Ó·‰ÈÊ› Ù·ÂÚ›ȷ Ù˘ fiÏ˘ ¤¯ÂÈ ¤ÓÙÔÓË ÙËÓ ·›ÛıËÛË fiÙÈ ‰È·‚¿˙ÂÈ ÙËÓ ÈÛÙÔÚ›· ÌÈ·˜ ηٷӷ-ψÙÈ΋˜ ÎÔÈÓˆÓ›·˜.

* ÃÚ›ÛÙÔ˜ ¡Ùԇ̷˜, √ÌfiÙÈÌÔ˜ ∫·ıËÁËÙ‹˜ ÙÔ˘ ¶·ÓÂÈÛÙËÌ›Ô˘ ∞ıËÓÒÓ,¢È¢ı˘ÓÙ‹˜ ∞Ó·ÛηÊÒÓ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›Ô˘

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ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

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pot engravings of the mid-Cycladic period symbolise the advancement ofthe great painting that would come to decorate the walls of buildings withscenes from the life of the town during the next and final part of the peri-od (late Cycladic 1).

The tremendous volcanic explosion of the middle of the 17th centuryB.C., together with its consequences that affected the entire Mediterranean,suddenly broke the course of life for the people of Thera as it completelyburied the island under a thick layer of volcanic deposits. However, it wasthanks to this explosion that a final snapshot of the advanced course of afour thousand year old unique civilisation was preserved. An aspect that re-veals the liberal character and somewhat “town” mentality of the society ofAkrotiri more than any other is the extensive use and development of art.Not even one of the buildings that have been uncovered up until now lackswall painting decoration in at least one of its rooms. It is as if the new townhad been transformed into a huge laboratory where patrons and artistscompeted against each other to see who could best portray their social

ÙȘ fiÔȘ ÂÈÙÒÛÂȘ Ù˘ ÛÙ· Ú¿ÁÌ·Ù· Ù˘ ªÂÛÔÁ›Ԣ, ¤ÎÔ„Â ·fiÙÔÌ· ÙÔ Ó‹Ì·Ù˘ ˙ˆ‹˜ ÙˆÓ £ËÚ·›ˆÓ ı¿‚ÔÓÙ·˜ ÔÏfiÎÏËÚÔ ÙÔ ÓËÛ› ÙÔ˘˜ οو ·fi ·¯È¿ ÛÙÚÒ-Ì·Ù· ËÊ·ÈÛÙÂÈ·ÎÒÓ ·Ôı¤ÛˆÓ.

øÛÙfiÛÔ, ¯¿ÚË ÛÙËÓ ¤ÎÚËÍË ·˘Ù‹ ‰È·ÙËÚ‹ıËΠÙÔ ÙÂÏÈÎfi ÛÙÈÁÌÈfiÙ˘Ô ·fi ÙËÓÂÍÂÏÈÎÙÈ΋ ÔÚ›· ÙÂÛÛ¿ÚˆÓ ¯ÈÏÈ¿‰ˆÓ ¯ÚfiÓˆÓ ÂÓfi˜ ÌÔÓ·‰ÈÎÔ‡ ÔÏÈÙÈÛÌÔ‡.™ÙÔÈ¯Â›Ô Ô˘ ¤Ú· ·fi οı ÙÈ ¿ÏÏÔ ·ÔηχÙÂÈ ÙÔÓ ÊÈÏÂχıÂÚÔ ¯·Ú·ÎÙ‹Ú· ηÈÙËÓ «·ÛÙÈ΋», ηٿ οÔÈÔ ÙÚfiÔ, ÓÔÔÙÚÔ›· Ù˘ ÎÔÈÓˆÓ›·˜ ÙÔ˘ ∞ÎÚˆÙËÚ›Ô˘ ›ӷÈË ÌÂÁ¿ÏË ¯Ú‹ÛË Î·È ‰È¿‰ÔÛË Ù˘ Ù¤¯Ó˘. √‡Ù ¤Ó· ·fi Ù· ÎÙ‹ÚÈ· Ô˘ ¤¯Ô˘Ó ˆ˜ÙÒÚ· ·ÔÎ·Ï˘Êı› ‰Â ‚Ú¤ıËΠ¯ˆÚ›˜ Ó· ‰È·ı¤ÙÂÈ ÙÔ˘Ï¿¯ÈÛÙÔÓ ¤Ó· ‰ˆÌ¿ÙÈԉȷÎÔÛÌË̤ÓÔ Ì ÙÔȯÔÁڷʛ˜. ∂›Ó·È Û·Ó Ë Ó¤· fiÏË Ó· ›¯Â ÌÂÙ·Ùڷ› Û ¤Ó·ÙÂÚ¿ÛÙÈÔ ÂÚÁ·ÛÙ‹ÚÈÔ, fiÔ˘ ¿ÙÚˆÓ˜ Î·È Î·ÏÏÈÙ¤¯Ó˜ ·ÌÈÏÏÒÓÙ·Ó Ò˜ Ó·

doned and in the earlyChristian times the city is nolonger at its peak, but it is stillinhabitable. In the 8th centurythe city offers settler to theresidents of the seaport settle-ments from the Arabs’ inva-sions, where they startedknocking up settlers amongthe ruined buildings of the citywith construction materialsfrom the ancient buildings.

Even if the continuous in-habitancy ruined the majorityof the remains of the early pe-riods, the city was excavatedin great extent by German sci-entists under Hiller vonGaertringen (1896-1902) su-pervision and gives a com-

Ì.Ã. ÚÔÛʤÚÂÈ Î·Ù·Ê‡ÁÈÔ ·fi ÙȘ ·Ú·‚ÈΤ˜ ÂȉÚÔ̤˜ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ηÙÔ›ÎÔ˘˜ ÙˆÓ ÂÈ-Ó›ˆÓ, Ô˘ ÎÙ›˙Ô˘Ó, ·Ó¿ÌÂÛ· ÛÙ· ÂÚÂȈ̤ӷ È· ÎÙ‹ÚÈ¿ Ù˘, Úfi¯ÂÈÚ· ηٷχ̷-Ù· Ì ÔÈÎÔ‰ÔÌÈÎfi ˘ÏÈÎfi ·fi Ù· ·Ú¯·›· ÎÙ‹ÚÈ·. ∞Ó Î·È Ë Û˘Ó¯‹˜ ηÙÔ›ÎËÛË Î·Ù¤-ÛÙÚ„ ٷ ÂÚÈÛÛfiÙÂÚ· ηٿÏÔÈ· ÙˆÓ ÚÒÈÌˆÓ ÂÚÈfi‰ˆÓ, Ë fiÏË, ·Ó·ÛηÌ̤-ÓË Û ÌÂÁ¿ÏË ¤ÎÙ·ÛË ·fi ÁÂÚÌ·ÓÔ‡˜ ÂÈÛÙ‹ÌÔÓ˜ ˘fi ÙË ‰È‡ı˘ÓÛË ÙÔ˘ Hillervon Gaertringen (1896-1902), ‰›ÓÂÈ Ì›· ÔÏÔÎÏËڈ̤ÓË ÂÈÎfiÓ· Ù˘ ÌÔÚÊ‹˜ Î·È ÔÚ-Á¿ÓˆÛ‹˜ Ù˘ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ÂÏÏËÓÈÛÙÈÎÔ‡˜ - ڈ̷˚ÎÔ‡˜ ¯ÚfiÓÔ˘˜, ÂÓÒ ÙÔ Ï‹ıÔ˜ ÙˆÓ ÂÈ-ÁÚ·ÊÒÓ Î·È ÎÈÓËÙÒÓ Â˘ÚËÌ¿ÙˆÓ Ô˘ ·ÔηχÊıËÎ·Ó Û ·˘Ù‹Ó Î·È Ù· ÓÂÎÚÔÙ·-Ê›· Ù˘ - ÔÏÏ¿ ÂÎÙ›ıÂÓÙ·È ÛÙÔ ∞Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈÎfi ªÔ˘ÛÂ›Ô ÛÙ· ºËÚ¿ - ·ÔÙÂÏÔ‡ÓÙËÓ Î‡ÚÈ· ËÁ‹ ÏËÚÔÊÔÚÈÒÓ ÁÈ· ÙËÓ ÈÛÙÔÚ›· ÙÔ˘ ÓËÛÈÔ‡ ÛÙËÓ ·Ú¯·ÈfiÙËÙ·.∫ÙÈṲ̂ÓË Â¿Óˆ ·fi ÙËÓ ˘„ÔÌÂÙÚÈ΋ ÁÚ·ÌÌ‹ ÙˆÓ 320 Ì., Ì ÎÂÓÙÚÈÎfi ¿ÍÔÓ·

¤Ó· ‰ÚfiÌÔ Ô˘ ÙË ‰È·ÙÚ¤¯ÂÈ Î·Ù¿ ÙÔ Ì‹ÎÔ˜ Ù˘ (µ/µ¢-¡∞), Ë fiÏË Î·Ù·Ï·Ì‚¿ÓÂÈÙËÓ ÂÈÌ‹ÎË Ú¿¯Ë ÙÔ˘ ÏfiÊÔ˘. √ ˘Ú‹Ó·˜ Ù˘ ·Ó·Ù‡ÛÛÂÙ·È Û ‰È·‰Ô¯Èο ¿Ó‰ËÚ·ÛÙËÓ ÔÌ·ÏfiÙÂÚË ·Ó·ÙÔÏÈ΋ Ï·ÁÈ¿, ÂÓÒ Ù· ¿ÎÚ· Î·È ÔÈ ·fiÎÚËÌÓ˜ ·Ú˘Ê¤˜ Ù˘ڿ¯Ë˜ ÊÈÏÔÍÂÓÔ‡Ó Î˘Ú›ˆ˜ ÙfiÔ˘˜ Ï·ÙÚ›·˜. ∆ËÓ ÚÔÛ¿ıÂÈ· ÙˆÓ Î·ÙÔ›ÎˆÓ Ó· ‰·-Ì¿ÛÔ˘Ó ÙÔ ÂÈÎÏÈÓ¤˜ Î·È ‚Ú·¯Ò‰Â˜ ÙÔ˘ ‰¿ÊÔ˘˜ Ê·ÓÂÚÒÓÂÈ Ë Î·Ù·Û΢‹ ·ÏÏ¿Ï-ÏËÏˆÓ ÈÛ¯˘ÚÒÓ ·Ó·ÏËÌÌ¿ÙˆÓ Î·È Ë Û˘¯Ó‹ ¯Ú‹ÛË ÙÔ˘ ÚÔÛÊÂÚfiÌÂÓÔ˘ ‚Ú¿¯Ô˘,ÂÓÒ ÙÔ Ï‹ıÔ˜ ÙˆÓ ˘fiÁÂÈˆÓ ˘‰·ÙÔ‰ÂÍ·ÌÂÓÒÓ Ì·ÚÙ˘Ú› ÙË Ï‡ÛË ÛÙËÓ ÔÔ›· ÚÔ-Û¤Ê˘Á·Ó ÁÈ· ÙËÓ ÂÍ·ÛÊ¿ÏÈÛË ÓÂÚÔ‡. ¢ËÌfiÛÈ· ÎÙ‹ÚÈ·, ·ÁÔÚ¤˜, ηٷÛÙ‹Ì·Ù·, ı¤·-ÙÚÔ, ÏÔ˘ÙÚ¿, Û˘ÓÔÈ˘ Ì ȉȈÙÈΤ˜ ηÙÔÈ˘, Ó·Ô›, ÈÂÚ¿ Î·È ¤Ó· ¿ÚÙÈÔ Ô‰ÈÎfi ‰›-

41

View of paved street with stepsÕÔ„Ë ÏÈıfiÛÙÚˆÙ˘ ‚·ıÌȉˆÙ‹˜ Ô‰Ô‡

40

ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

The city of Ancient Thera By Maja Efstathiou*

In the early of eighth century B.C. when Dorieis colonists arrived in the is-land, possibly Spartiates, with their leader Theras, founded the settlementwhich took their leader’s name in the steep, embattled peak of MesaVouno, which is a hill (385 meters) that belongs to the pre volcano core ofthe island and predominates in its southeastern end. Cobbled streets inSellada’s slopes, the sol that unites the hill with the mountainous bulge ofProphet Elias in the northwest, were connecting the city with the coastalterritories in the foothill of Mesa Vouno where its seaport settlements Oiain the north (Kamari) and Eleysis in the south (Perissa) were founded.Today, Sellada offers once again the access to the archaeological site (roadfrom Kamari - pathways).

The city was inhabitable for more than thousand years and was the ad-ministrative and religious centre of the city-state of Thera, which was con-sisted of six more settlements. The city met a particular construction devel-opment during the Hellenistic period, a time when Thera was conquered bythe dynasty of Ptolemaios, King of Egypt because of its strategic position inthe Aegean. From the 3rd century A.C. the city is being gradually aban-

∏ fiÏË Ù˘ ∞Ú¯·›·˜ £‹Ú·˜∞fi ÙË ª¿ÁÈ· ∂˘ÛÙ·ı›Ô˘*

ŸÙ·Ó ÛÙȘ ·Ú¯¤˜ ÙÔ˘ 8Ô˘ ·È. .Ã. ¤Êı·Û·Ó ÛÙÔ ÓËÛ› ¢ˆÚÈ›˜ ¿ÔÈÎÔÈ, Èı·ÓÒ˜™·ÚÙÈ¿Ù˜, Ì ·Ú¯ËÁfi ÙÔ £‹Ú·, ›‰Ú˘Û·Ó ÙËÓ ÔÌÒÓ˘ÌË ÙÔ˘ ÔÈÎÈÛÙ‹ fiÏË ÙÔ˘˜ÛÙËÓ ·fiÎÚËÌÓË, Ê˘ÛÈο Ô¯˘ÚˆÌ¤ÓË ÎÔÚ˘Ê‹ ÙÔ˘ ª¤Û· µÔ˘ÓÔ‡, ÂÓfi˜ ÏfiÊÔ˘(385 Ì.) Ô˘ ·Ó‹ÎÂÈ ÛÙÔÓ ÚÔËÊ·ÈÛÙÂÈ·Îfi ˘Ú‹Ó· ÙÔ˘ ÓËÛÈÔ‡ Î·È ‰ÂÛfi˙ÂÈ ÛÙÔÓÔÙÈÔ·Ó·ÙÔÏÈÎfi ÙÔ˘ ¿ÎÚÔ. §ÈıfiÛÙÚˆÙÔÈ ‰ÚfiÌÔÈ ÛÙȘ Ï·ÁȤ˜ Ù˘ ™ÂÏÏ¿‰·˜, ÙÔ˘‰È¿ÛÂÏÔ˘ Ô˘ ÂÓÒÓÂÈ ÙÔ ÏfiÊÔ Ì ÙÔÓ ÔÚÂÈÓfi fiÁÎÔ ÙÔ˘ ¶ÚÔÊ‹ÙË ∏Ï›· ÛÙ· µ¢, Û˘-Ó¤‰Â·Ó ÙËÓ fiÏË Ì ÙȘ ·Ú¿ÎÙȘ ÂÚÈÔ¯¤˜ ÛÙÔ˘˜ Úfiԉ˜ ÙÔ˘ ª¤Û· µÔ˘ÓÔ‡,fiÔ˘ ȉڇıËÎ·Ó Ù· ›ÓÂÈ¿ Ù˘, Ë √›· ÛÙ· ‚fiÚÂÈ· (∫·Ì¿ÚÈ) Î·È Ë ∂ÏÂ˘Û›˜ ÛÙ·ÓfiÙÈ· (¶ÂÚ›ÛÛ·). ™‹ÌÂÚ·, ÚfiÛ‚·ÛË ÛÙÔÓ ·Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈÎfi ¯ÒÚÔ, ÚÔÛʤÚÂÈ Î·È¿ÏÈ Ë ™ÂÏÏ¿‰· (·Ì·ÍÈÙfi˜ ‰ÚfiÌÔ˜ ·fi ÙÔ ∫·Ì¿ÚÈ - ÌÔÓÔ¿ÙÈ·). ∏ fiÏË Î·ÙÔÈ΋-ıËΠÁÈ· ÂÚÈÛÛfiÙÂÚÔ ·fi ¯›ÏÈ· ¯ÚfiÓÈ· Î·È ‹Ù·Ó ÙÔ ‰ÈÔÈÎËÙÈÎÔıÚËÛ΢ÙÈÎfi ΤÓÙÚÔÙ˘ fiÏ˘-ÎÚ¿ÙÔ˘˜ Ù˘ £‹Ú·˜, Ô˘ ÂÚÈÂÏ¿Ì‚·Ó ¤ÍÈ ·ÎfiÌ· ÔÈÎÈÛÌÔ‡˜. π‰È·›ÙÂÚËÔÈÎÔ‰ÔÌÈ΋ ·Ó¿Ù˘ÍË ÁÓÒÚÈÛ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ÂÏÏËÓÈÛÙÈÎÔ‡˜ ¯ÚfiÓÔ˘˜ ÂÔ¯‹ Ô˘ Ë £‹Ú··ÔÙ¤ÏÂÛ ÂÍ·ÈÙ›·˜ Ù˘ ÛÙÚ·ÙËÁÈ΋˜ Ù˘ ı¤Û˘ ÛÙÔ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô, ÎÙ‹ÛË ÙˆÓ ‚·ÛÈϤˆÓ Ù˘∞ÈÁ‡ÙÔ˘, ¶ÙÔÏÂÌ·›ˆÓ. ∞fi ÙÔÓ 3Ô ·È. Ì.Ã. ÂÁηٷÏ›ÂÙ·È ÛÙ·‰È·Î¿ Î·È ÛÙ· ·Ï·ÈÔ¯ÚÈÛÙÈ·ÓÈο ¯Úfi-

ÓÈ· ‰Â ‚Ú›ÛÎÂÙ·È È· Û ·ÎÌ‹, ÂÍ·ÎÔÏÔ˘ı›, fï˜, Ó· ηÙÔÈΛٷÈ, Î·È ÙÔÓ 8Ô ·È.

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ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

plete picture of its shape and organization during the Hellenistic and Romanperiod, while the number of the inscriptions and mobile findings discoveredin the city and in its cemeteries - many of them are exhibits in theArchaeological Museum of Fira - are the main source of information for theisland’s history in ancient times.

The city which is built 320 meters above sea level has a central road thatruns through it (North/Northwest-Southeast) and holds the elongate lineof the hill. Its core develops in consecutive embankments on the smoothereast side while the ends and the steep points of the line host mostly wor-ship places. The construction of strong footholds the one after the otherand the frequent use of the offered rock manifest the efforts of the peopleto tame the inclined and rocky of its soil while the numerous undergroundwells, testify the solution that people had found to store water.

Public buildings, markets, stores, theatre, baths, districts with privateresidences, temples, sacred places and one complete road network withsewerage system constitutes the city’s picture, in which austere architectur-al figures prevail. The “Market of Gods” in the south side was the most im-portant place of worship, where the sacred of Apollo Karneios, the God ofDorieis, predominated in the religious life of Thera and numerous inscrip-tions on the rocks preserve the most ancient pieces of the Greek Alphabet

ÎÙ˘Ô Ì ·Ô¯ÂÙ¢ÙÈÎfi Û‡ÛÙËÌ· Û˘Ó-ı¤ÙÔ˘Ó ÙËÓ ÂÈÎfiÓ· Ù˘ fiÏ˘, ÛÙËÓÔÔ›· ÂÈÎÚ·ÙÔ‡Ó ÔÈ ÏÈÙ¤˜ ·Ú¯ÈÙÂÎÙÔ-ÓÈΤ˜ ÌÔÚʤ˜. ™ËÌ·ÓÙÈÎfiÙÂÚÔ˜ ÙfiԘϷÙÚ›·˜, Ë «∞ÁÔÚ¿ ÙˆÓ £ÂÒÓ» ÛÙÔÓfiÙÈÔ ¿ÎÚÔ, fiÔ˘ ‰ÂÛfi˙ÂÈ ÙÔ ÈÂÚfiÙÔ˘ ∞fiÏψӷ ∫·ÚÓ›Ԣ, ÙÔ˘ £ÂÔ‡ÙˆÓ ¢ˆÚȤˆÓ Ô˘ ΢ÚÈ·Ú¯Ô‡Û ÛÙËıÚËÛ΢ÙÈ΋ ˙ˆ‹ Ù˘ £‹Ú·˜, Î·È Ô-Ï˘¿ÚÈı̘ ÂÈÁڷʤ˜ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ‚Ú¿¯Ô˘˜

‰È·ÛÒ˙Ô˘Ó Ù· ·Ú¯·ÈfiÙÂÚ· ‰Â›ÁÌ·Ù· ÙÔ˘ ÂÏÏËÓÈÎÔ‡ ·ÏÊ·‚‹ÙÔ˘ ÛÙÔ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô.∏ ÛÔ˘‰·ÈfiÙËÙ· ÙÔ˘ ·Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈÎÔ‡ ¯ÒÚÔ˘ Î·È Ë ÂÁηٿÏÂÈ„‹ ÙÔ˘ › ‰ÂηÂ-

ٛ˜ ÂÏÏ›„ÂÈ ÈÛÙÒÛÂˆÓ Ô‰‹ÁËÛ·Ó ÙËÓ ∫∞’ ∂ÊÔÚ›· ¶ÚÔ˚ÛÙÔÚÈÎÒÓ - ∫Ï·ÛÈÎÒÓ∞Ú¯·ÈÔÙ‹ÙˆÓ ÛÙÔ Û¯Â‰È·ÛÌfi ÙÔ˘ ¤ÚÁÔ˘ «¢È·ÌfiÚʈÛË - ∞Ó¿‰ÂÈÍË ∞Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈÎÔ‡ÃÒÚÔ˘ ∞Ú¯·›·˜ £‹Ú·˜», ÙÔ ÔÔ›Ô ÂÓÙ¿¯ıËΠÛÙÔ ¶∂¶ ¡ÔÙ›Ô˘ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô˘ 2000 -2006 Î·È Û˘Á¯ÚËÌ·ÙÔ‰ÔÙÂ›Ù·È Î·Ù¿ 75% ·fi ÙËÓ ∂˘Úˆ·˚΋ ŒÓˆÛË Î·È 25% ·fiÙÔ ∂ÏÏËÓÈÎfi ¢ËÌfiÛÈÔ. ∆Ô ¤ÚÁÔ ¤¯ÂÈ ‹‰Ë ÂÈÙÂϤÛÂÈ ÙÔ˘˜ ÛÙfi¯Ô˘˜ ÙÔ˘ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ÙÔÌ›˜·Ó¿‰ÂÈ͢ - ÚÔÛÙ·Û›·˜ ÙˆÓ ÌÓËÌ›ˆÓ, ‰È·ÌfiÚʈÛ˘ - ÔÚÁ¿ÓˆÛ˘ ÙÔ˘ ¯ÒÚÔ˘ ηÈÂÓË̤ڈÛ˘ ÙˆÓ ÂÈÛÎÂÙÒÓ, ÔÚÁ¿ÓˆÛ˘ Ù˘ ÂÚÈÔ¯‹˜ ÂÈÛfi‰Ô˘ ÙÔ˘ ·Ú¯·ÈÔÏÔÁÈ-ÎÔ‡ ¯ÒÚÔ˘ ÂÍ·ÛÊ·Ï›˙ÔÓÙ·˜ ˘Ô‰Ô̤˜ Â͢ËÚ¤ÙËÛ˘ ÛÙÔ˘˜ ÂÈÛΤÙ˜.

Ancient Thira. View of private residence∞Ú¯·›· £‹Ú·. ÕÔ„Ë È‰ÈˆÙÈ΋˜ ÔÈΛ·˜

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ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

in the Aegean. The importance of the archaeological site which had beenabandoned for decades due to the lack of credits, was forced the 21stEphorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities to create the project“Configuration and Emergence of the Archeological Site of Ancient Thera”,which was included in the Peripheral Corporate Program (PCP) of SouthAegean 2000-2006 and was co-sponsored from European Union by 75%and from the Greek State by 25%. The project has already accomplished itstargets in the areas of enhancing and protecting the monuments, as well asin the fields of arranging and organizing the site, in informing the visitors,in organizing the archaeological site’s entrance and finally in the securing ofthe infrastructure basis for the services of the visitors.

As the visitors walk through the cobbled streets of the ancient cityamong buildings that are usually very high, they can realize its shape and itsorganization, know its monuments and feel the life of its residents, enjoy-ing at the same time the magnificent view to the Aegean.

* Maja Efstathiou, Archaeologist in the 21st Ephorate of Prehistoric andClassical Antiquities, Ministry of Culture

√ ÂÈÛΤÙ˘, ÂÚȉȷ‚·›ÓÔÓÙ·˜ ÙÔ˘˜ ÏÈıfiÛÙÚˆÙÔ˘˜ ‰ÚfiÌÔ˘˜ Ù˘ ·Ú¯·›·˜fiÏ˘, ·Ó¿ÌÂÛ· Û ÎÙ‹ÚÈ· Ô˘ Û˘¯Ó¿ ‰È·ÙËÚÔ‡ÓÙ·È Û ÌÂÁ¿ÏÔ ‡„Ô˜, ÌÔÚ› ӷηٷÓÔ‹ÛÂÈ ÙË ÌÔÚÊ‹ Î·È ÔÚÁ¿ÓˆÛ‹ Ù˘, Ó· ÁÓˆÚ›ÛÂÈ Ù· ÌÓËÌ›· Ù˘ Î·È Ó· ·ÊÔ˘-ÁÎÚ·Ûı› ÙË ˙ˆ‹ ÙˆÓ Î·ÙÔ›ÎˆÓ Ù˘, ·ÔÏ·Ì‚¿ÓÔÓÙ·˜ Ù·˘Ùfi¯ÚÔÓ· Ì›· ÌÔÓ·‰È΋ı¤· ÛÙÔ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô.

* ª¿ÁÈ· ∂˘ÛÙ·ı›Ô˘, ∞Ú¯·ÈÔÏfiÁÔ˜ ÛÙËÓ ∫∞’ ∂ÊÔÚ›· ¶ÚÔ˚ÛÙÔÚÈÎÒÓ Î·È∫Ï·ÛÈÎÒÓ ∞Ú¯·ÈÔًوÓ, ÀÔ˘ÚÁÂ›Ô ¶ÔÏÈÙÈÛÌÔ‡

Ancient Thira. View of the theatre∞Ú¯·›· £‹Ú·. ÕÔ„Ë ÙÔ˘ ı¿ÙÚÔ˘

The drawing from the Thomas Hope collection (Benaki Museum) and its interpretation∆Ô Û¯¤‰ÈÔ Ù˘ Û˘ÏÏÔÁ‹˜ ÙÔ˘ Thomas Hope (ªÔ˘ÛÂ›Ô ªÂÓ¿ÎË) Î·È Ë ÂÚÌËÓ›· ÙÔ˘

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ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

Skaros: The capital of Thera under Venetian occupation By Clairy Palyvou *

"High up there on the top of the naked, wild rock, where only wild birds couldlive, the marks of man can now be seen."

Elias Venezis, Winds

The impressive rock of Skaros, projecting outwards, as if to break away fromthe walls of the caldera, is one of the most prominent landmarks of the islandof Santorini. The only visible human presence is the chapel of Theoskepasti,facing the caldera, yet this place was once home to a bustling city ...

The story begins in 1207, after the integration of the island into theVenetian Duchy of the Aegean. The natural rocky fortress was chosen bythe masters as the site of their capital, where they built the ducal palace,the cathedral and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of theisland, monasteries and stately homes. In 1480, the is-land was handed to Pizanias Domenico, son of the Dukeof Crete, as a dowry for his marriage with the daughterof the Duke of Naxos, Princess Fiorentza. The descrip-tions of the celebrations accompanying the delivery ofthe castle contain valuable evidence of the city.Approximately one hundred years later the Duchy of

™Î¿ÚÔ˜: ∏ ÚˆÙÂ‡Ô˘Û· Ù˘ ÂÓÂÙÔÎÚ·ÙÔ‡ÌÂÓ˘ £‹Ú·˜∞fi ÙËÓ ∫Ï·›ÚË ¶·Ï˘‚Ô‡*

“∂Λ „ËÏ¿ ÛÙËÓ ÎÔÚÊ‹ ÙÔ˘ Á˘ÌÓÔ‡, ÙÔ˘ ¿ÁÚÈÔ˘ ‚Ú¿¯Ô˘, ÂΛ Ô˘ ÌÔÓ¿¯· ·ÁÚÈÔ-Ô‡ÏÈ· ı· ÌÔÚÔ‡Û·Ó Ó· ˙Ô‡ÓÂ, Ê·›ÓÔÓÙ·È ÙÒÚ· ÛËÌ¿‰È· ·fi ¯¤ÚÈ ·ÓıÚÒÔ˘”. ∏Ï›·˜ µÂÓ¤˙˘, ÕÓÂÌÔÈ

√ ÂÓÙ˘ˆÛÈ·Îfi˜ ‚Ú¿¯Ô˜ ÙÔ˘ ™Î¿ÚÔ˘, Ô˘ ÚÔÂͤ¯ÂÈ ‰˘Ó·ÌÈο, Û·Ó Ó· ı¤ÏÂÈ Ó·ÍÂÎÔÏÏ‹ÛÂÈ ·Ô Ù· ÙÔȯÒÌ·Ù· Ù˘ ηÏÓÙ¤Ú·˜, ·ÔÙÂÏ› ¤Ó· ·Ô Ù· ϤÔÓ ¯·Ú·ÎÙË-ÚÈÛÙÈο ÙÔfiÛËÌ· Ù˘ ™·ÓÙÔÚ›Ó˘, ·’ fiÔ˘ ÎÈ ·Ó ·ÙÂÓ›˙ÂÈ Î·Ó›˜ ÙÔ ÌÔÓ·‰ÈÎfi·˘Ùfi Û‡ÌÏÂÁÌ· ÓËÛÈÒÓ Î·È ËÊ·ÈÛÙ›ˆÓ. ªfiÓË ÂÌÊ·Ó‹˜ ·ÓıÚÒÈÓË ·ÚÔ˘Û›· ÙÔ͈ÎÎÏ‹ÛÈ Ù˘ £ÂÔÛΤ·ÛÙ˘, ÚÔ˜ ÙË ÌÂÚÈ¿ Ù˘ ηÏÓÙ¤Ú·˜. ∫È fï˜, Ô ÙfiÔ˜·˘Ùfi˜ οÔÙ ÊÈÏÔÍÂÓÔ‡Û ÌÈ· Ôχ‚Ô˘Ë ÔÏÈÙ›·... ∏ ÈÛÙÔÚ›· ÙÔ˘ ™Î¿ÚÔ˘ ·Ú¯›˙ÂÈ ÙÔ 1207, ÌÂÙ¿ ÙËÓ Â‰Ú·›ˆÛË Ù˘ ÂÓÂÙÈ΋˜ ηÙÔ-

¯‹˜ ÛÙËÓ £‹Ú· Î·È ÙËÓ ¤ÓÙ·ÍË ÙÔ˘ ÓËÛÈÔ‡ ÛÙÔ ¢Ô˘Î¿ÙÔ ÙÔ˘ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô˘. ™ÙÔÓ Ê˘ÛÈοԯ˘Úfi ‚Ú·¯Ò‰Ë fiÁÎÔ Â¤ÏÂÍ·Ó ÔÈ Ó¤ÔÈ ¿Ú¯ÔÓÙ˜ Ó· ȉڇÛÔ˘Ó ÙËÓ ÚˆÙÂ‡Ô˘Û¿ÙÔ˘˜: ÂΛ ¤ÎÙÈÛ·Ó ÙÔ ‰Ô˘ÎÈÎfi ·Ï¿ÙÈ, ÙÔÓ Î·ı‰ÚÈÎfi Ó·fi (ÓÙfiÌÔ) Î·È ¤‰Ú· ÙÔ˘ η-ıÔÏÈÎÔ‡ ÂÈÛÎfiÔ˘ ÙÔ˘ ÓËÛÈÔ‡, ÌÔÓ·ÛÙ‹ÚÈ· Î·È ·Ú¯ÔÓÙÈΤ˜ ηÙÔÈ˘. ™Ù· 1480,ÙÔ ÓËÛ› ·Ú·‰›‰ÂÙ·È ÛÙÔÓ ¡ÙÔ̤ÓÈÎÔ ¶È˙¿ÓÈ, ÁÈfi ÙÔ˘ ‰Ô‡Î· Ù˘ ∫Ú‹Ù˘, ˆ˜ ÚÔ›-η ÁÈ· ÙÔ Á¿ÌÔ ÙÔ˘ Ì ÙËÓ ÎfiÚË ÙÔ˘ ‰Ô‡Î· Ù˘ ¡¿ÍÔ˘, ÚÈÁΛÈÛÛ· ºÈÔÚ¤ÓÙ˙·. √ÈÂÚÈÁڷʤ˜ ÙˆÓ ÂÔÚÙ·ÛÌÒÓ Ô˘ Û˘Ófi‰Â˘·Ó ÙËÓ ·Ú¿‰ÔÛË ÙÔ˘ ∫¿ÛÙÚÔ˘ ÂÚÈÏ·Ì-‚¿ÓÔ˘Ó ÔχÙÈ̘ Ì·ÚÙ˘Ú›Â˜ ÁÈ· ÙËÓ ÂÈÎfiÓ· Ù˘ fiÏ˘. ¶ÂÚ›Ô˘ ÂηÙfi ¯ÚfiÓÈ· ·Ú-

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Panoramic view of the Caldera from the south with Skaros in the centre¶·ÓÔÚ·ÌÈ΋ ı¤· Ù˘ ∫·ÏÓÙ¤Ú·˜ ·fi ÙÔ ÓfiÙÔ Ì ÙÔÓ ™Î¿ÚÔ ÛÙÔ Î¤ÓÙÚÔ

of the gate of the castle and the Orthodox monastery of St. Nicholas wasfounded in 1651 by the Hellenized Latin Gizi family. In these monasteries,both Catholic and Orthodox, scions of prominent families of Thera servedas monks.

An insight into the city just before the abandonment can be gained byviewing a drawing from the Thomas Hope collection (1788), which ishoused at the Benaki Museum. The settlement is depicted as a fortress, witha continuous front of houses with a few small openings, protecting thevillage from the only possible access from the east. According to F. Richard(1642), the gates closed when there was fear of hostile invasion, and forgreater security the gates were reached by a movable wooden bridge, thefoundations of which can still be seen today. In the few ruins left standing,you can see remnants of walls, domes and wells. For these buildings timestopped in the 17th century.

* Clairy Palyvou, Professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

ªÈ· ·Ó¤ÏÈÛÙË ÂÈÎfiÓ· Ù˘ fiÏ˘ Ï›ÁÔ ÚÈÓ ÙËÓ ÂÁηٿÏÂÈ„‹ Ù˘ Ì·˜ ‰›‰ÂÈ ¤Ó·Û¯¤‰ÈÔ Ù˘ Û˘ÏÏÔÁ‹˜ Thomas Hope (1788) Ô˘ Ê˘Ï¿ÛÛÂÙ·È ÛÙÔ ªÔ˘Û›ԪÂÓ¿ÎË. √ ÔÈÎÈÛÌfi˜ ·ÚÔ˘ÛÈ¿˙ÂÙ·È ˆ˜ ¤Ó· ˘ÎÓÔ‰ÔÌË̤ÓÔ Û‡ÓÔÏÔ Ì ÊÚÔ˘-ÚÈ·Îfi ¯·Ú·ÎÙ‹Ú·. ∆Ô Û˘Ó¯¤˜ Ì¤ÙˆÔ ÙˆÓ ÛÈÙÈÒÓ Ì ٷ ÔÏÈÁ¿ÚÈıÌ· Î·È ÌÈÎÚ¿·ÓÔ›ÁÌ·Ù· ‰ËÌÈÔ˘ÚÁ› ÈÛ¯˘Úfi Ô¯˘ÚˆÌ·ÙÈÎfi ÂÚ›‚ÔÏÔ, Ô ÔÔ›Ô˜ ÚÔÛٷهÂÈ ÙÔÓÔÈÎÈÛÌfi ÚÔ˜ ÙËÓ ÏÂ˘Ú¿ Ù˘ ÌfiÓ˘ ‰˘Ó·Ù‹˜ ÚfiÛ‚·Û˘, ÙËÓ ·Ó·ÙÔÏÈ΋. √È ‡Ï˜«¤ÎÏÂÈÓ·Ó fiÙ·Ó ˘‹Ú¯Â Êfi‚Ô˜ ¯ıÚÈ΋˜ ÂÈÛ‚ÔÏ‹˜», Ì·˜ ÏËÚÔÊÔÚ› Ô F. Richard(1642), ÂÓÒ ÁÈ· ÌÂÁ·Ï‡ÙÂÚË ·ÛÊ¿ÏÂÈ· ÛÙËÓ ‡ÏË Ô‰ËÁÔ‡Û ÎÈÓËÙ‹, ͇ÏÈÓË Á¤Ê˘-Ú· Ù· ıÂ̤ÏÈ· Ù˘ ÔÔ›·˜ ‰È·ÎÚ›ÓÔÓÙ·È ·ÎfiÌ·. ™Ù· ÏÈÁÔÛÙ¿ ÂÚ›ȷ Ô˘ ·¤ÌÂÈÓ·Ó·fi ÙȘ ηٷÎÚËÌÓ›ÛÂȘ ÙˆÓ ‚Ú¿¯ˆÓ ‚ϤÂÈ Î·Ó›˜ Û‹ÌÂÚ· ηٿÏÔÈ· ·fi ÙÔ›-¯Ô˘˜, ıfiÏÔ˘˜ Î·È ÛÙ¤ÚÓ˜. ™Ù· ÂÚ›ȷ ·˘Ù¿ Ô ¯ÚfiÓÔ˜ ¤¯ÂÈ ÛÙ·Ì·Ù‹ÛÂÈ ÛÙÔÓ 17Ô·ÈÒÓ·.

* ∫Ï·›ÚË ¶·Ï˘‚Ô‡, ∫·ıËÁ‹ÙÚÈ· ∞ÚÈÛÙÔÙÂÏ›Ԣ ¶·ÓÂÈÛÙËÌ›Ô˘ £ÂÛÛ·ÏÔӛ΢

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Skaros from Imerovigli / √ ™Î¿ÚÔ˜ ·Ô ÙÔ ªÂÚÔ‚›ÁÏÈ

the Aegean passed into the posses-sion of the Ottoman Empire.

Skaros suffered major damagefrom the terrible earthquake of1650 after which the residents de-cided to abandon the restrictiveand dangerous environment of theCastle and the difficult life they ledthere, and to establish a new centerin Fira. However the risk to the is-land from pirate raids continuedand the move was not completeduntil the last decades of the 18th century when piracy abated. In 1850, allthat remained of the site of the old prosperous state were tombs and poul-try, according to the traveller, Leycester.

The leading role of the Skaros community in the spiritual life of the is-land is evident in the number and importance of the monasteries foundedwithin the castle. One of the oldest monasteries was the Dominicanmonastery of St. Catherine of Sienna, founded in 1595 by Marino Dargenta,a member of the Byzantine imperial family, Argyrou. There was also intenseactivity by the Order of the Jesuits, who founded a school in Skaros.Orthodox churches such as St. Irene and St. Theodosia were built in front

ÁfiÙÂÚ· ÙÔ ¢Ô˘Î¿ÙÔ ÙÔ˘ ∞ÈÁ·›Ô˘ ÂÚÓ¿ÂÈ Ï¤ÔÓ ÛÙËÓ Î·ÙÔ¯‹ Ù˘ √ıˆÌ·ÓÈ΋˜ ·˘-ÙÔÎÚ·ÙÔÚ›·˜. √ ™Î¿ÚÔ˜ ˘Ê›ÛÙ·Ù·È ÌÂÁ¿Ï˜ ηٷÛÙÚÔʤ˜ ·Ô ÙÔÓ ÙÚÔÌÂÚfi ÛÂÈÛÌfi ÙÔ˘ 1650.

√È Î¿ÙÔÈÎÔÈ ·ÔÊ·Û›˙Ô˘Ó ÙfiÙ ӷ ÂÁηٷÏ›„Ô˘Ó ÙÔ ÂÚÈÔÚÈÛÙÈÎfi Î·È ÂÈΛӉ˘ÓÔÂÚÈ‚¿ÏÏÔÓ ÙÔ˘ ∫¿ÛÙÚÔ˘ Î·È ÙË ‰‡ÛÎÔÏË ˙ˆ‹ Ô˘ ÂÚÈÁÚ¿ÊÔ˘Ó ÔÏÏÔ› ÂÚÈËÁË-Ù¤˜, Î·È Ó· ȉڇÛÔ˘Ó Ó¤Ô «ÌËÙÚÔÔÏÈÙÈÎfi» ΤÓÙÚÔ ÛÙ· ºËÚ¿. ∏ ÌÂÙÔ›ÎËÛË ÔÏÔ-ÎÏËÚÒıËΠÙȘ ÙÂÏÂ˘Ù·›Â˜ ‰ÂηÂٛ˜ ÙÔ˘ 18Ô˘ ·ÈÒÓ·, ÌÂÙ¿ ÙÔÓ ÂÚÈÔÚÈÛÌfi ÙÔ˘ ÂÈ-Ú·ÙÈÎÔ‡ ÎÈÓ‰‡ÓÔ˘. ∆Ô 1850, ÛÙË ı¤ÛË Ù˘ ·ÏÈ¿˜ ·ÎÌ¿˙Ô˘Û·˜ ÔÏÈÙ›·˜ ˘¿Ú¯Ô˘ÓÌfiÓÔ Ù¿ÊÔÈ Î·È ÔÚÓÈıÔÙÚÔÊ›·, ÁÚ¿ÊÂÈ Ô ÂÚÈËÁËÙ‹˜ Leycester.√ ÚˆÙ·ÁˆÓÈÛÙÈÎfi˜ ÚfiÏÔ˜ Ù˘ ÎÔÈÓfiÙËÙ·˜ ÙÔ˘ ™Î¿ÚÔ˘ ÛÙËÓ ÓÂ˘Ì·ÙÈ΋ ˙ˆ‹

ÙÔ˘ ÓËÛÈÔ‡ ÙËÓ ÂÚ›Ô‰Ô Ù˘ ·ÎÌ‹˜ ÙÔ˘ ‰È·Ê·›ÓÂÙ·È ·fi ÙÔ Ï‹ıÔ˜ Î·È ÙË ÛËÌ·-Û›· ÙˆÓ ÌÔÓÒÓ Ô˘ ȉڇıËÎ·Ó ÂÓÙfi˜ ÙÔ˘ ∫¿ÛÙÚÔ˘. ∞fi ÙȘ ·Ï·ÈfiÙÂÚ˜ Â›Ó·È ËÌÔÓ‹ ¢ÔÌËÓÈηÓÒÓ ÌÔÓ·¯ÒÓ Ù˘ ∞Á›·˜ ∞ÈηÙÂÚ›Ó˘ Ù˘ ™È¤ÓÓ·˜, Ô˘ ȉڇıËÎÂÛÙ· 1595 ·fi ÙÔÓ ª·Ú›ÓÔ ¢·ÚÁ¤ÓÙ·, ÁfiÓÔ ÙÔ˘ ÂÎÏ·ÙÈÓÈṲ̂ÓÔ˘ ÎÏ¿‰Ô˘ Ù˘ ‚˘˙·-ÓÙÈÓ‹˜ ·˘ÙÔÎÚ·ÙÔÚÈ΋˜ ÔÈÎÔÁ¤ÓÂÈ·˜ ÙˆÓ ∞ÚÁ˘ÚÒÓ. ŒÓÙÔÓË ˘‹ÚÍÂ Î·È Ë ‰Ú·ÛÙË-ÚÈfiÙËÙ· ÙÔ˘ Ù¿ÁÌ·ÙÔ˜ ÙˆÓ πËÛÔ˘˚ÙÒÓ, fiˆ˜ ·Ô‰ÂÈÎÓ‡ÂÈ Ë ÏÂÈÙÔ˘ÚÁ›· Û¯ÔÏ›Ԣ ÛÙԙοÚÔ. À‹Ú¯·Ó ›Û˘ ÔÚıfi‰ÔÍÔÈ Ó·Ô› fiˆ˜ Ù˘ ∞Á›·˜ ∂ÈÚ‹Ó˘ Î·È Ù˘ ∞Á›·˜£ÂÔ‰ÔÛ›·˜ ÌÚÔÛÙ¿ ·fi ÙËÓ ‡ÏË ÙÔ˘ ∫¿ÛÙÚÔ˘ ηıÒ˜ Î·È Ë ÌÔÓ‹ ∞Á›Ô˘¡ÈÎÔÏ¿Ô˘, Ô˘ ȉڇıËΠÙÔ 1651 ·fi ÙËÓ ÂÍÂÏÏËÓÈṲ̂ÓË Ï·ÙÈÓÈ΋ ÔÈÎÔÁ¤ÓÂÈ· وӰ·˙Ë. ™Â ·˘Ù¤˜ ÙȘ ÌÔÓ¤˜, ηıÔÏÈΤ˜ Î·È ÔÚıfi‰Ô͘, ˘ËÚ¤ÙËÛ·Ó ˆ˜ ÌÔÓ·¯Ô›ÁfiÓÔÈ ÂÈÊ·ÓÒÓ ÔÈÎÔÁÂÓÂÈÒÓ Ù˘ £‹Ú·˜.

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ABOUT SANTORINI / ™∞¡∆√ƒπ¡∏

Detail from the drawing of Choiseul - Gouffier (Em Lignos Collection)

§ÂÙÔ̤ÚÂÈ· ·Ô ÙÔ Û¯¤‰ÈÔ ÙÔ˘ Choiseul – Gouffier(™˘ÏÏÔÁ‹ ∂ÌÌ. §ÈÁÓÔ‡)