The mystery of the island of Santorini

 

Santorini is in fact the world's largest active volcano in the sea. Periodically over several millennia active volcano attacked by land and sea. As a result, modern crescent archipelago of Santorini are the remnants of the once unified whole - a round, conical island with an active volcano in the middle.

His appearance island must seismic shifts, it was formed during the Tertiary period when the geological shifts have led to the destruction of the Aegean continent.

 Subsequent eruptions have given him a round shape, which determined his name Strongyli - round. By the second millennium BC on the island formed a remarkable civilization, which in many respects was similar to Minoan Crete. At the end of 1500 (1450) BC volcanic eruption destroyed the center of the island and buried Strongyli civilization. Then the giant waves have transformed the ruins of many cities in Crete.

Ancient legends say that one of the Argonauts, Golden Fleece kidnappers dropped the ball in a sea of ​​land given to him by Triton. From this block of an island, called Argonauts Callisto. A hero called Evfem. Subsequently, the island settled his descendants, he was called Fiero, and later Santorini, ie St. Irene, protectress of the island. Archaeologists have found remains of a great civilization, who died after a volcanic eruption in the 15th century.

The answer was found on the Greek island of Santorini is located in the Aegean Sea, near Crete. Begun excavations Greek scholar Spiridonosa Marinatos led to the discovery of ruins of palaces, frescoes and vases surprisingly reminiscent of the style of the Minoan civilization works. Findings are able to do under a thick layer of volcanic ash that covers the island. Consequently, scientists have concluded that this civilization could be lost as a result of powerful volcanic eruption and a huge tsunami waves obrushevshiysya then to Crete, on the other islands, sweeping along the way cities and towns.