Santorini, a wild beauty created from a cosmogony by a volcano that lies in the middle of the bay.On top of it, in the edge of the rock is the reconciliation of the wild and the weird.
Santorini is the island that lies in the southern area of Cyclades. The terrain is volcanic and from the side of the volcano is rocky. The climate is cool because of the northeast winds. The winter is mild with lowest temperature of 10C.During wintertime, rain is more frequent but non-existent during summer time. The fertile ground helps the cultivation of vines and tomatoes. The island is dry with only a few springs.
The history of Santorini is not only a history of people but also a privileged history that develops and shapes by itself. In order to understand the above, you have to think that Santorini did not exist in Cyclades. It was born after the eruption of a volcano. The history of Santorini is the history of a place, which is not granted and must be started over every now and then. The first inhabitants of Santorini were Pro-Hellenes who appeared in 3000 BC.
Mythology: The myth of Deucalion and Pyra, who were saved from the deluge, which was caused by Zeus to punish the mortals, is closely connected with the eruption in Santorini. This myth is chronologically placed in 1530 and 1400 BC. Another myth about a flood is the angry reaction of Poseidon, who flooded Attica when Athena beat him in their rivalry about the domination of Athens. The death of Hippolytus was caused by a huge wave, raised by Poseidon near Troizina.
Ancient times: After the eruption of the volcano, people returned to their normal activities. We know very little about the first inhabitants of the island. All we know is that they were Phoenicians who, around 1300 BC, were attracted by the beauty of the island. Then the Doric tribes arrived with King Thyra and they named the island Thyra.
Byzantine period: Santorini became the seat of episcopacy with Dioscouros as the bishop around 3rd century. Since the time of Justinian Santorini was in the metropolis of Rhodes. The Byzantine monument of Santorini is the chapel of Panagia of Episcopi, built by the emperor Alexios I Komninos.
Venetian domination and recent years: The Venetians arrived in Thyra (Santorini) in 1204. It was a time when the conflict between the dukes of Naxos and the dukes of Santorini begun as well as the efforts of the inhabitants to free the island. The only peaceful time for the island was the time when the duke of Naxos gave it to his daughter for dowry.
However, this did not last long because the uncle of the bride disagreed and he took it back when he was in power. When Santorini was part of the Ottoman Empire everything was peaceful. The inhabitants occupied themselves with trade and made their own naval fleet. In 1821 the naval fleet of the island took the third place in Greece.
