Around 3,600 years ago, one of the strongest volcanic eruptions in the history of humanity occurred. Dating attempts range from approximately 1650 to 1550 BCE. Researchers are not entirely agreed on when the explosion exactly occurred.
Archaeologists and scientists connected the violent eruption of the Santorini volcano with the end of the flourishing Minoan civilization, which was one of the most advanced civilizations of the time. "Between 48 and 86 cubic kilometers of magma and rock fragments were ejected at that time," reported an international research team, according to SKAI.
The tsunamis created by the eruption struck the northern coasts of Crete, hitting the Minoan civilization with four consecutive waves. The height of the waves reached 30 meters, sweeping the coasts of the Cyclades and northern Crete. The volcanic ash covered the sky of the Aegean, enveloping Crete in great darkness for entire days due to fumes and poisonous vapors.
The volcanic ash from the Santorini volcano covered the Minoan city at Akrotiri of Thera, helping to preserve its structures and artifacts. The excavation work to recover the ruins of Akrotiri was laborious, but experts managed to reconstruct some of the ancient buildings that stood in the Bronze Age city. In the houses of Akrotiri, frescoes were found depicting everyday life on the island with animals, fishermen, or ships.
The eruption changed the circular shape of Santorini, known then as Strogili, into its present-day crescent form. The island was divided into three parts: Thera (Santorini), Thirasia, and Aspronisi. The center of Strogili collapsed during the eruption, creating the giant caldera that is seen today, while half of the island sank to the bottom of the caldera.
The Minoan culture, known from the island of Crete, shaped the southeastern Aegean during the Late Bronze Age, a period of prosperity marked by its strong influence on surrounding civilizations. The decline of the Minoan civilization began around 1550 BCE, with theories suggesting causes such as Mycenaean invasions and the large volcanic eruption of Santorini. Social conflicts and economic reasons contributed to its eventual collapse.
Some researchers associate the destruction with the legend of the sunken city of Atlantis. According to Tages-Anzeiger, the Santorini eruption may have inspired the legend described by Plato. The archaeological site near the village of Akrotiri is a popular tourist destination, and in the 1960s, archaeologists discovered remains of a flourishing trading city that was buried during the eruption.
Despite the catastrophic events, the island was eventually re-inhabited. Before Thera became habitable again, several centuries passed until it was re-colonized in the 10th century BCE. Today, the legacy of the eruption continues to fascinate scientists and visitors alike. The Santorini volcano remains one of the most studied volcanoes in the world, not only because of its geology but also because of the influence it had on human societies.
Santorini's unique geological formation, with its imposing caldera and surrounding islands, is a direct result of the volcanic activity. The caldera began to fill again after 197 BCE, bringing to the surface the volcanic islands of Palea and Nea Kameni. Nea Kameni is the only active volcano of Santorini.
In 1950 the Santorini volcano experienced its last eruption, closing a cycle of volcanic activity that had begun in 1939. Seismic activity played a role in the lead-up to the eruption, as seismic vibrations are one of the main precursors of volcanic events.
Residents of Santorini reported seismic vibrations in December 1949 that were felt in many areas of the island. On January 10, 11, 13, and 16, the vibrations were recorded with greater intensity. Although the monitoring means of the time were limited, these earthquakes are estimated to have ranged between 3 and 4 degrees on the Richter scale. The seismic vibrations continued into the first months of 1950, culminating in the days before the eruption when the earthquakes became more frequent and intense.
Scientists of the time, using limited tools and observation, concluded that the vibrations were caused by the rise of magma towards the surface. The area around the crater was heating up, fumes were becoming more intense, and the ground was showing small deformations. All these signs confirmed the imminent eruption of the Santorini volcano. The residents, knowing well the power of nature, lived with both fear and admiration for the land that hosted them. Observing the repeated small vibrations, they experienced the dynamics of the earth preparing to release its energy.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq