The connection of Atlantis legend and the island of Santorini.
The renowned Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) had given a vivid description of the vanishing away of Atlantis in his infamous dialogs - Critias and Timaeus. According to Plato Atlantis was a circular island inhabited by immensely gifted people who were highly civilized and also very prosperous. The original account of Plato was with Solon (640-560 BC), who used to be the knowledgeable lawgiver of the city of Athens.It was during one visit to the town of Sais located on the deltaic region of the Nile that he was enlightened by the revered Egyptian priests of the vanishing away of a monumental island. Later on Solon had informed Plato about the plot of the vanishing island. Consequently all the accounts on the lost kingdom or island were based on Plato’s dialogs.
Platos account of Atlantis: Plato is quoted as saying that once upon a time the Atlantis island was a vast empire spreading over numerous continents all of which disappeared in one single night of destruction and mayhem caused by a terrible earthquake followed by a deluge.
Geological as well as archeological explorations have revealed a fascinating likelihood and that is the vanishing of Atlantis which might be linked to the Bronze Age calamity courtesy of the massive explosion in the Aegean Sea. The catastrophe was so devastating that it inundated the caldera and completely ruined the highly civilized Minoan civilization which used to be an integral part of Santorini island.
Santorini is a cluster of islands owing affinity to the Cyclades chain of island located to the south of the Aegean Sea,. It is strategically located between Greece in the west and Turkey to the east. Santorini falls in the plate-tectonic zone and comprises of the island of Thera, Therasia, Aspronisi, and the inner Kameni Islands.
Archaeological and Geological evidence: If geological history is accurate, Santorini has always been prone to volcanic activity. Archaeologists have unearthed clinching evidence of the fact that there used to be several highly evolved civilizations in Santorini some of which dates back to the 1300 B.C.
Having witnessed many eruptions it is not unlikely that these civilizations were completely devastated by the eruption of the catastrophic Santorini volcano. For instance, the excavations carried out in the vicinity of the city of Akrotiri have revealed Bronze Age remains of a vast and exciting city. The paintings and murals that have been unearthed clearly indicate that the Thera Island was once upon a time inhabited by the Minoans.
Archaeologists further point out to the fact that Thera had a flourishing economy and the Minoans were great seafarers and carried out trade and commerce with other Mediterranean countries. Today, all that is left are the ruins which are hidden under a substantial cover of pumice which the Bronze Age explosion generated. If Radiometric analysis is anything to go by, the explosion occurred between 1615-1645 B.C.
There is unanimity in the scientific community that Santorini island was not conceived from any single volcanic event. Rather there were many eruptions over a considerable period of time which resulted in the formation of modern day Santorini. If geological research is anything to go by, Santorini has witnessed no less than 12 massive volcanic eruptions spanning a period of one million years, which in itself is stupendous. Geologists give a lot of importance particularly to the Bronze Age eruption which is projected to have a “Volcanic Explosivity Index” of 6.9 which in itself is alarming.
Eruptions: The sheer enormity of the Bronze Age eruption is matched by a mere seven other global eruptions if one takes into account the past four millennia. Prior to the Bronze Age cataclysm, Santorini used to be a circular island and after the late Bronze Age eruption, the Santorini highland completely buckled down to form the modern caldera.
The renowned caldera wall is strategically located underneath the contemporary rural community of Fira and Firostefani. The Caldera disintegrated primarily due to the powerful seismic upheaval and terrible tsunamis all of which completely devastated the existing Minoan civilization and other Minoan communities in the neighborhood.The catastrophic occurrence is believed to be very much like the 1883 volcanic eruption of Karakatau.
In the modern era the 1630 BC volcanic eruption of Santorini is universally acknowledged as one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in modern era. But it should still be borne in mind that the 1630 event is one among the many series of eruptions that have taken place.
If geological analysis is anything to go by, Santorini has witnessed less volatile eruptions like the Vulcanian and Strombolian eruptions once in every five thousand years.
It must be borne in mind that ever since the late Bronze Age eruption, the Kameni islands- Nea and Palea Kameni, have taken shape right in the middle of the caldera courtesy numerous volcanic eruptions over the past thousand years or so. Santorini undoubtedly emerges as a volcanically active zone and the last eruption occurred in 1950 which is fairly recent.
As an island Santorini shows ample evidence of constant seismic activity and myth of Atlantis are familiar feature of the island. There is no doubt whatsoever that another eruption is around the corner. Geologists and seismic experts are of the opinion that this time one can expect a moderate eruption instead of a volatile one. But all said and done, volcanoes are more often than not quite unpredictable. So let’s keep our fingers crossed and see what the future has in store.
The latest version, according to a team of renowned scientists, the volcanic eruption at Santorini archipelago was twice more explosive than was previously assumed.
Scientific study: In the journal Eos a group of U.S. and Greek scientists have concluded that the volatile eruption let loose a staggering 14 cubic miles molten magma which is at least half a dozen times more than the 1883 explosion that occurred at Krakatau. In the scientific circles, it is believed that in the entire history of volcanic eruptions on planet earth, the 1815 Tambora explosion in Indonesia was the only eruption which was larger than the one at Krakatau. which steamed out an incredible 24 cubic miles of molten magma. The research was to a degree funded by the National Geographic Society that conducted the high profile seismic survey of the ocean floor in the vicinity of Santorini.
The researchers used state-of-the-art gadgets much like those used by mega oil corporations for offshore drilling and found volcanic dumps at the Santorini archipelago. According to Haraldur Sigurdsson, a renowned volcano expert attached to the University of Rhode Island who led the exploration of the Santorini archipelago, the volcanic deposits were on an average 30 meters thick and was spread over an area of 30 Kms, which is awesome by any standards.
In the modern era the 1630 BC volcanic eruption of Santorini is universally acknowledged as one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in modern era. But it should still be borne in mind that the 1630 event is one among the many series of eruptions that have taken place.
If geological analysis is anything to go by, Santorini has witnessed less volatile eruptions like the Vulcanian and Strombolian eruptions once in every five thousand years.
It must be borne in mind that ever since the late Bronze Age eruption, the Kameni islands- Nea and Palea Kameni, have taken shape right in the middle of the caldera courtesy numerous volcanic eruptions over the past thousand years or so. Santorini undoubtedly emerges as a volcanically active zone and the last eruption occurred in 1950 which is fairly recent.
As an island Santorini shows ample evidence of constant seismic activity and myth of Atlantis are familiar feature of the island. There is no doubt whatsoever that another eruption is around the corner. Geologists and seismic experts are of the opinion that this time one can expect a moderate eruption instead of a volatile one. But all said and done, volcanoes are more often than not quite unpredictable. So let’s keep our fingers crossed and see what the future has in store.
The latest version, according to a team of renowned scientists, the volcanic eruption at Santorini archipelago was twice more explosive than was previously assumed.
Scientific study: In the journal Eos a group of U.S. and Greek scientists have concluded that the volatile eruption let loose a staggering 14 cubic miles molten magma which is at least half a dozen times more than the 1883 explosion that occurred at Krakatau. In the scientific circles, it is believed that in the entire history of volcanic eruptions on planet earth, the 1815 Tambora explosion in Indonesia was the only eruption which was larger than the one at Krakatau. which steamed out an incredible 24 cubic miles of molten magma. The research was to a degree funded by the National Geographic Society that conducted the high profile seismic survey of the ocean floor in the vicinity of Santorini.
The researchers used state-of-the-art gadgets much like those used by mega oil corporations for offshore drilling and found volcanic dumps at the Santorini archipelago. According to Haraldur Sigurdsson, a renowned volcano expert attached to the University of Rhode Island who led the exploration of the Santorini archipelago, the volcanic deposits were on an average 30 meters thick and was spread over an area of 30 Kms, which is awesome by any standards.
source by : http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/santorini/santorini-volcano/atlantis.htm
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