Santorini Thera

The Flotilla fresco -as the best-preserved element- of the miniature frieze program in room five of the West House building in the Akrotiri excavation site, Santorini, Greece, has been analyzed with quantitative perspective methods and with respect to a localization of the landscapes depicted. Many depicted features could be identified and matched within the still existing topography, providing scale information. A virtual 3D model has been constructed accordingly and integrated into today´s topography of the island, regarding the latest geological findings.  While the previously suspected location of the arrival town -as being actually the excavation site- is strongly supported, here the departure town is located on a round island, surrounded by a round lagoon in the north-western part of today´s caldera.  The fresco view is towards the south-east from an elevated viewpoint south of the modern town Oia. The flotilla departs there and passes along the west coast of the island to turn east towards the Akrotiri embayment on the south shore. The Battle fresco on the north-west wall of the room is localized in the same region near Cape Perivola, but with a fresco view towards north-east. Informed form this localization, the preferred theme interpretation is that of an important festival there lasting several days, related to calendric cycles, initiation and leadership rejuvenation and including enacted games, human and livestock sacrifices, and religious rituals.  The model has been tentatively extended to the southern caldera regions, not visible in both frescos, but based upon a speculative localization of the River fresco and informed from landscape features in the Xeste 3 frescos. No definitive landmarks are identifiable though and hence this extension remains speculative.  A scrutinization of Plato´s Atlantis tales, after peeling out realistic topographic information, allows a surprisingly fitting match to the independently established virtual model (Part 2).

Η εκπαίδευση στη Σαντορίνη των αρχών του 20 ου αι. και τα σχολικά κτίρια τύπου 'Καλλία': Παρελθόν, παρόν και προοπτικές Κατερίνα Ριτζούλη, δρ. αρχιτέκτων μηχανικός ΥΠ.ΠΟ.Α. Υπηρεσία Νεωτέρων Μνημείων και Τεχνικών Έργων Αν. Μακεδονίας και Θράκης, Τμήμα Αρχιτεκτόνων Μηχανικών. Δημοκρίτειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θράκης, Λέκτωρ Π.Δ.407/80. Περίληψη Στον χώρο του Αιγαίου, από τα τέλη του 19 ου αι. δημιουργούνται προϋποθέσεις για την προετοιμασία της ελληνικής Επανάστασης και τη σύσταση του νεοελληνικού Κράτους. Ο ρόλος των Ελλήνων στο μεταπρατικό εμπόριο αυξάνεται ραγδαία και η εμπορική και οικονομική άνθιση της ευρύτερης περιοχής δεν αργεί να εκδηλωθεί στο νησί της Θήρας: Η αρχιτεκτονική των επιφανών κτιρίων από το 1860 μέχρι το 1920 διανύει μία πορεία προς την αποκρυστάλλωση μιας μοναδικής μορφολογικής και οικοδομικής ταυτότητας. Στα τέλη του 19 ου αι. η θηραϊκή ορθόδοξη κοινωνία προωθεί το όραμα της παροχής ελληνικής εκπαίδευσης σε όλα τα ελληνόπουλα του νησιού. Η ανήσυχη προσπάθεια των Δήμων για την ενοικίαση χώρων για σχολεία γίνεται σήμερα γνωστή από τα πολυάριθμα συμβόλαια ενοικίασης κτιρίων κατά τα τέλη του 19 ου αι. Η εποχή αυτή συμπίπτει με την περίοδο της έκδοσης του Βασιλικού Διατάγματος της 17 ης Μαΐου 1894 «Περί του τρόπου κατασκευής των σχολείων», βασισμένο στην εργασία του νομομηχανικού Δ. Καλλία. Τα προτεινόμενα νεοκλασικά σχολικά κτίρια, κατασκευάζονται σε κάθε υφιστάμενο οικισμό της Σαντορίνης, δημιουργώντας νέους πυρήνες πολεοδομικών επεκτάσεων. Τα κτίρια ανεγείρονται με τις τοπικές οικοδομικές τεχνικές, λόγω των ιδιαιτεροτήτων των φυσικών πόρων του νησιού (ηφαιστειογενείς λίθοι και θηραϊκή γη) και αποτελούν μοναδικά παραδείγματα εφαρμογής της τοπικής οικοδομικής τέχνης στο αρχιτεκτονικό μοντέλο τύπου 'Καλλία'. Τα περισσότερα σχολικά κτίρια σώζονται και λειτουργούν μέχρι σήμερα, επισκευασμένα και αρκετά αλλοιωμένα, μετά τον καταστροφικό σεισμό του 1956. Στην εργασία αυτή, αναλύεται και τεκμηριώνεται το ιστορικό πλαίσιο, η πολεοδομική χωροθέτηση, η αρχιτεκτονική και η οικοδομική των σχολικών κτιρίων του νησιού των αρχών του αιώνα. Για τα εν ενεργεία σχολικά κτίρια, διερευνώνται τα χωρικά και αρχιτεκτονικά τους χαρακτηριστικά μέσω των δεδομένων της σύγχρονης πραγματικότητας (χωροθέτησης, αρχιτεκτονικής και οικοδομικής), σύμφωνα με τα νέα περιγράμματα των τεχνικών και κτιριολογικών απαιτήσεων, στα σύγχρονα πλαίσια της ποιοτικής αναβάθμισης των σχολικών κτιρίων. Σαντορίνη, εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα, σχολικά κτίρια, ιστορία της ελληνικής εκπαίδευσης, Δημήτριος Καλλίας. The education in the island of Santorini in Greece, during the beginning of the 20 th c. and the 'Kallias' type school buildings: Past, present and perspectives.

The biblical Exodus was one of history’s most dramatic events.  This paper synthesizes the biblical account, historic knowledge, mythology, information about Thera Volcano, and astronomy into a detailed narrative of what happened.  Identification of the “angel of God” as Comet Halley allows the conclusion that this angel passed over Egypt in the role of Angel of Death during a full moon on the night of September 3, 1404 BC.  This was followed days later by a colossal eruption of Thera Volcano that created a tidal wave in the Mediterranean Sea.  This great wave came ashore on the Nile Delta as a wall of water that flowed into the Wadi Tumilat and continued to the Serapeum Plateau where a large group of Israelites were waiting in anticipation of the imminent arrival of Pharaoh’s army.  The army intended to return them to their former slavery.  Before reaching the plateau, the advancing water divided into two walls that rushed past on opposite sides, leaving the Israelites on an island in a vast sea.  Pharaoh’s army was in the Sea of Reeds advancing towards the plateau when it was destroyed.  As water receded, the Israelites walked off the plateau across the east channel and continued their march to Mount Sinai.

The Birth of Jesus in 12 B.C. concluded that Jesus of Nazareth was born either during, or near to, the first two weeks in October, 12 B.C.  This date is more than eleven years earlier than the traditional date, and it implies his death was earlier than 30 A.D.  Since Jesus reached nearly 30 years of age, he would have died about 19 A.D.  Surprisingly, historical information has been found to verify these criteria and to support the conclusion that Jesus was crucified on April 7, 19 A.D.

Η Θηρασία αποτελεί ένα πρόσφορο πεδίο παρατήρησης των μικρών νησιωτικών κοινωνιών, έχοντας διατηρήσει σημαντικά ίχνη ενός πολιτισμικού τοπίου που συνδέεται με τη διαχρονική οικιστική ιστορία του τόπου, τις χρήσεις γης, την πρόσληψη και βίωση του χώρου από τις ανθρώπινες κοινότητες στο παρελθόν. Τα ίχνη αυτά κατέγραψε η έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε στο πλαίσιο του ερευνητικού προγράμματος «Διαχρονικοί Νησιωτικοί Πολιτισμοί: η περίπτωση της Θηρασίας», όπως και η τρέχουσα ανασκαφική έρευνα στο νησί.
Ο ανά χείρας τόμος εστιάζει στη γεωλογική, αρχαιολογική και ιστορική έρευνα που πραγματοποιήθηκε στη Θηρασιά με στόχο την κατανόηση της ιστορίας του τοπίου στη μακρά διάρκεια, από την προϊστορία ως τον 21ο αιώνα. Η έρευνα συνδυάζει μεθόδους της αρχαιολογικής έρευνας επιφανείας, της γεωλογικής και γεωφυσικής μελέτης και της ανασκαφής, ενώ η διερεύνηση των διαθέσιμων ιστορικών πηγών και η αρχειακή έρευνα, όπως και η εθνογραφική και τοπωνυμική έρευνα, συμπληρώνουν το ευρύ φάσμα πηγών, δεδομένων και οπτικών.

Urban intervention in the historic area of “Sidera” in Oia, in the island of Thera (Santorini), Per- fecture of Cyclades Τhis paper’s objective is the creation of an urban intervention program in the area of ‘Sidera’ in the traditional settlement of Oia, which aims at its revitalization and sustainable development. The regional planning framework of the Perfecture of Cyclades, the conditions of protection, the geographic, historic and demographic development of the settlement of Oia and its built charac- teristics were studied in the search for information of the area. The fieldwork was conducted within the context of an urban programming and planning methodology. The existing condition of the 68 skins, with and without use, in the area of “Sidera” was imprinted and evaluated ac- cording to their use and historical criteria. Consequently, the proposed intervention’s strategies and the prioritization of the settlement’s problems were gathered in a report. The intervention program was therefore composed.  Five basic axes of intervention were compiled by analyzing the tendencies and probable scenarios of the settlement’s development: (Π, Π1, Π2, Π3, Π4): 1. (Π): The general frame for the sustain- able development for the sectors of culture, resources and sustainable development, as well as for attracting and maintaining population. 2. (Π1): The spatial-functional program of residence, in which interventions are being proposed for each group of skins. 3. (Π2): The program of land use and public Services. 4. (Π3): The program of roads and other networks. 5. (Π4): The program for free public spaces. The programs mentioned above were spatially projected onto maps, tables, diagrams etc., and through measures, works and actions of sustainable development, aim at the creation of adequate infrastructure, the reinforcement of social cohesion, and the effort for pre- serving cultural heritage with respect to the capacity of the energy resources of the island. The study was created as a dissertation project (2008), supervised by Prof. Evangelos P. Dimitriadis, for the Interdisciplinary Program of Postgraduate Studies at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, entitled “Protection, conservation and restoration of historic Monuments”. Then, after process- ing, the work was submitted by the writer to the technical services of the municipality of Thera and the local municipality of Oia.

The Attic myth of the abduction of Oreithyia by Boreas was very popular in the 5th century B.C., as attested by literary sources, Athenian sculptures and vase painting, as it formed an integral part of Athenian ideological narrative. According to a version of the myth, transmitted by the mythographer Akousilaos in the early 5th  century, Oreithyia was abducted in the course of a Panathenaic procession, where she marched as a kanephoros.  This version was taken up by Athenian art as attested for the first time by an Attic red-figure cinerary hydria exported to the island of Thera (Santorini). The vase reflects the glory of Athens in the second half of the 5th century, shedding new light on the connection of myth and cult in Classical Athens.

This paper focuses on the funerary treatment of infants of the ancient city of Thera, including burial types, placement within the common cemeteries and grave offerings. Infants were included in the cemeteries of the city and provided with the formal rituals. They were invariably interred inside a pot (ἐγχυτριμὸς--enchytrismos) instead of being cremated and were buried either isolated or in groups. Exceptions to this could be interpreted in terms of special circumstances of death or status and perceptions of the family. Family coherence and continuation is signaled through their inclusion by the members of a newly founded colony, perhaps in the manner of the metropolis, Sparta.

The River Nile catchment is considered the major source of nutrient-rich freshwater and sediment draining into the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Thus, exceptional high-resolution record from the Nile Littoral Cell likely traces changes in the Nile outflows related to climatic changes driven by the monsoonal system. This study used multi-proxy analyses combining sedimentological, geochemical and organic stable isotope data along with foraminiferal data in a southeastern Levantine inner shelf sedi-mentary sequence to understand Mid-to Late Holocene northeast African climate variability. The palynological record is used to reconstruct local scale changes in the regional vegetation related to the Mediterranean climate system. The analyzed records reveal multi-decadal to centennial pacing of paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic changes, with most prominent events recorded at 4.28, ~3.6 and at 2.9 kyr BP. These transitional periods characterized by simultaneous high d 15 N values and low total organic carbon (TOC) suggest drier climatic conditions, decrease in Nile discharge, leading to lower nutrient supply. A stable and arid climate during Mid-Late Holocene (~4.5e3.6 cal kyr BP) associated with a weaker monsoon system as well as with a weaker Mediterranean climate system is indicated based on high and constant sedimentation rates (~400 cm kyr À1), along with relatively stable values and only occasional weak fluctuations documented in all of the proxies. This climatic pattern is punctuated by a peak in maximum aridity at 4.28 kyr BP evidenced by low TOC value and low arboreal pollen (AP) and Artemisia/Chenopodiaceae (A/C) pollen ratios and the sharp decline in the abundance of benthic fora-minifera Cribroelphidium poeyanum and Valvulineria bradyana. This change corresponds with the well-studied 4.2 kyr BP drought event in the Middle East, Mesopotamia and south Asia. During the late Holocene (~3.6e2.8 cal. Kyr BP) the climate became unstable characterized by shifts between relatively wetter and drier conditions as evident in considerable fluctuations in all proxies. Maximum positive excursions of TOC values, C/N ratio along with high dominance of opportunistic foraminiferal species (e.g., Ammonia tepida) indicate northeast African wetter conditions and increased Nile discharge at 3.5, 3.3, 3.2 and 3.0 kyr BP. The distinct and abrupt transition from a stable to an unstable climate regime around 3.6 kyr BP may have been influenced by the Thera volcanic eruption. Thus, the sedimentary record investigated in this study may provide evidence for the impacts of this well-known volcanic eruption not just on the climate regime in the Levant but also on the ancient Near East and Egypt.

The study of the history of the first excavations on prehistoric Therasia in the nineteenth century, which were carried out in the context of contemporary scientific interest in the volcanic eruptions of Santorini, has led to the systematic archaeological investigation of the island from 2007 onwards. The intensive archaeological surface survey, the geological survey of the geological structure and palaeotopography of Therasia, and geophysical investigations, undertaken in conjunction with the ongoing excavation of the prehistoric settlement at the site of Panaghia Koimisis at the southern end of modern Therasia, have created the conditions for a more comprehensive approach to the archaeological landscape of the island. Based on the results from the excavation trenches in the south and south-east terraces of the Koimisis hill, which have been excavated down to the virgin soil, we present findings on the organisation, architecture and habitation phases of the Koimisis settlement. The...

ABSTRACT: A fairly good documentary (albeit often way over- dramatized)  to initiate a debate amongst students regarding some potential origins of the Atlantis myth via the eruption of Thera (Santorini) and the subsequent tidal wave that damaged Minoan coastal installations, etc. This documentary response sheet contains a series of sequential questions drawn from the video, History channel: "Atlantis myth" (shown in-class; also available online via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OTB9CILOA [44.26 minutes]).  These sequential questions aim to maximize both student attention to various pertinent points made throughout the documentary and greater retention of the materials covered by the documentary.  In addition, the documentary has been vetted for overall content accuracy (albeit updated and/or corrected in-class), and selected to provide supplementary visual aids (e.g., images of regions, sites, finds, and other materials), additional specialist views (e.g., interviews), and other data to aid in student comprehension of the course lectures and readings from the textbooks. REVISED: Feb., 2024: Adding in time markers for each question, names of specialists in pertinent sections, and additional documentaries on MInoans and Mycenaeans (at end of documentary).

(N.B.: per visualizzare la presentazione è necessario fare il download - to visualize Power Point presentation you must download)
Presentazione Power Point relativa alla Tesi di Laurea di cui è possibile visionare il filmato al link pure a disposizione nella pagina dei miei documenti. Le immagini statiche visionabili nel filmato sono estratte da questa presentazione.

Sono esistiti rapporti tra le civiltà egea ed egiziana nel Bronzo Tardo?
Possiamo individuare transfer culturali tra le due civiltà?
Esiste possibilità di sovrapposizione stilistica delle manifestazioni artistiche tra le due civiltà?
Il lavoro, nel suo insieme, cerca di dare risposta a tali quesiti partendo da un'analisi delle varie metodologie di datazione (archeo-storica, carbonio 14, dendrocronologia), per passare ad un esame più sommario dei periodi minoici del Bronzo (Pre e Proto-Palaziale per l'Egeo; dall'Antico Regno al Secondo Periodo Intermedio per l'Egitto) per approfondire l'argomento del Neo e Post-Palaziale (Nuovo Regno egiziano).
L'esame si incentra, inoltre, sul concetto di Isole del Grande Verde per giungere, passando per la "Stele Egea" del Tempio funerario di Amenhotep III a Kom el-Hetan, al confronto tra i dipinti di Knossos e quelli solo recentemente scoperti a Tell el-Dab'a (l'antica Avaris) per concludersi con l'esame delle Tombe dei Nobili, a Tebe, che presentano dipinti parietali delle c.d. "processioni dei tributari" Keftiw.

(click on Uninettunouniversity.net)
Sono esistiti rapporti tra le civiltà egea ed egiziana nel Bronzo Tardo?
Possiamo individuare transfer culturali tra le due civiltà?
Esiste possibilità di sovrapposizione stilistica delle manifestazioni artistiche tra le due civiltà?
Scarsa è la produzione sull'argomento in italiano e tutto il lavoro della tesi (per un totale di oltre 200 pagine) è stato svolto con ricerche su testi e pubblicazioni specialmente inglesi e francesi.
Si parte da un'analisi delle varie metodologie di datazione (archeo-storica, carbonio 14, dendrocronologia), per passare ad un esame più sommario dei periodi minoici del Bronzo (Pre e Proto-Palaziale) per approfondire l'argomento del Neo e Post-Palaziale.
L'esame si incentra, inoltre, sul concetto di Isole del Grande Verde per giungere, passando per la "Stele Egea" del Tempio funerario di Amenhotep III a Kom el-Hetan, al confronto tra i dipinti di Knossos e quelli solo recentemente scoperti a Tell el-Dab'a (l'antica Avaris) per concludersi con l'esame delle Tombe dei Nobili, a Tebe, che presentano dipinti parietali delle c.d. "processioni dei tributari" Keftiw.

The excavated architecture of the exceptional prehistoric site of Akrotiri on the Greek island of Thera/Santorini is endangered by gradual decay, damage due to accidents, and seismic shocks, being located on an active volcano in an earthquake-prone area. Therefore, in 2013 and 2014 a digital documentation project has been conducted with support of the National Geographic Society in order to generate a detailed digital model of Akrotiri’s architecture using terrestrial laser scanning and image-based modeling. Additionally, non-invasive geophysical prospection has been tested in order to investigate its potential to explore and map yet buried archaeological remains. This article describes the project and the generated results.

ABSTRACT: This documentary response sheet contains a series of sequential questions drawn from the video, Acorn: The Minotaur's Island (shown in-class; also available online via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LZ6JzBcXjU [95 minutes]).  These sequential questions aim to maximize both student attention to various pertinent points made throughout the documentary and greater retention of the materials covered by the documentary.  In addition, the documentary has been vetted for overall content accuracy (albeit updated and/or corrected in-class), and selected to provide supplementary visual aids (e.g., images of regions, sites, finds, and other materials), additional specialist views (e.g., interviews), and other data to aid in student comprehension of the course lectures and readings from the textbooks. REVISED: Feb., 2024.

The study of the history of the first excavations on prehistoric Therasia in the nineteenth century, which were carried out in the context of contemporary scientific interest in the volcanic eruptions of Santorini, has led to the systematic archaeological investigation of the island from  onwards. The intensive archaeological surface survey, the geological survey of the geological structure and palaeotopography of Therasia, and geophysical investigations, undertaken in conjunction with the ongoing excavation of the prehistoric settlement at the site of Panaghia Koimisis at the southern end of modern Therasia, have created the conditions for a more comprehensive approach to the archaeological landscape of the island. Based on the results from the excavation trenches in the south and southeast terraces of the Koimisis hill, which have been excavated down to the virgin soil, we present findings on the organisation, architecture and habitation phases of the Koimisis settlement. The ...