Santorini: Volcano, Natural History, Mythology

by Walter L. Friedrich

This is a completely new and revised edition of the best-seller "Fire in the The Santorini Volcano, Natural History and the Legend of Atlantis" (originally published by Cambridge University Press, 2000). When the Greek island of Santorini, classically known as Thera, dramatically erupted in 1613 BC 13 years, it produced one of the largest explosions ever witnessed, thereby possibly giving rise to the legend of Atlantis. This so-called 'Minoan' eruption triggered tsunamis that devastated coastal settlements in the region. On Santorini it left behind a Bronze Age Pompeii, which is now being excavated. Thriving Bronze Age settlements on the island - rich in colourful wall paintings and highly sophisticated pottery - were buried under thick layers of volcanic ash. The ejection of an immense volume of dust into the atmosphere also altered global climate for several years. The author, a well-known geologist, blends the thrill of scientific discovery with a popular presentation of the geology, archaeology, history, people and the environmental settings of the island group of Santorini. He not only gives a comprehensive overview of the volcanic island and its past, but also reports on the latest the finding, for example, of olive trees which had been buried by the Minoan eruption has now made it possible to give a direct and precise radiocarbon date for the volcanic catastrophe. The author also seeks to assign certain geological structures, such as faulted rocks, red lavas and harbour sites, as depicted on the Bronze Age frescos from Santorini, to still-existing details in the Santorini landscape of today. Excellent colour photographs and illustrations along with easily understandable scientific and historic details will make this book highly appealing to a wide audience. It will also be useful as a supplementary text for introductory courses in earth and atmospheric sciences, geology, volcanology, and paleoclimatology, as well as ancient history and archaeology.

Genres: History, Greece

324 pages, Hardcover

First published July 10, 2009

Reviews

[Victor Sonkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A somewhat disjointed but very earnest account of the state and history of Santorini digs. It is somewhat incomplete, I feel, but I'm not sure that's not the problem of the site itself.

[Chris Wares · Rating 4 out of 5]

We visited Santorini earlier this year. I did my homework and with some effort I had more or less untangled the chronology of Santorini’s geology but this book has made it much clearer and with the help of excellent maps, pictures and diagrams Friedrich informs the reader on the scholarly debate and explains the geological and archeological discoveries.

This is both a “coffee table” book in the sense that the pictures and diagrams invite further interest, and a serious and scholarly book that is fully researched and referenced. In parts I was out of my depth but on the whole I was carried along with the authors enthusiasm.

My enthusiasm for learning more about Akrotiri and the island is renewed!

[Fred]

Translated by Alexander R. McBirney