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Activity 2 Was Thera the legendary Atlantis?

Image 1: Santorini

This text states that the Santorini complex of islands (Thera, Therasia, Asponisi, Palaea Kameni and Nea Kameni) is the product of millions of years of geological evolution in the Aegean Sea. Approximately thirty million years ago the Aegean Sea did not even exist: in its place stood a mountainous land-mass, commonly called Aegeis, which stretched from the Ionian Sea through Crete to Asia Minor. Around thirteen million year ago, however, a complex system of geological faults led to the break up of this landmass and to the formation of the modern Aegean Sea. Thus, the islands of the Aegean are in reality the peaks of submarine mountains which formerly stood high and dray on Aegeis. The geological stresses that destroyed Aegeis were also responsible for the formation of a chain of volcanic islands lying to the north of Crete and extending from the Saronic Gulf to western Asia Minor. The major eruptive centers along this chain are the islands of Melos, Thera, Kos, Yali and Nisyros.From: Forsyth, PY, Thera in the Bronze Age, American University Studies, Series IX History, Peter Lang, New York, 1997; (183):1.

Source 1

The geological and geographical features of modern day Santorini, have been studied in detail by geologists, geomorphologists and Vulcanologists. The physical features of the island have been formed over thousands of years and the evidence is undeniable that it has volcanic influences and experienced a major natural disaster in the Bronze Age. Could this account for the disappearance of Atlantis from history?


Image 2: The West House in the Triangular Square

The remains of the stone building walls are covered by a protective roof and held up by concrete buttresses. Wooden windows and doorways appear on upper and lower storeys. The wall has crumbled above the largest window in the middle of the upper storey. The display is roped off.

Source 2 The West House in the Triangular Square at Akrotiri

The archaeology team working at Akrotiri called this the Triangular Square. On the left is the West House. What were the building materials used by the People of Akrotiri on Thera? Does this show town planning?


Image 3: Bronze Age Akrotiri

The drawing depicts a conglomeration of flat roofed buildings of varying heights, set at right angles to each other. The view is from a high angle, looking down. The predominant colour of the buildings is light orange. Doors and windows are shown. People and plants have been drawn in the courtyards or streets between the buildings.

Source 3 Bronze Age Akrotiri – a reconstruction drawing

This is a reconstruction drawing from National Geographic. Do the key architectural features match what you can see in Source 2 and other site photographs and wall paintings you should find during your research?


Image 4: Wall paintings from Akrotiri

This shows a reconstruction of two walls from a house in Bronze Age Akrotiri. The left wall shows the ‘Boxing Children’ and the right wall shows antelopes.

Source 4 Wall paintings from Akrotiri

This shows a reconstruction of two walls from a house in Bronze Age Akrotiri. The left wall shows the ‘Boxing Children’ and the right wall shows antelopes. What does this tell us about the Therans at Akrotiri?


Image 5: A young woman of Thera

This is a unique wall painting of a Bronze Age young woman of Thera. The detail reveals evidence about physical features, hairstyle, clothing and accessories.

Source 5 A young woman of Thera

This is a unique wall painting of a Bronze Age young woman of Thera. The detail reveals evidence about physical features, hairstyle, clothing and accessories. This is as close as we can get to a portrait photograph. Your research should reveal what type of work she is doing and another piece of evidence about life at Akrotiri.


Image 6: Check

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Consider:

This historical issue is not easily related to ‘facts’. Be a hard-nosed investigator and base your findings on judgements based on available evidence.