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Findings and traditions in Thera
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The findings of the Thira (or Thera) excavations from Marinatos and Chr. Doumas, date back to the times of the classical culture of ancient Greece, the Mycenaean, Minoan and another older civilization which is named "Aigaios, Aigaikos or Aigaiikos" civilization. The term Aegeo-pelagian civilization, which was established last, shows the continuity of the old culture with the classical ancient Greece and the new civilization of the inhabitants of the Aegean islands. There are, of course, certain characteristics that distinquish cultures with each other. But there are others that show the interaction of these cultures and several elements of the common root of their styles. What findings have been studied, from the old ones, dates back to the years 2700-2000 of the old timing. Other findings have been found that hαve not yet been studied. We think that some of those studied are older than the 3000 old timing, such as compasses, oenochoes, "kiosk-like utensils" etc. The use of the latter is still unknown ...
That one of the findings of Marinatus, who did not take much care of, was a human denture found in Aspronissi, Thira. Its size betrays that it belonged to a giant man, at least two and a half meters high with similar body members. Is it related to someone "Atlas" from the colonisers Atlanteans of Thira?
In the Archaeological Museum of Athens and the Thira Museum exhibited beautiful wall paintings of Santorini from the 3rd millennium until 1600 of the old timing.
There is a colorful fresco depicting seven ships, surrounded by dolphins. The layout of the ships is reminiscent of disembarkation, after a naval battle, in a well-built city. It is certainly an illustration of an event, but of unknown chronology.
Two beautiful colorful vases of Thira are painted with dolphin pairs. In a mosque of Thira was found a relief carved large dolphin in stone (and above ancient form). Do not forget that Pelagius Poseidon, father of Atlas, according to Plato and so on, was symbolized and portrayed with the Dolphin, worshiped as totems on islands beyond the Heracles columns and considered a sacred animal (Delfinios Apollo etc). Another tradition says that Poseidon often visited Thira, and there, on the islet "Sphere", met Aithra and Theseus was born.
Also in Thira were found species of obsidian, which were used by the pelasgians and jars with embossed crosses. (residues of beer were found in two jars). Were also found buildings, one-storey, two-storey and three-storey, with windows of membranes-treated animal skins, white and thin, so that the light penetrates ...
An ancient legend, saved by Apollonius Rhodios, reports that the island of Kallisti was formed by a clod of soil, which was thrown into the Aegean by "Thiras", the son of Triton, the nephew of Poseidon. From him, the island was later named Thira. Thiras and his brother Euphemus took part, also, in the Argonautic campaign. Euphemus even had respect for "Atlantida Maia", mother of Hermes, and imposed her worship on Thira because she was holding from her generation.
Other traditions say that in Thira existed, in the ancient times, the temple of Saturn (Cronus) and another temple of "Asphaleios Poseidon". In Perissa there were sanctuaries of Hermes, Hercules, Serapis and Isis.
All these factors convinces that long before the Thira was conquered by Minos (Crete), it had been colonized by other peoples of the sea, from the Pelasgians and older, apparently, from the Atlanteans...
Copyright © Theodoros Paschos, Greece, 2000
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