Discover

''See also Akrotiri (disambiguation).''

Akrotiri is the name of a Minoan settlement on the Greek island of Santorini. It was buried by a volcanic eruption in the 17th century BC, and as a result is remarkably well-preserved. Frescoes, pottery, furniture, advanced drainage systems and three-storey buildings have been discovered at the site.

An ambitious modern roof structure, meant to protect the site, collapsed just prior to its completion in 2005, killing one visitor. No damages were recorded to the antiquities. As a result of this, the site is currently closed to visitors (early 2007).
Excavated artifacts have been installed in a museum distant from the site (''Museum of Prehistoric Thera''), with many objects and artworks presented. Only a single gold object has been found, hidden beneath flooring, and no uninterred human skeletal remains have been found. This indicates that an orderly evacuation was performed with little or no loss of life.

Contents

Gallery of Akrotiri frescos from various museums

Gallery of museum objects on Santorini

Gallery of Akrotiri frescos from various museums

Gallery of museum objects on Santorini

Most of the images here have been color corrected by the ''Picture Workshop'' of the German Wikipedia [1]. The yellow light (without the energetic blue wavelengths) used in the museum greatly reduces the fading of colors. Differences in technical approach and guesses at appropriate coloration have lead to variations in color rendering.



★ Official website of the archaeological site

★ A visitor's account

★ Akrotiri - Santorini's Mystery

★ The archaeological site of Akrotiri

★ Greek news report on 2005 roof collapse