Santorini : volcano, natural history, mythology / Walter L. Friedrich ; translation, Alexander R. McBirney.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 292-306) and indexes.

Front Matter; Front Cover; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; I The geological framework; 1 The geography of Santorini; Thera -- the main island of Santorini; Therasia -- the Little Thera; Aspronisi -- the White Island; The Kameni Islands; The Caldera -- the large central basin; Kolumbos -- the invisible volcano; The Christiana Islands -- relatives of the Santorini volcanic group; An island with deep roots in history; 2 Santorini and plate tectonics; Continental drift and Plate tectonics; Geology of the Aegean region

3 The geological development of SantoriniNon-volcanic rocks; Volcanic rocks and their deposition; 4 Stratigraphy -- the backbone of geology; Paleontological remains; Marine fossils of the Profitis Elias; Marine fossils at Archangelos Vouno; Absolute dating; Dating of organic remains; Tephrochronology; 5 Plant remains and geological time; Plant fossils in volcanic regions; The plant fossils of Santorini; Plant remains of the Fira Beds; Plant fossils on Therasia; Plants as indicators of climate; The flora of Santorini today; II The Minoan eruption; 6 The mechanism of the Minoan eruption

Was there warning of the eruption?The first (Plinian) phase; The second (base surge) phase; The third phase; Was there a fourth eruption phase?; The effects of the Minoan eruption; Effects on flora and fauna; What do the adjacent islands show?; Destructions on Crete; Climatic deterioration in China; Comparable eruptions; 7 When did the catastrophe occur?; Absolute and relative dating methods; Archeological estimates of age; Other attempts at dating; Olive trees and their history; Investigation of the olive branch; Discussions and questions; III The volcano releases its secret

8 A Bronze Age PompeiiThe first discoveries on Therasia; The discoveries on Thera; 9 What was living on the island during the Bronze Age?; Plants and animals; The flora; The fauna; 10 An idea takes hold; Geological clues for reconstruction of the island; Fossils solve the problem; Pieces added to the reconstruction; Minerals for color pigments; Stones and building materials; Clay deposits; Metallurgy; Archeological evidence; Rocks shown on frescoes; Old settlements on the caldera walls; The findings on northern Thera; Findings in the Karageorghis quarry; Findings in the Mavromatis quarry

Ships fresco decoded?Home harbor found?; A photo from the Bronze Age; 11 Geological observations and mythology; Did the Minoan eruption cause the Exodus and the Ten Plagues?; Was Atlantis on the Bronze Age island?; The Minoan culture and Atlantis; The Atlantis theory of Galanopoulos; Thinking the unthinkable; Modern Geology and Atlantis; IV The island is changing its appearance; 12 The caldera is filling again; Volcanic activity in historical time; The present day caldera; The eruption of 197 BC; A precursor of Palea Kameni?; The eruption of 46 AD; A historical turning point (726 AD)

When the Greek island of Santorini, classically known as Thera, erupted dramatically 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, and on Santorini it left behind a Bronze Age Pompeji, which is currently being excavated. Thriving Bronze Age settlements on the island - rich in colorful wall paintings and highly sophisticated pottery - were buried under thick layers of volcanic ash. The ejection of an.

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