The island of Ancient Thera is made up of a rugged, mountainous terrain dominated by the presence of the volcano of Santorini, who eruption during the Bronze Age was responsible for the decline of the Minoan civilisation. Buried by the ash from the volcanic eruption, the city of Akrotiri was discovered in 1866 during the construction of the Suez Canal and 1967 marked the beginning of archaeological work done by Spyridon Marinatos. This lecture gives a rundown of the archaeological discoveries and the characteristics of the civilisation it played host to.

Next Session: Athens, the Whiteness of the Goddess