The existence of a Cycladic civilization that had connections with both the mainland and Crete is indicated by artifacts found in these islands. Since the 1930s Greek excavations of a Cycladic settlement on the island of Thíra (Thera), also known as Santoríni, have yielded frescoes and artifacts similar to the Minoan. Thíra was apparently destroyed by a great volcanic eruption about 1640 BC. The disaster may have been the basis for Platos writings on the lost continent of Atlantis. More recent excavations on the islands encircling Delos traced back the Cycladic culture to the 4th millennium bc, when merchants, in search of obsidian (a volcanic glass), and fishermen established seasonal settlements there. Although no examples of writing have been identified, Cycladic culture possessed viable pottery, jewelry, and characteristic marble idols, generally of women and often life-size in scale, that were originally lavishly painted. Incorrectly termed mother goddesses, these idols associate the deceased with the powers of the sea, which was central to Cycladic life.
(On the picture: Atlantis on Santorini (Video hosted on Google.) Santorini is perhaps the most famous Greek island. It belongs to the group of Cyclades islands, located towards the south. The island has been widely known because of its unique beauty and breathtaking view. But that is only part of the islands charm. Santorini is a vivid example of nature's bursts. Santorini differs from the other islands in the group thanks to its geological morphology, the result of action by a volcano now dormant. The landscape of the western side of the island, where towering cliffs crown by tiny and blindingly-white houses plunge straight into the depths of the sea. Ancient Thira is a site of great archaeological interest which was occupied by Phoenicians, Dorians, Romans and Byzantines. The site of Akrotiri has yielded the remains of Minoan city destroyed around 1500 BC by an eruption of the volcano on Thira. In effect, this is a prehistoric version of Pompeii buried beneath volcanic ash, with two and three-storeyed houses, with squares, shops, workshops and so on. Among the finds from the houses were marvelous murals (on display in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens), vases and everyday utensils. On the highest peak of Santorini is a monastery of the Prophet Elijah (Profitis Ilias), where there is a picturesque religious feast on 20 July each year.
Most tourists gather nowdays at the four calderas of Fira , Firostefani , Imerovigli and Ia , as well as the beaches of Kamari and Perissa with the gray-black pebbles. There are many hotels and studios in these areas, as well as luxury hotels, however, it is still hard to find a place to stay even in early May, since thousands of tourists gather each year to admire the unique beauty of the island.
Pre 20th Century History
 Santorini Dorians, Venetians and Turks occupied Santorini, as they did all other Cycladic islands, but its most influential early inhabitants were the Minoans. They came from Crete some time between 2000 and 1600 BC, and the settlement at Akrotiri dates from the apogee of their great civilisation.
The island was circular then and was called Strongili (the Round One). Around 1650 BC a colossal volcanic eruption caused the centre of Strongili to sink, leaving a caldera with high cliffs - now one of the world's most dramatic sights. Some archaeologists have speculated that this catastrophe destroyed not only Akrotiri but the structure, and eventually the essence, of the Minoan civilisation. Another theory that has fired the already overheated imaginations of some writers, artists and mystics since ancient times claims that the island was part of the mythical lost continent of Atlantis.
Modern History
More recent undersea volcanic activity begins around the early 18th century and has seen some serious action at least three times in the 20th century, the lastest being in 1950. Add to this another brush with natural chaos in 1956, when the island was struck by a 7.8 earthquake.
Santorini was annexed to Greece in 1912, and during World War II the Italians and Germans occupied Santorini until October 18, 1944. Although the current primary industry of Santorini is tourism, two million tons of pumice were exported per year until the quarries closed in 1986 to conserve the caldera. (The insulation of the Suez Canal was made out of Thira's pumice stone mixed with cement.) Santorini is also home to a small but ever-growing wine industry, based on Assyrtiko, the indigenous grape variety.
Recent History
Apart from its capital, Fira, the island supports a few major towns including Oia, Emporio, Kamari and Pyrgos. Water is scarce on the island and, until the early '90s, locals used to subsist on imports, rainwater and small springs. A desalinisation plant was built that now provides running, yet non-drinkable, water and, as the island subsists mainly from tourism, resource management is a crucial focus to keep the industry sustainable.
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