Santorini's Ancient Thera was a prehistoric settlement that was perched around 360 meters above sea level on Mesa Vouno, a rocky peak in the southern section of the island. Currently, this location is close to Perissa and Kamari, two extremely popular cities on the opposing sides of the mountain.
A definite must-see during your visit to Santorini is the ancient Thera. Here, you can broaden your understanding of ancient culture and history gain insight into the way of life of the island's original inhabitants, and take in stunning incredible views of the island of Anafi and the Aegean Sea in the distance.
It was situated in the town's center. It was a 110 m long by 17–30 m broad rectangular square. It was extended both during the Romans and the Ptolemies. It served as both a primary gathering area and a place of worship. Public structures and residences could be found close by.
The ancient Greeks placed a great deal of importance on the theater. The celebrations in honor of Dionysus included, among other things, the performance of plays. The Agora and the theater were both in Thera. In the second century BC, it was constructed. It could hold up to 1500 people, which was more than the city's population. Additionally, it served as a bouleuterion, or location for council meetings.
It was a colonnaded structure designed in the Doric style. Its construction took place around the beginning of the third century BC, and it had a 46 by 10 m size. It was employed for administrative and official purposes. Plaques that stated a Thera resident had promised to pay for the building's rehabilitation could be seen on one of the walls.
Information regarding a resolution passed by the council and the citizens' assembly in that citizen's honor was posted on the opposite wall. Due to its sculptural embellishment at the top, the structure served as a town adornment. Monuments to Caesar and his family were also present.
Another settlement in Libya was founded in part because of ancient Thera. Around 630 BC, Herodotus claims that a seven-year drought forced the people of Thera to send colonists to Cyranicea, which is modern-day Libya. As the community grew, Thera earned the title of the mother city. There's no denying that ancient Thera is a fascinating location. Its name, purportedly derived from the legendary Spartan chief Theras, who colonized the region, is just one intriguing aspect of its intriguing past. Additionally, Santorini's island is officially known as Thera.
Duration RequiredSantorini, Greece
4.0
