Santorini History

Santorini was named by the Venetians in the 13th century after Saint Irene, but this is one of many names given over time to this island with the catacylismic history and controversial link to the Atlantis myth.

Santorini's first inhabitants were the Minoans in 3000 BC, also known as the early Cycladic period. Their society was largely influenced by the nearby Minoan Civilization on Crete, and wall-paintings found at excavated Akrotiri are similar, showing a link, to those found at the Palace of Knossos on Crete.

At that time the island was called Stronghyle, or Strongili, which means round. The island was round before the volcano tore out the middle leaving only a horseshoe shape around the edge. In antiquity, the island was also called Kalliste, meaning the beautiful one.

The Dorians renamed the island Thera (or Thira) in the 11th century BC, and they built their city of the same name high on the south-eastern side of the island.

During the Peloponnesian war, Santorini sided with Sparta, but it later fell to Athenian control.

Santorini was part of the Duchy of Naxos when under Venetian rule in the thirteenth century. The Turks followed in the mid-16th century, when Santorini was one of the last of the Cyclades to fall to Turkish rule.