Cycladia | Santorini in Mythology

History | Mythology

Creation of Santorini Island

The Island of Santorini bears a great History; Santorini and the Caldera were formed some 3.600 years ago, following the area’s volcanic activity which changed several times the Island’s shape.

According to Mythology, Santorini Island was initially created from a clod of earth thrown to the sea by Euphemus, son of Poseidon, who dreamed one night that he made love to a nymph, the daughter of Triton, also son of Poseidon and the Goddess of Beauty and Love Aphrodite.

In his dream, the nymph who got pregnant and feared the angry reaction of her father, asked Euphemus to get a clod of earth from Anaphe, the Island he was at with the Argonauts, and to throw it to the sea so that she can hide there to give birth to her child.

Even if it was a dream, Euphemus followed the nymph’s request and suddenly, the Island of Santorini, initially named Kallisti, the most beautiful, appeared.

Santorini then took the name of Euphemus’ son, Theras, who was born there.

The Island became the settlement of Minoan Civilization until the dramatic volcanic eruption which destroyed Santorini along with the Minoan Civilization of Crete and buried the island under a thick layer of pumice and huge waves.

Many believe that this was the inspiration of the Lost Continent of Atlantis legend, describing a great civilization disappearing beneath the waves.

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