Thíra or Thera (both: thēr`ə), volcanic island (1991 pop. 9,360), c.30 sq mi (80 sq km), SE Greece, in the Aegean Sea. One of the Cyclades, Thíra is also known as Santorini, for St. Irene, the protector of the island. It is a tourism center noted for its wine. Pumice stone and powdered tufa are exported. It was the site of an enormous ancient volcanic explosion rivaling that of Tambora Tambora (täm`bərə), active volcano, N Sumbawa, Nusa Tenggara Barat prov., Indonesia, rising to 9,255 ft (2,821 m).
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According to tradition, the island was first settled by Phoenicians and later by Laconians under the leader Thera. In the Bronze Age, Thera came under the influence of Crete (see Minoan civilization Minoan civilization (mĭnō`ən), ancient Cretan culture representing a stage in the development of the Aegean civilization .
..... Click the link for more information. ), but a devastating volcanic eruption (c.1645 B.C.) buried the island's settlements and threw massive amounts of dust into the earth's atmosphere, affecting the weather worldwide. It was resettled and later occupied (9th cent. B.C.) by the Dorians Dorians, people of ancient Greece. Their name was mythologically derived from Dorus, son of Hellen . Originating in the northwestern mountainous region of Epirus and SW Macedonia, they migrated through central Greece and into the Peloponnesus probably between 1100
..... Click the link for more information. . In 631 B.C. colonists from the island founded Cyrene in N Africa.

Excavations in the E Mediterranean show that ash from the ancient eruption spread over Anatolia and parts of Egypt. It is theorized by some experts that the effects of the eruption were the catalyst for the collapse of Minoan civilization in the subsequent two centuries. Excavations at a Minoan site on Thíra have uncovered many well-preserved frescoes. Some controversial theories have equated ancient Thera with Atlantis Atlantis (ətlăntĭs, ăt–), in Greek legend, large island in the western sea (the Atlantic Ocean).
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Thíra

ancient Thera formerly Santorini

Island, southern Cyclades, Greece. The remaining half of an exploded volcano, it surrounds a lagoon with volcanic cliffs rising to almost 1,000 ft (300 m). It was settled in the Bronze Age; Minoan remains date to before 2000 BC. One of the largest known volcanic eruptions occurred on the island c. 1500 BC, depositing ash and pumice as far away as Egypt and Israel. The eruption has been linked to such phenomena as the miracles of the Exodus and the sinking of Atlantis. Excavations have revealed a rich Minoan city buried under the volcanic debris. It was resettled by Dorian invaders c. 1000 BC.