3 minute read
Fabulous Frescoes
Among the most striking testaments to life at the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri some 3,600 years ago are the extraordinary, colorful wall paintings found in buildings throughout the site. Each tells its own tale about the civilization of the “Pompeii of the Aegean.”
BY JOHN LEONARD
Advertisement
THE ANTELOPES (National Archaeological Museum)
Building B, a two-story structure east of Telchines Street, was found to contain numerous wall paintings, some of which are now iconic of the archaeological site, including
A SPECIAL PLACE
In a land filled with archaeological ruins and inspiring historical landscapes, there are a few especially evocative sites that shine more brilliantly than the rest for all the fascinating details they provide us about past daily life in the ancient Aegean world. Akrotiri, on the island of Santorini, is un uestionably one such special place in reece. ere, visitors can en oy the uni ue experience of wandering through an actual Bron e Age town. A tour of the narrow, winding streets and alleyways, diminutive public s uares, and more than thirty excavated buildings leads us back in time to witness firsthand a sophisticated Mediterranean civili ation.
MORE MYSTERIES TO BE SOLVED
Only a small percentage of the enormous site, which covers at least , s uare meters, has been brought to light since scientific excavations were begun by Spyridon Marinatos in the s. he bulk of Akrotiri thus remains an archaeological mystery, cloaked beneath the ash that abruptly buried the town during the volcanic island s devastating eruption, probably sometime in the first half of the th century B . One can only imagine, given all the splendid architectural, utilitarian and artistic traces that have already been revealed, how much more including the whereabouts of the inhabitants themselves still remains to be discovered.
LIFE PORTRAYED IN PAINT
Among the most striking testaments to life at Akrotiri some , years ago are the extraordinary, colorful wall paintings found in buildings throughout the site. ogether with ceramic vessels and other artifactual and architectural evidence, the paintings show that the people of Akrotiri were highly sophisticated, artistically inventive, and capable individuals. Beginning around , B , the town blossomed into a vital center of fishing, metalworking and other craft production, and, most importantly, seaborne trade with neighboring islands and regions. Much like the Minoans of rete, who greatly influenced them, the Akrotirians were seemingly peaceful islanders and seafarers, who appreciated nature, sport, religious rituals, rites of passage, wild animals, mythical creatures, agricultural endeavors, and, for the ladies, elegant fashion and personal adornment. hey may have worshiped Potnia, the nature goddess lived in stone timber-built houses somewhat reminiscent of Minoan architecture and even displayed the occasional orns of onsecration sculpture perhaps a concession or tribute to their retan trade partners. As archaeologist and site director hristos umas, now in
SPRING FRESCO (National Archaeological Museum)
this scene depicts a spring landscape with volcanic
his fifth decade of leading the Akrotiri investigations, continues with his team to probe this prehistoric town, surely more brightly painted scenes will appear, and more will be learned about the vibrant home life and overseas cultural and commercial contacts of Santorini s prehistoric inhabitants.
WHERE TO SEE THEM
all paintings from Akrotiri can be viewed in both the ational Archaeological Museum of Athens and on the island of Santorini itself. In ira, the Museum of Prehistoric hera has recently refreshed and reorgani ed its exhibition of Akrotiri frescoes, presenting additional, previously unseen paintings, arranged in accordance with their location in the prehistoric settlement, and as complete compositions that reflect their original contexts.
BOXING CHILDREN (National Archaeological Museum)
FLOTILLA FRESCO (Museum of Prehistoric Thera)
of a Theran naval force, as well as for the details it provides of ancient ship design, distinctive
© GETTY IMAGES/IDEAL IMAGE
BLUE MONKEYS (Museum of Prehistoric Thera)
FISHERMAN (Museum of Prehistoric Thera)
northeastern corner, where excavation revealed an may thus depict a ritual act of sacrifice commonly floors that accommodated an upper-level weaving room, a latrine, and two finely-painted apartments,
© GETTY IMAGES/IDEAL IMAGE
