Thirasia

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Thirasia
Thirasia from north to south, from the plane
Thirasia from north to south, from the plane
Waters Mediterranean Sea
Archipelago Cyclades
Geographical location 36 ° 26 ′ 0 ″  N , 25 ° 20 ′ 0 ″  E Coordinates: 36 ° 26 ′ 0 ″  N , 25 ° 20 ′ 0 ″  E
Thirasia (Greece)
Thirasia
length 5.7 km
width 2.7 km
surface 9.246 km²
Highest elevation 295  m
Residents 319 (2011)
35 inhabitants / km²
main place Thirasia (Manolas)

Thirasia ( Greek Θηρασία [ θiraˈsia ] or Θηρασιά [ θiraˈsja ] ( f. Sg. )) Is a Greek island in the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea . It forms the western edge of the caldera that was created after the so-called Minoan eruption . Administratively, the island belongs to the municipality of Ia of the municipality of Thira . According to the 2011 census, the island had 319 residents.

Geography and geology

Thirasia is the second largest island in the archipelago with a length of 5.7 km, a width of 2.7 km and an area of ​​9.246 km². The highest point is Mount Viglós at 295 m. On the east coast the rocks drop steeply into the sea, the west coast is flat. Geologically, Thirasia has the same structure and almost the same appearance as the other islands of Thira and Aspronisi , which form the crater rim , with a base made of black lava and a layer of about 60 m thick pumice stone above.

history

The name Therasia is thought to be of pre-Greek origin and could be derived from a place name like Qụhērāsos / -ā. The name Qe-ra-si-ja was discovered on tablets in Knossos , which presumably refers to a goddess worshiped in Santorini who was named after her origin (qe-ra-si-ja = that of Qụhērāsos / -ā). In the south of Thirasia, a prehistoric settlement was found buried by the volcanic eruption and was closely related to Akrotiri on Thira. The island was later settled by the Dorians . The remains of graves were found in the south and a settlement in the north. Thirasia was mentioned by Strabo , Pliny the Elder , Ptolemy , Junianus Justin and Stephanos of Byzantium . In 2008 the island became the setting for the Greek film Small Crimes .

Administration, population and economy

Ormos Korfou on Thirasia

Thirasia belongs to the municipality of Ia , from whose port Ammoudi there is a daily connection with a small boat (called "Lantza" by the locals) to the ports of Riva in the north of the island and Ormos Korfou (also Corfos ). The larger ferry "Nissos Thirassia" (called "Pantofla" by the locals) runs from the old port in Firá ( Santorini ) and the main Santorinian port of Athinios and also carries motor vehicles. About half of the islanders live in the main town of Manolas on the edge of the crater. The rest in the hamlet of Potamós to the west and on scattered farms. In 1991 the island was connected to the electrical power grid. There are still no water pipes, so that the residents still collect the precipitation in cisterns during the winter months. The main occupations are viticulture and vegetable growing and, especially in the summer months, day tourism.

The excursion boats of the tourists from Santorini usually dock in the tiny port of Ormos Korfou below the village. From here a steep stairway leads up to the village, which can also be mastered with the help of mules or donkeys. In fact, you will find one of the few organized "parking spaces" for donkeys and mules that are parked by their drivers on a flat, covered area and supplied with water. The village itself has a few taverns and offers a wonderful view over the caldera on Santorini. There are only a very limited number of overnight accommodations available.

literature

  • Dirk Schönrock, Eberhard Fohrer: Santorini . 3rd, revised and updated edition. Michael Müller Verlag, Erlangen 2006, ISBN 3-89953-320-8 .
  • JW Sperling: Thera and Therasia . Athens 1973.

Web links

Commons : Thirasia  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Results of the 2011 census, Greek Statistical Office (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
  2. ↑ Ελληνική Στατιστική Αρχή [ΕΛΣΤΑΤ] (Ed.): Στατιστική Επετηρίδα της Ελλάδος (Statistical Yearbook of Greece) 2009 & 2010 . Piraeus 2011, p. 47 .
  3. ↑ a b c Schönrock, Fohrer: Santorini . Pp. 231-235.
  4. ↑ Minoan Qe-Ra-Si-Ja. The Religious Impact of the Thera Volcano on Minoan Crete . therafoundation.org (English) accessed August 29, 2008.
  5. ↑ grave inscription IG XII 3, 1053-1057.
  6. ↑ Str. 1,3,16; 10.1; Plin. nat. 2.202; 4.70; Ptol. 3,15,28; Just 30.4.1; Steph. Byz. sv Th.
  7. ↑ Minor Crimes in the Internet Movie Database