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  • Writer's pictureFelicity Montague

Oia, Santorini


Oia is a traditional settlement in the north of Santorini.

It is also known as 'Apano Meria' or 'Anomeria' and the inhabitants are called 'Apanomerites'.

The village is approximately 150 meters above sea level.

Oia is best known for breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.

Its cliffsides are canvassed in cave houses burrowed into the volcanic stone and whitewashed buildings are domed in cobalt blue.

The streets were made to be tiny on purpose, as a way to confuse the pirates.

The remnants of the medieval castle of St. Nicolas can be found on the tip of the cliff at the northern end of the island.

The annual temperature ranges from 10 to 29°C



Now... These next passages I've input straight from the book that I originally read it in.

REAL: “In Ancient times, Santorini Island was known as Stongili, which means round in Greek. Strongili was the victim of an enormous volcano eruption in 1,500 BC. The eruption was so huge that many consider it to be the main cause of the destruction of the great Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, situated 70 nautical miles away. The specialists believe that the explosion was so strong that it created gigantic waves that reached the shores of the surrounding islands and Crete. After the explosion, the centre of Santorini sank, and the many earthquakes that followed destroyed a big part of the rest of the island. Many studies and researches have been presented in our days about the volcano of Santorini, including a series of documentaries in the National Geographic. In some ancient myths, the destruction of the island is closely associated to the legend of Atlantis.”


MYTH: “According to an ancient Greek myth, Santorini was formed out of a miracle. The ancient Greeks had invented an imaginary story over the creation of Santorini island, a story that is connected to the Argonaut expedition. They said that Jason and his fellow companions were on their way home, they landed on Anaphe, a small island of the Aegean Sea. There Euphemus saw a dream that he was making love to a nymph, the daughter of the sea god Triton, in particular. After making love, that woman told him that she got pregnant to his child and that her father would become angry if he knew that. That is why she needed a place to hide and give birth to her child. She then told Euphemus to get a clod of earth from Anaphe and throw it into the sea. When Euphemus woke up, he decided to take the woman's advice and when they sailed, he indeed threw a clod of earth onto the open sea. Suddenly, as a miracle, an island emerged to provide a safe place for the pregnant nymph. Euphemus named this island either Calliste, which means the most beautiful, either Strogyli, due to its round shape. The son of Euphemus, who was born there, was named Theras and the island finally got his name, Thera.”

 

“Santorini Villages / Oia - Also Ia.” Santorini Villages Oia Village Santorini Villages Santorini Island Greece, www.santorini.com/villages/oiavillage.htm.

Sbtmanager. “Oia Village.” Santorinibesttours.com, 23 Aug. 2019, santorinibesttours.com/tours/oia.

“History and Myths about Santorini.” History and Myths about Santorini, www.andronikossantorini.gr/history_myths_about_santorini/.

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