Two and a half thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato wrote of an island he called Atlantis that was swallowed up by the sea in a single day and night, vanishing without a trace. Ever since, people have wondered where this mysterious island might have been, or whether it was all just a myth. New research suggests that Plato's story was based on real events.
Recent underwater explorations of the Greek island of Santorini have revealed deposits from a massive volcanic eruption, one of the greatest in human history. On Santorini itself, archaeologists have uncovered an ancient city, a lost world, buried by the catastrophe. Based on the latest...
scientific research. This is the story of an incredible island, the people that lived there, and the extraordinary last days that inspired the legend of Atlantis. Three and a half thousand years ago, the Greek islands were home to a powerful and advanced Bronze Age civilization. One that rivaled the Egypt of the pharaohs. These were the Minoans.
In this world, powerful priestesses presided over strange and dangerous rituals. He's handsome, isn't he? Did you choose him for you, mother, or for me?
My son is the finest athlete in all of Thera. We all terribly impress him. Plato wrote of great bulls roaming the temples of Atlantis. And the bull was certainly central to Minoan culture.
I am the Lord Poseidon, creator of the earth and sea. Let me encourage you to follow my orders, and accept this while it is not. So important was the bull, that it gave birth to the legend of the man-killing Minotaur. Half human, half beast. You see, you're okay.
Save yourself! Bull leaping is thought to have been an important initiation rite for young Minoan men, and possibly even women. A spectacle performed all over Crete in temple palaces like this one at Knossos. A massive complex of over 1300 rooms. This was the cradle of Western Civilization.
Where's the sheriff? I was thinking I might leave him here. Save us all the embarrassment.
He's a boy, Pino. The wife creates the man. Go.
The Minoans dominated the Mediterranean for over a thousand years, until an island 70 miles north of Crete blew itself apart. The island of Thera, known today as Santorini. Reconstructions of Thera show it consisted of circular belts of sea and land, just as Plato described Atlantis, because the island was the top of a gigantic volcano that erupts on a cataclysmic level. on a cyclismic scale roughly every 17,000 years. By 1620 BC, a pool of molten rock large enough to bury a city the size of London had filled the magma chamber seven miles beneath the island.
When did this start? Two days ago, master. Two days?
High, pass me some fish. Can I have two? Where are you going with those? To Poseidon's island. I've got an offering to make.
You'll have a feast to attend. I won't be late. Thera's wealth was built on his mastery of the sea.
Its fleet dominated the trade network of the Bronze Age world. The islanders grew rich, buying and selling goods from Africa, Asia, and other parts of Europe. Their streets were lined with multi-story houses, decorated with elaborate wall paintings. They built the world's first indoor toilets, connected to an underground sewage system. A luxury most Europeans would not enjoy for another 2,000 years.
Presiding over this prosperous society was the priesthood. My son's wife, Pinaruti. Welcome. I've brought you oil. To honor your island goddess.
That's for the High Priestess, not for me. Come, I'll take you to her. High Priestess, Y'shaarj's wife. Oil from the fields of sacred Mount Jaktus to honour your island goddess. Come with me.
Minoan women were remarkably independent and influential. The most influential of all were the priestesses. Their role was to communicate with the gods, often through elaborate rituals, in which saffron seems to have been used as a hallucinogenic.
Carassia welcomes you to Thera, Pinaruti. And we welcome you in her name. Join us to give thanks for your safe arrival here.
Don't forget your offering. Like other ancient civilizations, the Minoans believed that all things were inhabited by gods. There were gods for every natural phenomenon.
From childbirth, to earthquakes, stormy seas, to mountain peaks. These gods weren't all seen as benign and merciful, but as temperamental and sometimes vindictive. Offerings were made by those seeking favor from the gods.
And it was through ritual ceremonies that the priesthood sought clarity on the gods'desires. But in 1620 BC, the Minoans'complex belief system was about to be blown apart by geological forces beyond their understanding. It's okay, Penuriti.
One of the first signs that the volcano was stirring would have been hydrothermal explosions triggered by superheated groundwater. You saw something. What was it?
It was Y'shaarj. He was in danger. What kind of danger?
The sacrificial axe was dripping in blood. High blood. Why would I see something like that? Sometimes our visions don't come from the gods, but from our own fears.
This place is strange to you. And perhaps you're unsure of your husband. Come, you have a celebration to prepare for. I'm here to welcome my son's new wife, Pinaruti. She's the daughter of my loyal business companion, Pinariti.
She is a Cretan, but let's not hold that against her. Ah, good of you to join us, Y'Shaarj. Welcome.
Welcome. Now I've seen many things in this world. Dolphins in the Straits of Azeem.
I've chased dolphins across the Straits of Azeem. I've loaded my ships with treasures from Egypt. I've fought pirates off the shores of Elias. But none of it compares to the magnificence of this beautiful island. But none of it.
None of it compares to the magnificence of this island. An island I like to believe I've played a small part in making great. Sorry I was late.
Without Cretan middlemen... Did you make your offering? ...with the Hittites is stronger than ever.
Something happened at the sanctuary. The ground cracked. There was this fountain of boiling water, I don't know where it came from.
It was as if the whole island was......was being torn apart. The bully piece. He said that the ground shook. You should tell your father.
I had hoped that my only son would follow in my wake and take to the seas. But until now he's put his blood and sweat into bulls and temple priestesses. He's hoping that his wife can make a better man of him. He's drunk. Let's go.
We can't. This is in our honour. You think this is for us? My advice to anyone who marries is this.
Enjoy every day. Because you never know when the gods will decide to take away what is most precious to you. They've blessed you, sir. You tell us that they want us to do this, and do that. We do it because you say so.
This is intolerable. I don't speak to you. I see Cheryl!
I don't know! One of the Minoans'most powerful gods was the Earthshaker. And for good reason.
Structural damage uncovered on Thera shows that around 1620 BC, they were exposed to an enormous earthquake, measuring more than seven on the Richter scale. The buildings were designed to withstand minor tremors and quakes. Thick timber frames had been used to give them extra strength. Until finally, this quake, strong enough to shatter these stone steps, set in motion an irreversible chain of events for the people of Thera. Hey, little lady.
You husband left you already? You should try the temple. He used to find his peace there. Hee.
Danny. Come here. Come here.
Is he alright? Looks like he's alive. Hold on, there's someone else. Thank you.
Look, I only went to the temple to get away from my father. I didn't know she'd be there. I don't want your excuses.
Everyone knows what you've been doing with that woman. Even your father jokes about it. You humiliated me, Sharo. I won't stand for it. As soon as I knew she was there, I told her...
You told her it was over. I told her that... It was a goodbye.
Yeah, it was goodbye. We need to restore normality as soon as possible. Get them back into their homes.
It's too soon. The homes aren't safe yet. The houses may be damaged, but most of them are still standing. Their houses have been weakened. We need to make them safe before the people return.
And expect people to leave everything behind for thieves to steal. Anything of value can be safely stored. In the basements or under the door frames where the buildings are strongest.
Then we seal up the doors. And... And the people go where?
You expect them to camp in the streets? We move them out of the city while we repair the buildings. Priestess. Enough lives have been lost.
We set up camps until the houses can be made safe. Andrusa? The buildings are not all we have to repair.
You take care of the gods, Priestess. I'll get the town up and running. Archaeological evidence reveals that the earthquake damage was so severe that the Thera had to leave their homes.
Their precious possessions were discovered stored beneath solid structures like wooden doorways and under beds. And the entrances to the houses were found sealed. Unlike Pompeii, no human remains have been found in the town, suggesting the islanders moved to temporary camps, imagining they'd be coming home soon.
You're as pious as a priestess, Brutus. There are others on this island who could learn from your example. Rusa? He lost a wife. And he blames a priestess for failing to placate the goddess Elysia.
She died during childbirth. They were only newly married. Ever since he's found it difficult to put his trust in us. If we can't trust you, who can we trust? For over 17,000 years, the magma chamber under Thera had been sealed.
But the earthquake had fractured the chamber, allowing magma to escape through vents, releasing sulfur and other poisonous gases. You sure it's safe to be this close? It's fine.
What's that smell? It's like rotten eggs. Heh. It's the smell of the water. I believe it drives the bad spirits away.
We don't know why it smells. Help me little Desperio! Well, why it's so lovely and hot! Come in, Esquire!
What's wrong? I'm sorry. She's from over to us. Quick!
I need Alex to the fire. Yoshi! Yoshi, this is Cheryl. My father won't believe it was a sign.
I just wish I was better at understanding the gods. They're trying to tell us something though. You father's a powerful and sensible man, Y'shaerys.
When he talks, everyone listens to him. If you can just convince him that this is a warning from the gods. My father's faith in the gods ended when they stole my mother from him.
Where are you going? To the temple. Bansabir will know what the gods want. Finally, pressure from rising magma blasted out a plug of rock that had blocked the mouth of the volcano for thousands of years. This was a pre-eruption, simply the volcano clearing its throat.
Previous generations would have witnessed small eruptions like this, and seen them as signs from the gods, signs that the priesthood was expected to understand. Earthshaker is speaking to us. Just as he spoke to our forefathers. We must respond as they did.
For the Minoans, there was no better way to appease unpredictable and violent gods than to make an offering. Preferably of blood. They didn't seem fit to join us.
It's busy. Is that so? A bear's too busy to honor the gods. Their peak sanctuaries have been found littered with animal bones.
Ghosts, sheep, pigs... Even boars. Raging Lord of the deep, we offer you the sacred blood of bulls. May it drown your anger, mighty dark-haired lord. Let us live in stillness and peace once more.
We are the Messiah. We are the Messiah. Priesthood's power hinged on its ability to keep the gods in check. From volcanic deposits, we know that the early stages of the eruption covered the island with a sprinkling of light ash.
Enough to contaminate the water supply. What are you doing? You're trying to poison me. They're taking against Pinaruti.
I'm sure she means no harm. This trouble began when she arrived here. You know that. Brutus had brought her here. You know the gods don't favor him.
Perhaps they're providing a way for both of us to get what we want. Forgive me, Agristus. I think I know what Poseidon's asking for. Speak. I should have shared it earlier.
When Pinaruti told me about her vision. Go on. She saw a sacrifice. But it was not a bull.
It was a person. Who? It was her own blood that was spilled.
She was the sacrifice. Perhaps her vision is the gods way of telling us that she's not welcome. That she's cursed. Tell Y'dinni to gather the people.
I will speak to them and restore order. What would make this eruption different from any other the Thera had experienced was the interaction of two kinds of magma, triggering a catastrophic chemical reaction. This chemical reaction would thrust an estimated 150 billion tons of magma to the surface and transform this eruption into the greatest disaster the ancient world had ever seen. Please, guys. The people wait to hear you.
People of Thera. Everyone. Friends and colleagues.
You must listen to me. This is preposterous. The blood of bulls is not enough. There is nothing more we can offer.
The gods have given us enough warning. My fleet will sail at sunset. We will leave the island until it is safe to return.
There is only one authority we can trust on this island! It's the truth! People of Thera, in order to restore peace on our island, Poseidon has asked for something more.
What are you going to offer him now? Lions? Elephants? Until peace and calm can be restored, those that want to leave the island may do so.
I cannot stay here, surely? You have to do your duty, Rusa. And I have to do mine. There will be another sacrifice. This time, I...
We'll undertake it on behalf of all of us. The sound of the eruption was heard as far away as Egypt. A superheated column of gas, ash and rock blasted six miles into the stratosphere, forming a mushroom cloud similar to an atomic bomb. This was a Plinian eruption, the most deadly of all volcanic events.
We need to leave the island now! To stay here is madness! Everyone, follow me! To the ships! Get your things and meet me at the harbour.
But now... We do as we plan. Bring me Penelope.
We need every inch of every ship. Okay everybody, cargo overboard! Nice, come on! Come on, move!
Move! We're leaving the city with my father. You're free to go, Y'shaarj.
We're both leaving. No! Pinaruti must fulfill her destiny, the gods have demanded it.
He destiny is with me. You vision, Pinaruti, spelled out your destiny. We do not choose these things. The gods decide for us.
We must ensure it is fulfilled. Vision? What vision?
You said it wasn't clear. That it wasn't the gods speaking, it was my own fears. And it wasn't me!
That's not what I saw. What did you see? What did you see?
Who did you see? Y'shaarj, where are you? It was Y'shaarj's blood she saw sacrificed. May Carassia forgive your deception, Ariad.
I'm not sure I can. We know what the gods have asked for. The vision must be fulfilled. It wasn't clear enough.
I don't think... Then start thinking. The gods are tearing Thera apart.
If you can't tell us why, if you can't stop her, then what must the people think? Where is your power, Bansabir, if you can't appease the gods? They've demanded a life. And they've shown us who it must be. Find him.
If they catch you, they'll kill you. I'll get rid of them and come back for you. What if you don't? Then you must find my father and tell him what's happened.
I'm scared, Lee Jaro. I'm scared of losing you. I think killing me will stop this boat. The gods want us all dead. In the first hours of the eruption, the volcano would have ejected billions of tons of magma into the sky.
Rapidly cooling, it fell as pumice. These small stones and rocks, filled with tiny bubbles of air, began to bury the island. What are they doing? Foot push! Faster!
We've got to set sail! We need to get to the ship! We should go now! We must have got it!
Batsevera! Even your own people don't believe in this! Silence him!
Forgive me. But it was ash, not pumice, that posed the more immediate threat. Volcanic ash isn't like ordinary ash.
It contains silicon. Once inhaled, it mixes with the moisture in the lungs to form a liquid cement. Somebody please help me!
Help me please! It makes breathing difficult, then impossible. Lucy! Where's the Cheryl?
The police came after us. They wanted me as a sacrifice. We said he'd be back.
Lucy, we gotta go! Take her to her father in Crete. No! No! No!
I don't want to go without him! Tie him up if you have to! No!
I don't want to leave without him! Chris! Chris!
Let me go! Let me go! As the crater widened, seawater poured into it. On contact with the magma, the water exploded as steam, triggering the next volcanic phase. The violent reaction between water and magma created a phratomagmatic eruption.
It's estimated the sound pressure from this explosion would have reached 300 decibels. Sheer force and ripped rocks from inside the crater, catapulting them into the air like deadly missiles. Lava bombs.
Burning chunks of magma can be the size of a small truck and weigh up to eight tons. Hehehehe Hehehehe Ahahaha With the crater widening, the pressure forcing the column upwards started to drop. Gas and rock spilled from the sides of the collapsing column. Known as pyroclastic flows, these superheated waves of gas and rock reached speeds of up to 100 kmph. of up to 180 miles an hour and temperatures of 700 degrees Celsius.
Is this to me? Is this all you have left? As the pyroclastic flows hit the sea, hot ash caused the water surface to boil, propelling them along at an even faster speed on superheated beds of steam. Come on! Come on, bro!
The deadly impact of the eruption extended far beyond the island of Thera. Pyroclastic flows pushed volcanic debris out into the sea, generating huge waves. Tsunamis. People on the nearby island of Crete might have seen the warning signs, but had little time to react. Travelling at 200 miles an hour, it would have taken only 20 minutes for the first tsunami to reach Crete.
Experts estimate that by the time the waves hit the coastline, they would have been over 60 feet high. Come on! New research has revealed that a series of tsunamis ravaged towns all along Crete's northern coastline for hours, if not days, after the eruption.
Killing an estimated 30,000 people. It was a disaster on an unimaginable scale. Three times larger than Krakatoa. Hundred times larger than Mount St. He.
And 40,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. The ash from the eruption plunged the Mediterranean into weeks of darkness. Global temperatures dipped, stunting plant growth as far away as Britain. Minoan society was shaken to the core. Archaeological evidence reveals that there was deep social unrest.
Towns and temple palaces were sacked and burned. Humans sacrificed. Finally, a civilization that had lasted for over 1300 years was invaded and absorbed by a warring Greek tribe called the Mycenaeans. Stories of the disaster, however, were passed on, retold, embellished. Many experts now believe that accounts of Thera's destruction inspired Plato to write a morality tale about the rise and fall of a great civilization he called Atlantis.
He wrote, the island consists of circular belts of sea and land, enclosing one another. The seaway and harbour filled with vessels and merchants from all quarters. And the wealth they possessed was so immense that the like had never been seen before. In the sacred precincts of Poseidon, there were bulls at large and the ten princes hunted. after the bulls with staves and nooses.
Then there occurred for Tintus earthquakes and floods, and one grievous day and night, the island of Atlantis was swallowed up by the sea and vanished. And so, a great and wonderful world, cut off in its prime by a disaster of cataclysmic proportions, became the birthplace of one of the greatest legends of all time. Atlantis. Investigating the facts tomorrow night, Atlantis, the evidence is at seven on BBC Two.