Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria

This lecture has been organised in collaboration with Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies.

Presenter: Professor Spyros B. Pavlidis
Entry: Free

Synopsis:
The island of Santorini (classically known as Thera) is the site of one of the largest eruptions in world history. It occurred some 3600 years ago (~1650-1600 B.C.) and has been linked to the collapse of one of Europe’s first high cultures, the Bronze Age Minoans, and also forms the basis for the legend of Atlantis. By examining the geodynamic characteristics of the southern Aegean Sea and the volcanic activity of its islands, Professor Pavlidis will recreate the features of this eruption and outline its possible consequences on the Minoan civilization.

Bio:
Professor Spyros b. Pavlidis, born in Komotini, Thrace, is the Chairman of the School of Geology and the Dean of the Faculty of Science at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He is regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on neotectonic studies and seismic geology. An author of numerous scientific papers, academic monographs and textbooks, Prof Pavlidis will be giving a series of lectures in Australia describing how seismic activities in the past may offer explanations to important events in ancient Greek and European civilisation.