Re: Regarding Sea Peoples

From: Mark Odegard
Message: 708
Date: 1999-12-29

Sabine writes:

as for the Sea-Peoples movement or the destruction of the Minoan (or any other) culture or migrations in general: the theory of the explosion of Thera (which didn't exist, as has been proven by geologists and archaeologists by now) and subsequent tidal waves (ditto) has lasted too long already. The 21st. century needs new ideas - the old ones did satisfy humankind's typical thirst for catastrophes, but they just weren't true.  

 
I think Sabine is saying that the idea that a volcanic eruption destroyed the Minoan civilization has been debunked. Indeed, it has. I don't think she is denying Thera is a volcano or that there was an immense eruption (her post reads like this, however). There is the Pompeii-like Minoan city near Akroteri covered in volcanic ash.
 
Cf the online Britannica article:
http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/0/0,5716,73930+1,00.html
 
Mark.