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Cyclades Islands | Santorini

Thera Wall Paintings Copies P. Nomikos Museum

The life-sized three-dimensional wall-paintings reproduced and exhibited here were sponsored by the "Thera Foundation, Petros M. Nomikos", and produced in France by Transfer Relief SA, using the Kodak Pathé process. Other similar Kodak Pathé commissions have been funded by the Getty Museum of California and the French government for the Egyptian tomb of Sennefer and the Lascaux Caves, respectively.

The manufacturing of these images involved a long, complex, and laborious process which necessitated the transfer of photographic emulsions onto a synthetic substrate that exactly replicates that of the original wall-painting plaster. This substrate was generated from a stereo-photogram of the original wall-painting in much that same way satellite imagery is used to render computerized topography in 3D.

Following the completion of the substrate, the photographic emulsion was then bonded to create the wall-paintings presented in the museum and shown in this album. Each image in the museum is rendered in a 1/1 scale, and has been stereo photographed using 20x25 cm. negatives so as to reduce peripheral image distortion and provide the very highest resolution. The results are exceptionally realistic and accurate, and this exhibition in Fira remains the only place where one can view, enjoy and study all of the wall-paintings of Thera.

For more detailed information about the technical and artistic aspects of the wall-paintings restoration please consult The Petros Nomikos Museum of Wall-Paintings of Akrotiri : A detailed reference for the inquisitive traveller.

Photos: Michael Tziotis

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Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

The Akrotiri Archaeological Site on Thera

An ancient Minoan City is located to the south of the present village, where excavations still go on. Unfortunately, ongoing construction works at the site dictate that the site will remain closed for 2008, and until further notice.

This site has been known since 1870, when two members of the French Archaeological School, H. Mamet and H. Gorceix, conducted the first research. In 1899, Robert Zahn carried out minor excavations at the site of Potamos. The present excavations commenced in 1967 by Professor Marinatos, who was killed in the area of the settlement in 1974, after falling into one of the excavation pits. A large part of the city has been brought to light, but it is estimated that excavations will continue for many decades in the future.

Fantastically well preserved frescos were found covering the inner walls of the ancient houses. They were initially kept in a special department at the National Archaeological Museum in downtown Athens. Now they are, but two, back in Fira, at the local Archaeological Museum, BUT, there are also reproductions of the whole set to be seen, in the Petros M. Nomikos Conference Center, also in Fira.


Plan of the Archaeological Site at Akrotiri

Plan of the Archaeological Site at Akrotiri


Please use the plans of this section for general orientation purposes: plans of the individual houses where the paintings were found are shown separately, grouped with the frescoes themselves.
Plan of the Archaeological Site at Akrotiri, Northern half

Plan of the Archaeological Site at Akrotiri, Northern half


Please use the plans of this section for general orientation purposes: plans of the individual houses where the paintings were found are shown separately, grouped with the frescoes themselves.
Plan of the Archaeological Site at Akrotiri, Southern half

Plan of the Archaeological Site at Akrotiri, Southern half


Please use the plans of this section for general orientation purposes: plans of the individual houses where the paintings were found are shown separately, grouped with the frescoes themselves.

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