Native name: Θηρασία | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Therasia | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 36°26′N 25°20′E / 36.43°N 25.33°E |
| Archipelago | Cyclades |
| Area | 9.3 km2 (3.6 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Greece | |
| Region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Thira |
| Municipality | Thira |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 249 (2021) |
| Pop. density | 34/km2 (88/sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
| Postal code | 847 02 |
| Area code(s) | 22860 |
| Vehicle registration | EM |
Therasia, also known as Thirasía (Greek: Θηρασία), is an island in the volcanic island group of Santorini in the Greek Cyclades. It lies north-west of Nea Kameni, a small island formed in recent centuries by volcanic activity and thus marking the centre of the island group. Therasia is the second largest island of the group, the largest by far being Thera.
Therasia has a land area of 9.299 square kilometres (3.590 sq mi) and its population was 249 inhabitants at the 2021 census. It is part of the municipal unit of Oia (Δημοτική Ενότητα Οίας).
Thera and Therasia were separated by the Thera eruption.
At Knossos, in a LMIIIA context (14th century BC), seven Linear B texts while calling upon "all the gods" make sure to grant primacy to an elsewhere-unattested entity called qe-ra-si-ja and, once, qe-ra-si-jo. However this probably refers to a god or a person rather than to an island *Qherasia > Therasia.[1] Anciently, the island of Therasia possessed a town of the same name.[2]
Thirasia is also the book of Greek poet Dimitris Varos that became a music album and theatrical performance by Greek composer Giannis Markopoulos under the title Daring Communication - Electric Theseus.