AKROTIRI 

   A BRONZE AGE TOWN SITE ON THE ISLAND OF 
    THERA /KALLISTE / STRONGYLE / SANTORINI 
 
Plan of Upper floor,  (MC III or LM IA) SW corner of West House; rooms 4, 3, 1 and 2 West House, room 5
 "Frescoes existed in rooms 4 and 5 on the upper storey. Offering tables, rhyta and other cult vessels found in these rooms suggest that they formed a shrine complex. As we shall see, the iconology or content of the frescoes proves this hypothesis. 
.....Rooms 4 and 5 formed a kind of suite, access to which was through a large room 3. Room 6 was a dining hall as can be inferred from the hundreds of conical cups and many jugs found in it. it communicated with the shrine complex (4 & 5) but not with 3.Thus the dining area was an accessory to the shrine. A cupboard in the  corridor between rooms 5 and 6, contained, among other vessels, rhyta and cooking pots. The connection between cult and ritual dining is very well attested in this case." 
This quote and many of these images come from Art and Religion in Thera (1984), by Dr. Nanno Marinatos. Below are  images, mainly frescoes,  from rooms 4 and 5 of the West House. The only fresco not included from room 5 is that of a nude, young man carrying fish, found in the SW corner.
 
This tripod offering table was found in the N/NW window well in room 5
The fresco of the young man with the fish (one of Marinatos' "Adorant") was found in the NE  corner by the entrance from room 6; the "Young Priestess" was found in the SE corner of room 5 by the entrance to room 6
 
These three images comprise  the coninuous South Frieze's miniature fresco known as the "Flotilla Fresco". Note the town with its inhabitants. What's going on in the top left corner?
Examine the dolphin escorted ships. 
Everyone in this town seems to be welcoming the "flotilla". Which towns are represented? What is the meaning of this fresco? Is it a part of other things found in rooms of the upper floor?
 
This miniature fresco was painted at the top of the east wall. Known as the "East Frieze", it contains an exotic river scene complete with  plants and animals. There is a griffin and predator/prey scenes.
 
 
 
 (Left) Along the top of the north wall of room 5 is a fresco representing a naval battle's results and a coastal town. (Center) Between windows in room 4 were painted frescoes of potted lillies. (Right) Also in room 4 were several very decorated "captain's cabins".
 
 
 
In a site plan of the excavated portion of Akrotiri, you can see the location of the West House (center left). 
  
At the lower left corner is a building, Xeste 3, 
that contained the paintings of the charming young women below.
 
Young girls in various stages of "rites of passage" from Room 3 (The Adyton or holy of holies) of the building called Xeste 3 
Akrotiri, Thera ; Middle Cycladic III or Late Minoan IA ; c. 1550 B.C.