Well, okay, what you're actually looking at is a 4 mile wide crater where the Minoan civilization used to be. 'Round about 1500 B.C. the volcano they were living on went critical, destroying the locals immediately and their brethern on surrounding islands a little bit later via a 700 ft tall tidal wave.
When long-range traders from the further islands showed up a little later, they looked at the newly renovated Santorini, with its flowing lava and very hot springs, and thought "Hey, free land. We should move in." A series of land-sinking earthquakes and further eruptions has done nothing to dissuade their descendants from staying.
On the plus side, they made a tourist resort out of it. Having lived as a local in a tourist town, I really can't think of a better place to stow the tourists than on top of an active volcano. Getting them to pay extra for the privilege is just icing on the cake.
(The Lonely Planet guide claims that the locals have "embraced impermanence". Accepting the transient nature of all things is one thing; living on top of a volcano is bit beyond that, IMHO)
They marched around the beach together, more often than not in a straight line. Every once in a while one would spot something edible, and then there would be a flurry as they all fought for it.
Also, they kept eyeing me, and occasionally walked straight for me, four abreast. "What a way to meet my end," I thought, "Pecked to death by Greek ducks."
