Since ancient times, sea routes connected the Black Sea coast with the Mediterranean, where at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st millennium BC. the great civilization of Greece arose. From the shores of Hellas, brave sailors set off in search of new lands.
Where large seaports, industrial and resort centers of the Crimea - Evpatoria, Sevastopol, Feodosia and Kerch, in the VI - V centuries. BC. the Greeks founded the cities of Kerkinitida, Chersonesus, Theodosia, Panticapaeum, and near it - Mirmekiy, Tiritaku, Nympheus, Cimmerik and others. Each of them was the center of an agricultural region where wheat was grown, grapes were cultivated, and livestock were raised. In the cities there were temples, public and administrative buildings, markets, artisan workshops. Convenient geographical position promoted the development of trade. Merchants exported to the Mediterranean slaves and agricultural products purchased from local tribes - Scythians, Meots, Sindians. In exchange, olive oil, wine, art and craft items were brought from the cities of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor.
Chersonesus was founded in 421 BC. on the shore of the bay, which is now called Quarantine. Later, the city expanded its holdings significantly. During its heyday, Kerkinitida, the Beautiful Harbor (on the site of the modern village of Chernomorsky) and other settlements of the northwestern Crimea obeyed him.
The Chersonesus state was slave democratic republic. Supreme body the authorities were the people's assembly and the council, which decided all questions of foreign and domestic policy. The leading role in the administration belonged to the largest slave owners, whose names were brought by the Chersonese inscriptions and coins.
Archaeological excavations, begun back in 1827, showed that the city was well fortified. Remains of defensive structures - massive towers, fortresses, parts of stone walls - have also been preserved throughout the state. This speaks of the constant military danger to which the inhabitants were exposed. The famous Chersonesos oath tells about their patriotism. Its text was carved in the late 4th - early 3rd centuries. BC. on a marble slab found during the excavations of the city:
... "I swear by Zeus, Gaia, Helios, the Virgin, the gods and goddesses of the Olympics ... I will not betray Chersonesos ..." secrets.
As confirmed by archaeological research, the city had the correct layout. Residential buildings were combined into quarters, streets intersected at right angles. They were paved with small stones. Stone gutters ran along the streets. Temples towered on the squares. Public buildings and homes of wealthy citizens were decorated with colonnades and mosaic floors.
From ancient buildings, only the foundations of the walls and basements have survived to this day. Of particular interest are the mint, baths, and the ruins of a theater that has existed since the 3rd century. BC NS. to IV century. n. NS. Only stairways and stone benches for spectators have been partially preserved from it. Judging by their size, the theater could accommodate up to 3 thousand spectators.
The area of artisans was located near the city walls. There, archaeologists discovered the remains of ceramic production: kilns for burning pottery, stamps for ornaments, molds for making terracotta reliefs. Other crafts flourished in Chersonesos - metalworking, jewelry, weaving.
The largest ancient state of the Black Sea region was the so-called Bosporus kingdom. It was formed as a result of the unification of originally independent Greek cities, such as Panticapaeum, Mirmekiy, Tiritaka, Phanagoria and others, located along the banks of the Cimmerian Bosporus - modern Kerch Strait... Panticapaeum became the capital of the state. From 438 BC more than three hundred years they were ruled by the dynasty of Spartokids.
At the end of the 5th - beginning of the 4th centuries. BC. Nympheus and Theodosius, as well as lands inhabited by other tribes, were annexed to the possessions of the Bosporus. In the 1st century. BC. The Bosporus seized most of the territory of the Crimea, subjugated Chersonesos.
Excavations on Mount Mithridates, carried out in Kerch with late XIX century, allowed to restore the size and plan of Panticapaeum. At the top was the acropolis - the central fortification of the city with powerful defensive walls and towers. Inside it housed the most important temples and public buildings. Quarters of one- or two-story stone buildings descended as terraces down the slopes. The whole city and its surroundings were surrounded by numerous lines of fortifications. The deep and comfortable harbor was a safe haven for merchant and military vessels.
Found fragments of marble statues, pieces of painted plaster and architectural details allow us to speak about the rich decoration of the city's squares and buildings, about the skill of ancient architects and builders.
On the site of Myrmekiya and Tiritaki, not far from Kerch, in addition to city walls, residential buildings and sanctuaries, archaeologists have discovered several wineries and baths for salting fish. In Nymphea, near the modern village of Heroevka, there are the temples of Demeter, Aphrodite and Kabirov; in Ilurat, near the modern village of Ivanovka, there was a Bosporan military settlement of the first centuries AD, which guarded the approaches to the capital.
There was a necropolis next to every ancient city - City of dead... They were usually buried in simple earthen graves, sometimes lined with tiles or stone slabs. The rich and noble were placed in wooden or stone sarcophagi. For their burial, crypts were built, made of stones or carved into the rocks. The walls of crypts and sarcophagi were decorated with paintings, reliefs, inlay. They were decorated with ornaments, depicted mythological plots, scenes of real life. Together with the deceased, they put things belonging to him: jewelry, dishes, weapons, vessels with incense, terracotta figurines and other items. In one of the Panticapaean burials of the 3rd century. AD, possibly the Bosporan king Riskuporis, a unique golden mask was found that reproduced the facial features of the deceased.
Researchers have long been interested in large mounds located in the vicinity of Kerch. They found burials of the Bosporan kings and nobility with outstanding works Greek art: gold and silver jewelry, bronze and glass items, painted and figured vases.
Gold temple pendants of the 4th century BC are rightfully considered a masterpiece of world art. BC. from the Kul-Oba mound. They are made in the form of discs, to which are attached numerous braided crossing chains, connected by plates and rosettes. On a disc 7 cm in diameter, there is a relief of the head of Athena wearing a helmet with clearly distinguishable figures of griffins, an owl and a snake. The thinnest orhedral plates, rosettes, as well as the disc circumference are covered with grain and blue enamel.
The most valuable finds from the excavations of the ancient cities of Crimea are presented in the collections of the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the State Historical Museum and the State Museum of Fine Arts named after A.S. Pushkin in Moscow, as well as others.
Now on the territory of Chersonesos in Sevastopol and on Mount Mithridates in Kerch reserves have been organized. Every year thousands of people come there to walk through the streets and squares of ancient cities, to get acquainted with the greatest cultural monuments, to better know the distant past of our Motherland.
Encyclopedia "Attractions of Crimea"
Crimea is an amazing peninsula, a place where the history of past centuries and the present are harmoniously intertwined. Here, right in the center of modern cities, you can see the monuments of the past centuries.
"Shards" of the past in the Crimean cities
The ruins of large settlements, the remains of fortresses, barrows, religious buildings are found in almost every city or its environs. Most of the ancient buildings today are considered monuments of history and archeology. Many have been assigned the status of reserves; research work and museums operate.
How developed the peninsula was already in ancient times makes it possible to understand familiarity with even a short list of ancient settlements. The following objects are most famous today:
Panticapaeum is the most ancient of the Greek cities in Crimea. Founded at the end of the 7th century BC, it is located in the center of modern Kerch. To see his remains, you need to climb a high staircase of 500 steps leading to Mount Mithridates.
And 11 kilometers from Panticapaeum, the ruins of the ancient Bosporan settlement of Tiritaka were found.
Chersonesus Tauride - the ruins of another Greek settlement, one of the attractions of Sevastopol. The founding of this colony dates back to the 5th century BC. Chersonesos was a large, well-fortified city.
Remains have been preserved here to this day ancient temple, the ruins of the theater, where, according to legend, gladiatorial battles were fought, a mint, a defensive tower. In the church of Chersonesos, Prince Vladimir, the Baptist of All Russia, was baptized.
Scythian Naples is an ancient settlement on the outskirts of Simferopol. Created in the 3rd century BC. e., the city served as the capital of the Scythian state. Today, on the territory of the ancient tract, a defensive tower and the mausoleum of King Skilur have been preserved.
Ruskofil-Kale - a castle in the region of Big Yalta, built in the XIII-XIV centuries - a fortification with an area of about 450 sq.
Kerkinitida is a Greek city built at the beginning of the 5th century BC. NS. and existed until the end of the II century BC. NS. Its ruins are located in the center of Evpatoria, on the Karantinniy cape. Although most of the site is filled up, two of its sections are well-groomed and museumified.
Kalos Limen - the ruins of an ancient Greek settlement founded in the 4th century. BC NS. in the village of Chernomorskoe.
Cimmerik is a Cimmerian natural boundary of the 6th - 5th centuries BC. BC, located between Lake Elken and Mount Opuk.
The Scythian Ust-Alma settlement is one of the largest Scythian settlements of the 2nd century BC. BC, located on Cape Kremenchik.
Cave and underwater cities of Crimea
A separate category includes antique cave cities... Mangup-Kale - Byzantine defensive fort of the sixth century BC, Chufut-Kale near Bakhchisarai, Kacha-Kalion, Kyz-Kermen, others - these villages were created in the rocks. Houses, utility rooms, temples, defensive walls were cut down directly in the rock.
Crimea even has its own Atlantis - underwater city Acre. A small ancient Greek village, which served, among other things, as a port, existed near Cape Taquil in the 6th century BC. NS. - IV century AD NS. Later, the sinking of the coast led to the flooding of most of the city.
Travelers with diving skills can see the ruins of Acre. Diving is possible as part of specialized excursions in the summer.
Note for tourists
Visiting the excavations of ancient cities can be easily combined with other types of recreation:
excursion activities;
visiting unique natural monuments;
beach, wellness rest.
On the territory of the peninsula there are many ancient defensive towers, forts, and other fortifications that have been preserved in excellent condition. On the territory of many of them, bright event events are held. In particular, themed festivals are held annually in the Genoese Fortress, and reconstructions of medieval battles are staged.
Numerous hotels, hotels and boarding houses operate throughout the peninsula. Room reservations are available online. Price policy depends on region, service level and season of visit.
List of the most major cities Crimea: we briefly tell you what the cities are remarkable for and what sights you can see there.
Now there are only 18 on the Crimean peninsula settlements received the status of a city, the largest of them in terms of their area - Sevastopol, Sudak, Yalta, Evpatoria, Kerch and Simferopol.
Sevastopol is the largest city in Crimea
Large sea and commercial port, the most Big City Crimea, which has a special status and received the rights of a separate subject of the Russian Federation. According to 2015 data, the population was 398.97 thousand people - it is also the largest city in terms of population in Crimea.
A huge number of attractions are concentrated here: the ruins of the ancient Greek settlement of Chersonesos, monuments of the war epochs (the Russian-Turkish war, the Great Patriotic War) and museums, a magnificent embankment, the Aquarium. Not far from the city - cave monastery Inkerman and Balaklava, where the submarines were based. There are a large number of picturesque bays in Sevastopol.
Photo © mr. Wood / flickr.com
Once there was the capital of the Scythian state, later destroyed by the Goths. Simferopol is located in the central part of the peninsula and has no access to the sea. The Salgir River flows here.
Simferopol is the second largest Crimean city in terms of population after Sevastopol, with a population of 332.6 thousand people. Tourists to Simferopol are attracted by local attractions: the ancient settlement of Scythian Naples, Vorontsov's Palace, the Ethnographic Museum, the Central Museum of Taurida, the Kebir-Jami Cathedral Mosque, the Weeping Rock, the Chokurcha Cave, the Red Cave (Kizil-Koba).
The third largest city in Crimea and the most eastern city peninsula, located on the shore of the Kerch Bay. Local population- about 148 thousand people. The richest history the city is more than 2.5 thousand years old, there is a huge number of monuments of the Bosporus and Scythian kingdoms, Tmutarakan, Byzantine villages. Kerch is a great hero city that has immortalized the memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War in numerous monuments and memorials.
Photo © Alexxx1979 / flickr.com
An ancient city in the west of Crimea, the population is just over 106 thousand. Evpatoria is one of the largest cities in Crimea, stands on the shores of the Kalamitsky Gulf, there are wonderful sandy beaches and a warm shallow sea. There are many entertainment centers, water parks, attractions, the Juma-Jami mosque, the abode of the dervishes, the ancient aqueduct, Turkish baths, ancient temples. Nearby is the town of Saki with curative mud, which has a large number of health institutions.
Photo © Yuriy Kuzin / flickr.com
The most popular resort in the South Coast with a population of 78.2 thousand people is at the same time the most big city on this coast of Crimea. There are many hotels and rest houses in the city, there is a beautiful embankment, monuments, alleys, a museum of local lore, Chekhov's house-museum, the Yalta zoo "Fairy Tale", "Glade of Fairy Tales", the Uchan-Su waterfall, Massandra Palace, the famous wine-making factory "Massandra", not far from Yalta - Livadia Palace and Nikitsky Botanical Garden.
Photo © B. Rad / flickr.com
Feodosia - located in the southeastern part of the peninsula ancient city founded by Greek colonists. Now about 70 thousand people live here, which makes this settlement one of the largest in terms of population in Crimea. There are few ancient buildings here, the excavations that have begun make it difficult for residential areas, so the main architectural monuments survived from the Middle Ages: the remains of the citadel of the Genoese fortress, the walls of Hayots-berd, Armenian temples and the Armenian fountain, the Mufti-Jami mosque. Connoisseurs of art will like the Alexander Grin Literary Memorial Museum, the National Art Gallery of the famous marine painter IK Aivazovsky.
Photo © naiv.super1 / flickr.com
Dzhankoy
An important railway junction in the northern part of the peninsula. According to the latest data, the population was about 39 thousand people. Shallow rivers flow into Dzhankoy, there is no outlet to the sea. The city is not rich in sights: the landscape park-reserve "Kalinovsky", where more than 100 species of birds live, a mosque, the Holy Protection Orthodox Church and a museum of local lore.
Alushta
Well-known resort town South Shore Crimea, the population is about 30 thousand people, which is much less than in Yalta, but nevertheless Alushta is one of the large cities of Crimea. Alushta has many beaches and attractions, an aquarium, a dolphinarium, a nature museum and an arboretum, not far from the city (near the village of Luchistoye), Mount Demerdzhi and the famous Valley of Ghosts.
Photo © lazy_lizzy / flickr.com
Bakhchisarai
The former capital of the Crimean Khanate. The city with a population of just over 27 thousand people is located in the steppe zone of the Crimea in the foothills. The main attraction is the Khan's palace Hansaray, no less interesting for tourists is the Fountain of Tears, sung by Alexander Pushkin, mosques and the cave city of Chufut-Kale.
Krasnoperekopsk
Industrial city of Crimea (specializing in chemical production), with a population of just over 26 thousand people. It is located in the southern part of the Perekop Isthmus, next to the North Crimean Canal.
Greek city-states of Crimea:
construction history, location, public order
The formation of Greek city-states in Crimea is an achievement Great Colonization Hellenes, which took place on the lands of the peninsula between the VIII and VI centuries. BC NS. Sometimes it is believed that the process of development of the Mediterranean coast and the Black Sea region is better designated by the term "resettlement". However, what made the Greeks leave their native places and go where they had to start life anew?
Firstly, during this period of history in Greece there was population explosion... The overpopulation of Hellas gave rise to the beginning of migration processes. Secondly, the Greeks were sorely lacking economic land. In addition, the resettlement processes were associated with trade expansion, the search for products and sources of raw materials, scarce or, at all, did not exist in Greece.
All this is complemented by military, social and ethnic reasons. The Greeks were threatened by the Lydians and Persians, and there were significant differences between the Greeks, generated by belonging to different strata of the population and interethnic tensions.
At first, the Hellenes, pampered by the warm sun, did not like the relatively cold local climate, and the inhabitants of the Crimea inspired fear. Black Sea they called the phrase "Pont Aksinsky", which means "inhospitable sea." However, they soon changed their point of view and the prefix "a" was transformed into "ev". This is how the Greek toponym Pontus Euxinsky ("hospitable sea") appeared, and the history of Crimea began to acquire a different character.
The Greek city-states of Crimea were built by immigrants from Miletus. Less often - by immigrants from Pontic Heraclea. However, scientists managed to find traces of the habitation of the Greeks on the peninsula, who arrived from Colophon, Ephesus and Theos. The area of the Greek migrants was formed: the South-East of Crimea, the shores of the Kerch Strait and the territory of the Taman Peninsula.
Greek city-states and settlements in the Northern Black Sea region:
The political structure of the Crimean ancient settlements was similar to that in mainland Hellas. The Greek city-states of Crimea were predominantly slave republics with a democratic way of life. The polis model allowed the city and its choir to coexist organically, making such settlements independent and viable units.
The Greek city-states of Crimea had three branches of government traditional for our days, they could solve all internal problems and independently choose state bodies. Legislative power was represented by the people's assembly, the executive - by collegia and magistrates. Adult men were allowed to solve problems of state importance. Slaves, foreigners and females had no rights. Courts in the Greek colonies of the Crimea were highly specialized.
The first Greek city grew up in the east of Crimea, its name is Panticapaeum.
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| Kerch. Ruins of Panticapaeum - the first Greek city-state on the territory of Crimea | In the center of the picture, K.F. Bogayevsky "Feodosia" (1930) - Quarantine Hill - the alleged place of foundation of the Greek city-state, the traces of which are now hidden by the layers of subsequent civilizations. The Genoese fortress Kafa is depicted on the Quarantine Hill. |
Over time, several more large settlements were erected on the peninsula: Chersonesus, Kerkinitida, Kalos-Limen, Nympheus, Feodosia.
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| The Greek city-state of Chersonesos: the ruins of a residential quarter (Gagarinsky district of Sevastopol) | Ruins of the Greek city-state Kalos-Limen (north-western coast of Crimea) |
The largest Greek state association Crimean peninsula ancient times - the Bosporan kingdom - appeared as a result of constant confrontations with local barbarians, it will be discussed separately.
The Greek city-states on the Crimean peninsula can be conditionally divided into two parts - those that fell under the influence of Chersonesos at a certain historical moment and those that found themselves in the sphere of interests of Panticapaeum. The latter, starting as independent city-states, united in a union, or rather, they were forced to do this by necessity - it was necessary to resist the local tribes and develop trade with the metropolis. Later, these policies became part of the Bosporus kingdom of the Spartokid dynasty. What are these cities?
Greek city-states influenced by Panticapaeum
If the capital was founded in the VII century BC, then located a little south of the Nymphaean - at the beginning of VI. It was one of the largest and most significant Greek city-states.
Founded by the Milesians, it soon fell under the influence of Athens and, accordingly, entered the Delosian symmetry, which was ultimately defeated in the struggle against Sparta. Nympheus separated from Athens and passed on his fate to the Spartokids and the Bosporus kingdom. More than once the city was destroyed (especially catastrophically - by the Goths), more than once artifacts were taken away in our time, so archaeologists did not get so much. But what remains allows us to judge the greatness of the city and its architectural splendor.
Slightly north of Nympheus, in the same period as the latter, another polis was founded by the Milesians - Tiritaka. This Greek city-state had an industrial and economic focus, which is confirmed by excavations. It was surrounded by walls only in the 3rd century AD. It was repeatedly destroyed both by the enemy and by earthquakes. Under the Byzantines, during the reign of Justinian I, a basilica was erected in Tyritac, the ruins of which were examined during an archaeological expedition.
Among all the Greek city-states of Crimea, Acre is the most attractive, all because this policy was almost completely submerged as a result of transgression, a rise in the water level of the Black Sea. This city was not as big as Panticapaeum, its main building was the port. As a result of underwater archaeological expeditions, walls, towers, building foundations, many small objects and a rich collection of coins were found.
From the west, the port Greek city-states were constantly raided by nomads, especially after the fall of the Pontine kingdom. To protect the policies from these raids, the city of Ilurat was built from the depths of the Kerch Peninsula in the 1st century AD. Active excavations were carried out after the war, massive walls were discovered, which were rebuilt more than once. Underground passages, wells, towers - Ilurat was built using all the modern fortification knowledge. However, the fortress did not last long, already at the end of the third century AD the defenders left it.
The history of Crimea since antiquity is a constant search for companions and a regular struggle for survival. Who were the Crimean Greeks afraid of? Their relations with the Taurus inhabiting the peninsula were changeable. At first, the Crimean aborigines were perceived by the Hellenes only as a pirate people capable of killing a stranger in order to sacrifice him. In the places of the Taurian settlement, practically no items made by the Greeks have been found. This means that there were no trade ties between peoples.
In ancient polis, samples of molded ceramics with black walls were found, which suggests the presence of marriage relations between young representatives of the Taurus tribes and the sons of the colonists. A tombstone from the 5th century was also found in Panticapaeum. BC e., located above the tomb of a respected brand. This means that male Taurus sometimes lived in the Greek cities of the Crimea. Scientists believe that, as a rule, they had the status of slaves, but there were still exceptions.
With their Scythian neighbors, the Greek settlers tried to live peacefully, brought rich gifts to the barbarian kings, and they ceded their territories to them. At times, short-term military confrontations arose between them, and the frightened Greeks built defensive fortresses. One of these wars marked the end of the existence of the Scythian kingdom.
During the excavations of some Greek cities, surgical instruments made of bronze and bones were found. These artifacts suggest that there was a fairly developed medicine in the Crimean ancient settlements of settlers from Greece.
O high level cultural life in the Greek city-states of the Crimea, the presence of the same theaters as those that existed in the historical homeland of the Hellenes testifies. Up to 3,000 people could be in such structures at the same time. Scientists also found musical instruments used by the Greeks in Crimea: lyre, trumpet, flute, cithara.
The people who inhabited the Greek city-states of the Crimea professed polytheism and polytheism. They worshiped pagan gods who personified the forces of nature. Very soon, more attention began to be paid to Apollo, the protector of immigrants.
In Chersonesos, the cult of Artemis, the patron goddess of this polis, was honored. They made sacrifices in the form of fish, domestic animals, agricultural products. Deities were worshiped in shrines, in temples, at home altars. Clay copies of sacrifices were often brought there. In the III century. n. NS. paganism in the Crimea began to be replaced by Christian teaching.
Let's draw some conclusions. The ancient colonization of Crimea began in the 8th-7th centuries. BC NS. and the Greek city-states existed until the invasion of the Huns, which took place in the 4th century. n. NS.
All settlements founded by people from Miletus, Heraclea of Pontus, Colophon, Ephesus and Theos were republics with three branches of government. Among them, only one monarchy stands out - the Bosporan Kingdom. The first Greek city in Crimea is Panticapaeum. It appeared in the 7th century. BC NS.
A century later, the Nymphaeus was built. Then Tiritaka, Acra, Ilurat, Kitay, Cimmerik, Pormfiy, Mirmekiy, Zenonov Chersonesos, Theodosia grew up. Soon they all fell under the influence of Panticapaeum and became part of the Bosporus kingdom.
In the VI century. BC NS. the Greeks erected Tauric Chersonesos, which managed to conquer Kerkinitis and Kalos-Limen. The Crimean Greeks got along with the Taurus, Scythians, Sarmatians, who also lived on the peninsula. From the 1st century. BC NS. the authorities of the Greek city-states of the Crimea were forced to submit to Rome. Chersonesus existed longer than all other Greek city-states and became a stronghold of Byzantinism in the Crimea.
INLIGHT / olegman37
In the sixth century BC. NS. on the Crimean peninsula, the first settlement of the ancient Greeks was founded, this was the beginning of the Great Greek colonization in the Northern Black Sea region. The ancient Greeks were attracted here by fertile lands, favorable conditions for cattle breeding and trade, they were not afraid of either the cold climate, or the hostility of the Scythians and Taurus, who inhabited the territory of Crimea at that time. Today, on the site of some ancient Greek cities, there are ruins of fortress walls, the remains of residential and utility rooms, museums with antique items that are carefully preserved and are the attractions of the Crimean peninsula.
Kerkinitida - antiquity under the dome
One of the first ancient Greek cities based on the western coast of the Crimean Peninsula was. The city was founded on the territory of modern Yevpatoria at the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC and until the end of the 4th century it existed as a separate state that actively traded, engaged in agriculture, various crafts and minted its own coins. In the period IV-II centuries BC. NS. Kerkinitida was part of Chersonesos and was engaged in the supply of bread, after which Kerkinitida was destroyed as a result of the Greco-Scythian wars.
The remains of the ancient Greek colony are kept under a glass dome in Evpatoria on Duvanovskaya street, on the Gorky embankment and in the city's local history museum. Here tourists and residents of Evpatoria can see the foundations of Kerkinitida residential buildings and household items of the ancient Greeks.
Kalos Limen - a historical attraction in the village of Chernomorskoe
In the IV century BC, an ancient Greek city was founded on the territory of the modern village of Chernomorskoye. The inhabitants of the city were engaged in agriculture, trade and crafts. Due to the favorable geographic location and the convenient bay of Kalos Limen was often raided by stronger neighbors and by the end of the 4th century it became part of Chersonesos. In the II century BC. e polis was ruled by the Scythians, but after a few decades it again became Greek city... At the beginning of our era, Kalos Limen was finally destroyed.
In place today ancient city there is a historical monument and "Kalos Limen", where you can see the ruins of an ancient Greek fortress, residential buildings, the remains of the central gate of the city and the slab of the main street, on which traces of chariots have been preserved.
Kalos Limen
Chersonesus Tauric - a monument of world importance in Simferopol
In the middle of the first century BC. NS. on the southwestern coast of the Crimean Peninsula was laid. For about two thousand years, this ancient Greek city was the political and cultural center of the nearby Greek colonies, it went down in history Ancient Greece, Roman Empire and Byzantium. It was here that the Grand Duke Vladimir was baptized; in honor of this event, the Vladimir Cathedral was erected on the former Chersonesos square.
Today, the ruins of this ancient city are historical monument of world importance and are under the protection of UNESCO. "Chersonesus Tauric" includes several expositions and a large research center.
Panticapaeum - archaeological museum in Kerch
In the first half of the 6th century BC, in the eastern part of Crimea, on the territory of the city of Kerch, an ancient Greek polis was founded. The city developed rapidly and already in the 5th century became the capital of the Bosporus state, uniting the nearest cities. Panticapaeum was a craft, trade and cultural center of the Bosporus, where gold, silver and copper coins were minted, and the total area of the policy was about 100 hectares.
The ruins of Panticapaeum are located in the center of Kerch on the slopes and summit of Mount Mithridat, there is also a historical and archaeological museum, exhibits of which are amphorae painted ceramics, coins, epigraphic documents and other archaeological finds from the excavations of Panticapaeum.
Kharax - fortress and palace in Gaspra
In the 1st century AD, after the victory of the Roman army over the Tauro-Scythian army, which held Chersonesos under siege, the Romans built a fortress-city on Cape Ai-Todor. The fortress was not only a haven for the Roman garrison, but also the center where the main sea and land routes... Today, only ruins of stone and brick and a reservoir decorated with mosaics are left of it.
The remains of the Charax fortress are located on the territory of the Dnipro sanatorium, where the famous Charax palace, built for Georgy Mikhailovich Romanov at the beginning of the 20th century, is also preserved. Excursions are conducted on the territory of the sanatorium, and in the palace there is the main building for guests.
Scythian Naples - archaeological reserve in Simferopol
In the III century BC, the city of Naples, the capital of the Late Scythian state, was founded on the southeastern coast of the Crimean peninsula. Solid structures in the Greek style, stone living quarters and utility rooms, craft workshops, grain pits found by archaeologists make it clear that the late Scythians were no longer a nomadic people, but were actively engaged in farming, cattle breeding and crafts.
In the archaeological reserve "" you can see the remains of the city's fortress wall, visit the mausoleums of the ancient Scythian kings and learn about the culture and life of the Scythians.
If you are planning a trip to Crimea, do not forget to take care of booking accommodation in advance, because Crimean hotels are very popular during the tourist season, and be sure to include ancient sights in your itinerary. Here you can not only touch the real antiquity, but also listen to interesting stories from guides and expand your horizons. Travel and learn!
