Map of ancient cities of Crimea. Ancient cities of Crimea. As part of Imperial Russia

CITIES OF CRIMEA Success in the economy contributed to the growth of Crimean cities. By the end of the century, Simferopol was rightfully the administrative, cultural and economic center of the province. All provincial institutions and organizations were located in the city. Simferopol is the first of all

Ancient cities of the Northern Black Sea region

ABOUT THE CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF THESSALONICA BY THE LATINS. MESSAGE OF EUSTATHIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF THESSALONICIA, ABOUT THE LAST CONQUEST OF THIS CITY, WE HOPE

ABOUT THE CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF THESSALONICA BY THE LATINS. MESSAGE OF EUSTATHIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF THESSALONICIA, ABOUT THE LAST, AS WE HOPE, CONQUEST OF THIS CITY During the ill-fated reign of Emperor Andronikos Komnenos, Thessalonica weakened and reached the point of exhaustion, which

Photos and text by Sam Namos

Having arrived by train from Sevastopol to Bakhchisarai, we take a bus to the village of Staroselye. This extreme point, where you can get there by transport. A pedestrian road rises up the gorge to the Holy Dormition Cave Monastery:

The place is worth a visit. Grottoes are hollowed out right in the sheer cut of the rock, in which the monks’ cells are located:

Holy Assumption Cave monastery founded by Byzantine icon-worshipping monks no later than the 8th century. Located in the Mariam-Dere tract (Maria's Gorge) near Bakhchisarai. During the First Defense of Sevastopol in Crimean War in 1854-1855, a hospital was located in the cells, pilgrims' house and other buildings of the monastery. Those who died from wounds were buried in the monastery cemetery. In 1921, the monastery was closed by the Soviet authorities.

After the resettlement of Germans, Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks from Crimea to other regions of the USSR in 1941, and Crimean Tatars in 1944, a psychoneurological dispensary was located on the territory of the monastery for decades. In 1993 it was returned to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Three of the five monastery churches, cell buildings, the abbot's house and the bell tower were restored.

At the bottom of the gorge, work is now underway construction works to expand the monastery complex.

I couldn't take a photo inside because... The abbots immediately attacked us, convincing us that the Bishop himself had forbidden photography on the territory of the monastery...

We go around all the rooms available for viewing and head up the road, to the cave city - the Chufut fortress - Kale:

On the way, we come across a nondescript information sign announcing a grandiose find of the 21st century:

The find turned out to be an ancient 45-meter sedimentary well of the Chufut fortress - Kale:

The structure is a mine with a suitable 120-meter adit at a slope. The volume of work was colossal for that time:

Fork. The adit on the right is flooded and after ten meters it comes to a dead end:

The adit on the left opens into a mine with a staircase spiraling downwards, carved right into the rock:

At the very bottom, according to the creators’ plan, the purest water accumulated and then was taken in:

From above, the well shaft has access to the surface:

From the ground it looks like this:

Nearby, at the foot of the Chufut-Kale fortress, there is another artesian well, much more modest in scale. Previously, it was also located in the thickness of the rock, but either a piece of the rock fell off, or archaeologists cut through the wall, and now it is a cut right at the foot of the fortress:

It's time to look inside the fortress itself. Two gates lead inside: Kiyuk-Kapu (in the east) and Kuchuk-kapu (in the southwest). From other sides the fortress is practically impregnable. However, out of sporting interest, we decided to climb the wall, just north of the Kiyuk-Kapu gate, where there is a weak point. You can climb with minimal mountaineering skills. By the way, entrance to the fortress territory is paid.

Kiyuk-Kapu Gate:

A little help:

Chufut-Kale is a medieval fortress town located 2.5 km from Bakhchisaray. The fortress was once the capital of the Crimean Khanate. The name is translated from the Crimean Tatar language as “Jewish fortress”, because the Tatars considered the Karaites living there to be Jews due to the similarity of their religion with Judaism.

The city supposedly arose in the 5th century as a fortified settlement on the border of Byzantine possessions. Starting from the 14th century, Karaites began to settle in the city, who by the time the Crimean Khanate was formed already constituted most population of the city. Chufut-Kale remained the main center of the Crimean Karaites until the middle of the 19th century, but gradually became empty - the inhabitants moved from the low-water plateau to more convenient places for living.

There is almost nothing to see inside the fortress. Most of the space is covered with thickets. An ancient stone road with a cart track runs through the center of the territory.

WITH southwestern On the side there is a small complex of utility caves and several buildings. Big and Small Kenassa (house of prayer of the Karaites):

Kuchut-Kapu Gate (South Entrance):

Complex of economic caves:

A former rich estate with a system of underground rooms Chaush-Kobasy (“Chief’s Caves”) in the northern part of the fortress:

As I approached the descent into the grotto, I heard a beautiful violin melody coming from underground:

A violinist was playing inside. As soon as I wanted to take a picture of him, he immediately ran away to the side. His case remained in the frame. The acoustics here are simply incredible! If it weren’t for the violinist, I would have shouted there myself:

Next room:

In the same part of the fortress there is an observation deck. From here there is a stunning view of the Biyuk-Ashlama-Dere gully and Mount Besh-Kosh.

After it became completely dark, we move towards Mount Tepe-Kerman:

I don’t know how long the wandering along the forest paths would have lasted if we had not stumbled upon a parking lot of experienced tourists who showed us the right path. Don’t risk looking for cave cities using printouts satellite maps and applications on smartphones. Almost the entire space is in trees, behind the tops of which practically nothing is visible, and the satellite connection on the phone every now and then misses by an indecent distance. It's time for me to get a real GPS navigator.

By midnight we finally found ourselves at the top of the plateau. By the way, climbing the mountain is not pleasant. The slope is very sharp and the path crumbles underfoot every now and then:

A little help:

Cave city Tepe-Kerman existed in the period from the 6th to the 14th centuries and reached its greatest prosperity in the 12th-13th centuries. The peculiarity of Tepe-Kerman is the greatest, compared to other cave cities, concentration of caves. There are more than 250 of them on an area of ​​about 1 hectare. The main part of the city was located at the top of the plateau (540 meters above sea level).

The overwhelming number of in-rock structures here (about 85%) were used for economic needs. Of these, about 88%, or 170-180 premises, were barns for animals. The rest of the utility rooms were estate basements and water storage tanks. Non-economic caves were used for housing and burial.

Many caves have a hole in the ceiling (most likely for smoke removal). When walking on the plateau you should be extremely careful. Many of these holes are almost invisible among the thickets:

One of the most remarkable grottoes of the cave complex is the “Church with a Baptistery” (Church with a baptismal room). Located on the northeastern edge of the plateau:

The death of the city, according to some versions, is tied to the raid of the Golden Horde beklyaribek Nogai in 1299.

It was decided to arrange a parking lot on the so-called “Dragon’s Tooth” right in one of the grottoes because... The entire plateau is blown by a strong wind. The place turned out to be very cozy, and we warmly celebrated last night of our trip in Crimea with a small fire:

Waking up in the morning, I was stunned by the view from the ledge of the plateau. From the ledge a panorama opened up for tens of kilometers.

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 ones are now located sea ​​ports, industrial and resort centers Crimea - Evpatoria, Sevastopol, Feodosia and Kerch, in the VI - V centuries. BC. The Greeks founded the cities of Kerkinitida, Chersonesus, Feodosia, Panticapaeum, and near it - Myrmekiy, Tiritaka, Nymphaeum, Cimmeric 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, and artisans' workshops. Convenient geographical position contributed to the development of trade. Merchants exported slaves and agricultural products to the Mediterranean, purchased from local tribes - Scythians, Maeotians, Sindians. In exchange, olive oil, wine, art and crafts were brought from the cities of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor.
Chersonesos was founded in 421 BC. on the shore of the bay, which is now called Karantinnaya. Later, the city significantly expanded its holdings. During its heyday, Kerkinitida, Beautiful Harbor (on the site of the modern village of Chernomorskoye) and other settlements of northwestern Crimea were subordinate to him.
The Chersonesos state was a slave-owning state democratic republic. The highest authority was the people's assembly and council, which decided all issues of foreign and domestic policy. The leading role in management belonged to the largest slave owners, whose names were conveyed by Chersonesos inscriptions and coins.
Archaeological excavations started back in 1827 showed that the city was well fortified. The remains of defensive structures - massive towers, fortresses, parts of stone walls - have also been preserved throughout the state. This indicates the constant military danger to which the residents were exposed. The famous Chersonesos oath speaks about their patriotism. Its text was carved at the end of the 4th - beginning of the 3rd centuries. BC. on a marble slab found during excavations of the city:
... "I swear by Zeus, Gaia, Helios, the Virgin, the gods and goddesses of the Olympians... I will not betray Chersonesos..." The Chersonesos swore that they would not betray either the city or its possessions to the enemies, they would protect the democratic system, and would not divulge the state secrets.
As archaeological studies have confirmed, the city had the correct layout. Residential buildings were united into blocks, the streets intersected at right angles. They were paved with small stones. Stone gutters ran along the streets. Temples rose in the squares. Public buildings and the houses of wealthy citizens were decorated with colonnades and mosaic floors.
From ancient buildings, only the bases of the walls and basements have survived to this day. Particularly interesting are the mint, baths, and the ruins of a theater that existed from the 3rd century. BC e. to the 4th century n. e. Only the staircase passages and stone benches for spectators have been partially preserved from it. Judging by their size, the theater could accommodate up to 3 thousand spectators.
Near the city walls there was a district of artisans. There, archaeologists discovered the remains of ceramic production: kilns for firing pottery, stamps for ornaments, molds for making terracotta reliefs. Other crafts also flourished in Chersonesus - metalworking, jewelry, and weaving.
The largest ancient state The Black Sea region was the so-called Bosporan kingdom. It was formed as a result of the unification of initially independent Greek cities, such as Panticapaeum, Myrmekium, 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 for more than three hundred years it was ruled by the Spartokid dynasty.
At the end of the 5th - beginning of the 4th centuries. BC. Nymphaeum and Theodosius, as well as lands inhabited by other tribes, were annexed to the possessions of Bosporus. In the 1st century BC. The Bosporus captured most of the territory of Crimea and subjugated Chersonesus.
Excavations on Mount Mithridates, carried out in Kerch from late XIX century, made it possible 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. The most important temples and public buildings were located inside it. Blocks of one- or two-story stone buildings ran down the slopes in terraces. The entire city and its surroundings were surrounded by numerous lines of fortifications. The deep and convenient harbor reliably sheltered merchant and military ships.
Found fragments of marble statues, pieces of painted plaster and architectural details allow us to speak about the rich decoration of the squares and buildings of the city, about the skill of ancient architects and builders.
At the site of Myrmekia and Tiritaki, not far from Kerch, in addition to city walls, residential buildings and sanctuaries, archaeologists discovered several wineries and baths for salting fish. In Nymphea, near the modern village of Geroevki, there are temples of Demeter, Aphrodite and Kabirov; in Ilurat, near the modern village of Ivanovka, is a Bosporan military settlement of the first centuries AD, guarding the approaches to the capital.
Near every ancient city there was its necropolis - 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 rocks. The walls of crypts and sarcophagi were decorated with paintings, reliefs, and inlays. Ornaments were applied to them, mythological subjects and scenes of real life were depicted. Things that belonged to him were placed with the deceased: 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 Riskuporides, 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. Burials of Bosporan kings and nobility with outstanding works of Greek art were discovered in them: gold and silver jewelry, bronze and glass items, painted and figured vases.
The gold temple pendants of the 4th century are rightfully considered a masterpiece of world art. BC. from the Kul-Oba mound. They are made in the form of disks, to which are attached numerous woven intersecting chains connected by plates and rosettes. On the disk with a diameter of 7 cm there is a relief of the head of Athena in a helmet with clearly visible figures of griffins, an owl and a snake. The thinnest originated plates, rosettes, as well as the circumference of the disc are covered with grain and blue enamel.
The most valuable finds from excavations of the ancient cities of Crimea are presented in the collections of the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the State Historical Museum And State Museum fine arts them. A.S. Pushkin in Moscow, as well as others.
Nowadays, nature reserves have been organized on the territory of Chersonese in Sevastopol and on Mount Mithridates in Kerch. Every year thousands of people come there to walk through the streets and squares of ancient cities, get acquainted with greatest monuments culture, it is better to know the distant past of our Motherland.

Encyclopedia "Sights of Crimea"

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