Chersonesos (Greek: Χερσόνησος; Latin: Chersonesus; Old East Slavic: Корсунь, Korsun; Ukrainian and Russian: Херсонес, Khersones; also transliterated as Chersonese, Chersonesos, Cherson) was an ancient Greek colony founded approximately 2500 years ago in the southwestern part of Crimea, known then as Taurica. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Old East Slavic, also known as Old Russian (древнерусский or Old Ruthenian, was a vernacular literary language used from the 10th to the 14th centuries Ukrainian (in Ukrainian украї́нська мо́ва ukrayins'ka mova,) is a language of the East Slavic subgroup of the Slavic languages. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Crimea (kraɪˈmiːə or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Крим Автономна Республіка Крим Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Крым The colony was established in the 6th century BC by settlers from Heraclea Pontica. The 6th century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC. Heraclea Pontica ( Greek: Ηράκλεια Ποντική modern day Karadeniz Ereğli, in the Zonguldak Province of Turkey, on the Black
The ancient city is located on the shore of the Black Sea at the outskirts of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine, where it is referred to as Khersones. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey Sevastopol ( see pronunciation below) is a port city in Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea Peninsula Crimea (kraɪˈmiːə or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Крим Автономна Республіка Крим Avtonomna Respublika Krym; Крым Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe. It has been nicknamed the "Ukrainian Pompeii" and "Russian Troy". Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples and Caserta in the Italian region of Campania, in Troy ( Greek: grc Τροία Troia, also, Ilion; Latin: Trōia, Īlium, Hittite: Wilusa or The name "Chersonesos" in Greek means simply "peninsula", and aptly describes the site on which the colony was established. It should not be confused with the Tauric Chersonese, the name often applied to the whole of the southern Crimea along with "Taurica".
During much of the classical period the town was a democracy ruled by a group of elected archons and a council called the Damiorgi. Democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held completely by the people under a free electoral system Archon (Gr ἄρχων pl ἄρχοντες is a Greek word that means "ruler" frequently used as the title of a specific public office As time went on the government grew more oligarchic, with power concentrated in the hands of the archons. A form of oath sworn by all the citizens in the 3rd century BC has survived to the present day. The 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC
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History
In the late 2nd century BC Chersonesos became a dependency of the Bosporan Kingdom. The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the Ocean. The Black Sea is an inland Sea bounded by southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Anatolian peninsula ( Turkey The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC. The 2nd century BC started the first day of 200 BC and ended the last day of 101 BC. The Bosporan Kingdom or the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus was an ancient state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the It was subject to Rome from the middle of the 1st century BC until the 370s AD, when it was captured by the Huns. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The 1st century BC started the first day of 100 BC and ended the last day of 1 BC. Events and Trends 376, Visigoths appear on the Danube and are allowed entry into the Roman Empire in their flight from the Huns The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads with a Turkic core of aristocracy
It became a Byzantine possession during the Early Middle Ages and withstood a siege by the Göktürks in 581. The Early Middle Ages is a period in the History of Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire spanning roughly five centuries from AD 500 Göktürks ( Turkish: Gök Türkler) were a Turkic people of ancient Central Asia. Byzantine rule was slight: there was a small imperial garrison more for the town's protection than for its control. It was useful to Byzantium in two ways: as an observation point to watch the barbarian tribes, and its isolation made it a popular place of exile for those who angered the Roman and later Byzantine governments. Among its more famous "inmates" were Popes Clement I and Martin I, and the deposed Byzantine Emperor Justinian II. Saint "Martin I" redirects here For the Aragonese king see Martin I of Aragon. This is a list of the Emperors of the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly known as the Byzantine Empire by modern historians Justinian II (Ιουστινιανός Β΄ Ioustinianos II; 669&ndashDecember 711 known as Rinotmetos or Rhinotmetus (Ρινότμητος According to Theophanes and others, Chersonesos was the residence of a Khazar tudun in the late 600s. Theophanes may refer to St Theophanes, the name of several saints including Theophan the Recluse (Russian 19th century "Kazar" redirects here for the Marvel Comics character see Ka-Zar; for the village in Azerbaijan see Xəzər.
In 838 Emperor Theophilus sent the nobleman Petronas Kamateros, who had recently overseen the construction of the Khazar fortress of Sarkel, to take direct control over the city and its environs. Theophilos or Theophilus (Θεόφιλος (Greek translation of his name "Friend of God" ( 813 &ndash 20 January 842) was Sarkel (or Sharkil, literally white house in Khazar language) was a large limestone-and-brick fortress built by the Khazars with Byzantine It remained in Byzantine hands until the 980s, when it reportedly fell to Kiev. Events and Trends 983 — Pagan West Slavs revolt temporarily ending attempts at conversion and forcing abandonment of German sees and monasteries east Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the Vladimir the Great agreed to evacuate the fortress only if Basil II's sister Anna Porphyrogeneta would be given him in marriage. Saint Vladimir Svyatoslavich the Great ( Old Russian: Володимеръ Святославичь, c Basil II, surnamed the Bulgar-slayer (Βασίλειος Β΄ Βουλγαροκτόνος Basileios II Boulgaroktonos, 958 &ndash December 15 1025 Until his baptism Vladimir I of Kiev (c 958 – 1015) was described by Thietmar of Merseburg as a great profligate ( Latin: fornicator The demand caused a scandal in Constantinople, as imperial princesses had never been married to non-Greeks before. As a pre-condition for the marriage settlement, Vladimir was baptized here in 988, thus paving the way to the Baptism of Kievan Rus'. Events By Place Africa Al-Azhar University is founded in Cairo, Egypt (the second oldest university in the world The Christianization of Kievan Rus' took place in several stages Thereafter Korsun' was evacuated.
Since this campaign is not recorded in Greek sources, historians have suggested that this account actually refers to the events of the Rus'-Byzantine War (1043) and to a different Vladimir. Vladimir Yaroslavich (Владимир Ярославич (1020 &ndash October 4, 1052) reigned as prince of Novgorod from 1036 until his death In fact, most valuables looted by the Slavs in Korsun' made their way to Novgorod (perhaps by way of Ioakim Korsunianin, the first Novgorodian bishop, as his surname indicates ties to Korsun), where they were preserved in the Cathedral of Holy Wisdom until the 20th century. Veliky Novgorod (Вели́кий Но́вгород is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia and the administrative center of Novgorod The Cathedral of St Sophia (the Holy Wisdom of God) in the Kremlin (or Detinets in Novgorod the Great is the cathedral church of the Archbishop One of the most interesting items from this "Korsun Treasure" is the copper Korsun Gate, supposedly captured by the Novgorodians in Korsun' and now part of the St. Sophia Cathedral.
After the Fourth Crusade Chersonesos became dependent on the Empire of Trebizond, and then fell under Genoese control in the early 1300s. The Fourth Crusade (1202&ndash1204 was originally designed to conquer Muslim Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. The Empire of Trebizond ( was a Byzantine Greek successor state of the Byzantine Empire founded in 1204 as a result of the capture of Constantinople Genoa ( Genova, ˈdʒɛːnova in Italian; Zena in Genoese and Ligurian; Genua in Latin and archaically in English In 1299 the town was sacked by the armies of Nogai Khan. Nogai Khan (died 1299 also called Kara Nogai (Black Nogai was a General and de facto ruler of the Golden Horde and a great-grandson of Genghis A century later it was destroyed by Edigu and was permanently abandoned. Edigu, or Edigey, also İdegäy or Edege Mangit (1352-1419 was an Emir of the White Horde who founded the new political entity which In the late 19th century, St Vladimir's Cathedral (completed 1892) was built on a small hill overlooking the site; designed in Byzantine style, it was intended to commemorate the site of Vladimir's baptism. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year
Archaeological site
Chersonesos' ancient ruins are presently located in one of Sevastopol's suburbs. They were excavated by the Russian government, starting from 1827. Year 1827 ( MDCCCXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common They are today a popular tourist attraction, protected by the state as an archaeological park.
The buildings mix influences of Greek, Roman and Byzantine culture. Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC This article is about the city See also Byzantine Empire. Byzantium ( Greek: Βυζάντιον Latin: la BYZANTIVM The defensive wall is hundreds of meters long. Buildings include Roman amphitheatre and a Greek temple. An amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is an open-air venue for spectator sports concerts rallies or theatrical performances
The largest portion of the site is "Chora", several square kilometres of ancient but now barren farmland, with remains of wine presses and defensive towers. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Towers are tall human-made Structures that are always taller than they are wide usually by a significant Margin. According to archaeologists, the evidence suggests that the locals were paid to do the farm work instead of being enslaved. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another
The excavated tombstones hint at burial practices that were different from the Greek ones. Each stone marks the tomb of an individual, instead of the whole family and the decorations include only objects like sashes and weapons, instead of burial statues. Over half of the tombs archaeologists have found have bones of children. Burned remnants suggest that the city was plundered and destroyed.
In 2007 Chersonesos tied for fifth in the Seven Wonders of Ukraine poll. The Seven Wonders of Ukraine (Сім чудес України are the seven historical and cultural monuments of Ukraine, which were chosen in the Seven Wonders of
Current studies
The Institute of Classical Archaeology of the University of Texas at Austin and the local Archaeological Park has investigated the site since 1992. Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The Ukrainian government has included the site on its tentative World Heritage List. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex The site, however, is in danger of further urban encroachment and coastal erosion. Erosion is the carrying away or displacement of solids ( Sediment, Soil, rock and other particles usually by the agents of currents such as wind
See also
- List of traditional Greek place names
- Odessa Numismatics Museum having on display coins of Chersonesos
References and further reading
- Anokhin, V. This is a list of Greek place names. That is a list of the names of places as they exist in the Greek language. Collection The museum collections include over 2500 coins and other relics from different historical eras from antiquity and the middle ages to modern times including the period A. The Coinage of Chersonesus: IV century B. C. –XII century A. D. . Oxford : British Archaeological Reports, 1980 (paperback, ISBN 086054074X).
- Carter, Joseph Coleman; Crawford, Melba; Lehman, Paul; Nikolaenko, Galina; Trelogan, Jessica. "The Chora of Chersonesos in Crimea, Ukraine", American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 104, No. 4. (2000), pp. 707–741.
- Carter, Joseph Coleman; Mack, Glenn Randall. Crimean Chersonesos: City, Chora, Museum, and Environs. Austin, TX: David Brown Book Company, 2003 (paperback, ISBN 0970887922).
- Kozelsky, Mara. "Ruins into Relics: The Monument to Saint Vladimir on the Excavations of Chersonesos, 1827–57", The Russian Review, Vol. The Russian Review is a major independent Peer-reviewed multi-disciplinary academic journal devoted to the history literature culture fine arts cinema society and politics 63, No. 4. (2004), pp. 655–672.
- Norwich, John Julius. Byzantium: The Early Centuries. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1989 (hardcover, ISBN 0-394-53778-5).
- Saprykin, S. Yu. Heracleia Pontica and Tauric Chersonesus before Roman domination: (VI–I centuries B. C. ). Amsterdam: A. M. Hakkert, 1997 (ISBN 9025611095).
External links
- Bulletin of the Odessa Numismatics Museum
- Chersonesos: Online resources
- National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos, Sevastopol
- Cherson on Regnal Chronologies
- Brief History of Antique Cities of Tauria and Their Coinage.
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