Greek Crimea: Difference between revisions

Other Milesian colonies on the Crimean side of the Cimmerian Bosporus included Theodosia, [[Kimmerikon]], [[Tyritake]], and [[Myrmekion]]. Theodosia ({{lang-grc|Θεοδοσία}}), present day [[Feodosia]], was founded in the 6th century BCE according to archaeological evidence. It is first recorded in history as resisting the attacks of [[Satyrus of Bosporus|Satyrus]], ruler of the [[Bosporan Kingdom]], about 390 BCE. His successor [[Leucon]] transformed it into an important port for shipping wheat to Greece, especially to [[Athens]].<ref name=EB2>{{cite web|title=Feodosiya|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/204340/Feodosiya|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|accessdate=30 March 2014}}</ref> Kimmerikon ({{lang-grc|Κιμμερικόν}}) was founded in the 5th century BCE on the southern shore of the [[Kerch Peninsula]], at the western slope of Mount Opuk, roughly {{convert|50|km|mi}} southwest of Panticapaeum. Its name may refer to an earlier [[Cimmerian]] settlement on the site. Kimmerikon would become an important stronghold defending the Bosporan Kingdom from the [[Scythians]].<ref>''The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites'' (eds. Richard Stillwell, William L. MacDonald, Marian Holland McAllister).</ref> Tyritake ({{lang-grc|Τυριτάκη}}) was situated in the eastern part of [[Crimea]], about {{convert|11|km|mi}} south of [[Panticapaeum]]. It is tentatively identified with the ruins in the [[Kerch]] district of Kamysh-Burun (Arshintsevo), on the shore of the [[Cimmerian Bosporus]]. There are only few short mentions about Tyritake in ancient literary sources. Archaeological projects have established that the colony, founded about the mid-6th century BCE, specialized in crafts and viticulture. In the first centuries of the [[Common Era]], fishing and wine production became the economic mainstay of the town. Myrmēkion ({{lang-grc|Μυρμήκιον}}) was situated on the shore of the [[Cimmerian Bosporus]], {{convert|4|km|mi}} north of [[Panticapaeum]]. It was founded in the mid-6th century BCE as an independent ''polis'', which soon became one of the richest in the region. In the 5th century BCE, the town specialized in winemaking and minted its own coinage. It was surrounded by towered walls, measuring some {{convert|2.5|m|ft}} thick.<ref name=Myrmekion>{{cite web|title=The official website of the Hermitage Museum archaeological expedition in Myrmekion |url=http://www.myrmekion.ru|accessdate=30 March 2014|language=ru}}</ref>

 

 

[[File:Chersonesos ruins.jpg|right|325px|thumb| [[Chersonesus Cathedral|St. Vladimir's Cathedral]] overlooks the extensive excavations of Chersonesus.]]In the 5th century BCE, [[Dorians]] from [[Heraclea Pontica]] on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor founded the sea port of [[Chersonesus (Crimea)|Chersonesos]] in southwestern Crimea (outside modern [[Sevastopol]]). It was a site with good deep-water harbors located at the edge of the territory of the indigenous Taurians.<ref name=Longhorns>{{cite web|title=University of Texas at Austin Institute of Classical Archaeology Chersonesos project|url=http://www.utexas.edu/research/ica/chersonesos/index.htm|accessdate=31 March 2014}}</ref> During much of the Classical Period, Chersonesus was a [[democracy]] ruled by a group of elected [[archon]]s and a council called the Demiurgi. As time passed the government grew more [[Oligarchy|oligarchic]], with power concentrated in the hands of the archons. Up to the middle of the 4th century BCE, Chersonesos remained a small city. It then expanded to lands in northwest Crimea, incorporating the colony of Kerkinitida and constructing numerous fortifications.<ref name=Odessa>{{cite web|title=History and the monetary business of the antique cities of Tauria|url=http://www.museum.com.ua/en/istor/tavria/tavria.htm|work=Odessa Numismatics Museum}}</ref> In 2013, Chersonesus was listed as a [[World Heritage Site]].