The Polis and Chora of Chersonesos in Crimea, Ukraine

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The Polis and Chora of Chersonesos in Crimea, Ukraine

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Abstract

The archaeological site of Chersonesos in Crimea, Ukraine, has been called "the Ukrainian Pompeii" and with good reason. Very few sites in the world can claim to have such an abundance of well-preserved remains. Tens of towers, a monumental defensive wall, a theater, and numerous farmsteads are some of the structures that have remained in a remarkable state of preservation making Chersonesos the best-preserved Greek colonial territory. Evidence of Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine habitation have all been found throughout Chersonesos as well. Chersonesos exhibits great diversity, both culturally and ethnically. For these reasons, it is one of the most historically significant sites in the world

Introduction
Geographical setting
Historical development
The threat of neighboring factions
Results of excavations
Conclusion
Works referenced

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[...] was unable to determine to approximate population of Chersonesos in the fourth century.) In 390-380 BC, Chersonesos struck its first coins. Bronze forms for coins have been excavated in a building which was most likely the mint. Hellenistic coinage from the fourth and third centuries often depicted Artemis; one such coin displays a head of Artemis on the obverse and a wounded stag on the reverse. As part of the legacy of the Tauric influence, Artemis was revered as the principal deity of Chersonesos. [...]

[...] The defensive nature of the tower would have made it an ideal place to store wine in pithoi because of the value of both the wine and its container; the cost of one pithoi could equal the value of one year's crop (Carter et al. 2002). Interestingly, evidence from excavations has shown that there is a larger amount of farm utensils rather than kitchen utensils at some farm sites. The implication of this is that these farms, it seems, were intended to serve production and not residence. [...]

[...] ( 4.7 .1) have not been able to conclude if the remains of this temple have been located.) More than twenty Tauric settlements have been found, ranging from the tenth to the fifth centuries BC; however, no trace of Greek agricultural activity has been found before the fifth century (Pečírka. 1970). In the ancient chora of Chersonesos, fragments of fifth and fourth century Greek pottery and amphorae form the first evidence for interaction between the Greek colonists and the native Taurians. In the fourth century, Chersonesos began to penetrate into northwestern Crimea. [...]

[...] Intensive cultivation of the chora of Chersonesos began in the late fourth century and continued for roughly 200 years. The fertile soils of the Heraklean Peninsula aided Chersonesos in becoming the chief producer of grain in the coastal region of the Black Sea. Wine production, as well, became increasingly important in the fourth century. Olives, the archetypal Greek export, did not, nor do they now, prosper on the north shore of the Black Sea (Carter et al. 2002). The archaeological record at other sites on the west Crimean coast attests to the growth of Chersonesos. [...]

[...] The growth of the city, internal conflicts, and struggles with the Tauri led to the creation of the Chersonesos Oath in the late fourth century or early third century. The nature of the oath's text, which was carved on a white marble slab, has been the subject of scholarly debate. It is generally accepted, however, that the oath-maker committed himself to adhere to the ideals of Chersonesos' democracy. These democratic principles brought the Chersonesans into constant conflict and competition with nearby groups of people. [...]

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