Tauric Chersonesos - this is precisely the name that the city bore, which more than two and a half thousand years ago was founded by ancient Greek colonists. The village was arranged in the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula. Today, the ruins of this settlement are a landmark of Sevastopol. But those people who first arrive in the capital of Crimea, first of all visit the dolphinarium, Panorama, the Museum of the Black Sea Fleet and the Aquarium, and only after that go to ancient Khersones. But having arrived in Sevastopol for the second time, tourists immediately go to Khersones, where there is the opportunity to enjoy historical monuments all day, forgetting about the existence of civilization.
The origins of the city
The future Tauric Chersonesos at the very beginning was a small village glued to one of the shores of the bay, which today is called the Quarantine. Arriving on the peninsula, the colonists brought with them weapons, food supplies, household utensils. They also grabbed clothes, a work tool, and possibly cattle. Having landed on the coast of Quarantine, the colonists settled down next to the bay, putting up tents near their ships. They also built temporary housing for themselves. These were dugouts and huts. After this, new arrivals began building permanent shelters.
Chersonesos (photos are presented in our article) subsequently spread to a fairly large territory. But the site on this coast of the bay was and is the most comfortable for living. Indeed, nature itself prepared the role of the Quarantine place used for ship parking. Therefore, at the beginning of the life of immigrants, the bay here was of incredible importance. It was the only road that connected them to their homeland and a source of provisions (fishing). Another fact due to which this area is considered the best is that it is protected from the influence of cold winds from the northeast and from the north upland. Ancient Chersonesus at an early stage occupied no more than four hectares of area. Its population totaled about a thousand and a half people.
From Khersones to Kherson
The name "Chersonesos" from Greek is translated as "peninsula." "Tauride" also means that which is in Taurica, in the lands of Tauris. And the Taurus themselves were members of a warlike tribe that had poor fame. These people constantly fought and were extremely ferocious. Their homeland was modern Crimea. Tauris surrounded Tauris from almost all sides.
The city-state of Chersonese existed for almost two thousand years. And the story of his life is related not only to Ukraine, but also to countries such as Byzantium, Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. Tauric Chersonesos was founded as a colony of the wealthy and famous Greek city of Heraclea of Pontus. Therefore, in his culture, Hellenic customs and traditions took place for a long time. He also possessed the title of a commercial settlement, and also conducted military operations with the Bosporus kingdom and with the Scythians.
In the Middle Ages Khersones was renamed Kherson, although the name Korsun is found in the manuscripts of Ancient Russia. For a thousand years, Chersonesos (photo above) was part of the omnipotent Byzantine Empire. Therefore, the city became the Christian capital on the entire Crimean peninsula. And in 1399 Kherson was looted and burned by the army of Khan Edigey.
The foundation of the reserve
In 1892, where Khersones was located (the map is further), an archaeological museum was established. And in 1994, by decree of the then President of Ukraine, he was assigned the status of the Tauric Chersonesos National Reserve. The reserve is located on an area of 500 hectares. And every year three hundred thousand people visit it. The main tasks of the museum include:
- Scientific research.
- Security.
- Restoration of cultural and architectural monuments.
- Popularization
- Creating conditions for recreation and tourism.
- Effective and rational use of existing heritage.
The reserve "Tauric Chersonesos" has at its disposal a hillfort, which belongs to the V art. BC e. - XV Art. n e., a medieval fortress, the Chembalo fortress, which is located in Balaclava and belongs to the XIII – XVIII centuries. In addition, there is still one of a kind antique village estates and plots that demonstrate the first Archaeological Park in Ukraine.
Nature reserve for high minds
Each of the departments of the institution boasts highly qualified specialists who are the real enthusiasts of what they do. Among the employees of the reserve there are six candidates of historical sciences, and ten people are just preparing for the process of protecting their scientific work. The Tauric Chersonesos National Reserve is under the direction of Leonid Vasilyevich Marchenko, Director General. He has the title of Honored Worker of Culture of the Ukrainian state and a degree of candidate of historical sciences.
Thanks to the presence of unique monuments and trained staff, Khersones became the basis for the practice of students and pupils. So, at one time there were practical training courses for students from institutes and universities of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kharkov and Kiev.
Tauric Chersonesos attracts considerable interest among specialists from foreign countries. So, in the publications of these countries, articles and notes about the ancient city often appear, and at international conferences one can often hear reports on studies conducted in this city.
Interesting Chersonesos
It was in this locality that once were in exile those who were against the policies of the rulers of Constantinople. Among these people were the self-proclaimed offspring of Roman IV, rival Justinian II Filippik Vardan and, in fact, Justinian II himself, as well as Pope Martin. In Khersones there is an ancient theater, which is one of a kind on the territory of the entire CIS. The city of Kherson was so named by Empress Catherine II in honor of the ancient Khersones.
Theater of Chersonesos
Crimea Khersones, as already mentioned, became the owner of the ancient theater, which was erected at the turn of the 3rd-4th centuries. The theater could accommodate more than one thousand spectators at a time. When Chersonese was ruled by ancient rulers, the theater was used as an arena for gladiatorial battles. When in the Roman Empire Christianity became the main religion, all sorts of performances were banned here. And on the ruins of the theater built a couple of magnificent temples.
Sights of Chersonesos
Among the monuments of the ancient city that deserve the attention of everyone and everyone, you can name the foggy bell. It was cast in 1778. Turkish trophy guns were used for its manufacture. The task of the bell was to warn about ships that sailed past the coast in bad weather. When the Crimean War took place, the attraction was taken to the capital of France. Only in 1913 the foggy bell was returned to its rightful place.
The symbol of Chersonesos is considered the "Great Basilica". It was the first local temple built in the sixth century. Then the city was ruled by the emperor of Byzantium Justinian I. The floor of the church was lined with mosaics. Already in the X century, a new temple was built on the ruins of the previous basilica. For the construction of this church, architects used the wreckage of the old temple. Marble was used to make the columns of the building, and they weighed approximately 350 kilograms.
