The ancient city of Chersonese

The biggest mistake the person can ever make is to be on tour through the Crimea and not to visit Chersonese. After all, even the ruins of this ancient city shows how well-developed it was. This fact is confirmed by both above-ground structures, and the results of the excavations, which help the scientists to solve many riddles.

The ancient city of Chersonese 2

Archaeologists believe that the city was founded in 529-528 BC. Just at that time the Pontic Greeks of Heraclea arrived to the Crimea. They are considered to be the founders of this great city. The city has reached unimaginable ups and downs in its history. Chersonese became the center of the Crimean peninsula in the days of Byzantine kingdom, but by the middle of the fifteenth century it turned into a fishing village.

The ancient city of Chersonese 3

Archaeologists, of course, could not ignore this masterpiece of urban planning and historic monument. They began to study and excavate Chersonese in 1827. The head of that expedition was a second lieutenant K. Kruse, and Aleksey Greig was its spiritual leader. They discovered and reconstructed three basilica in the centre of the city. The Cathedral of St. Vladimir, built in 1861, stand in its place now.

The ancient city of Chersonese 4

The place for the cathedral was not chosen accidentally. The scientists presume that the Prince of Kiev Vladimir Svyatoslavovych could be baptized here. However, the archeologists, working on the excavations, can boast not only of the cathedral. For example, there was found an ancient theatre, on the left side of the main entrance to the sanctuary, built in the 5th century BC. Some scientists suggest that it was designed for 2,000 spectators, others say for 3000.

The ancient city of Chersonese 5

But the difference in data does not diminish its architectural and historical value. Taking into consideration, that Chersonese was a cultural and economic center, it, of course, could not do without the mint, located near the theater. The date of its constructions is considered to be, the 4th century BC. The name was not given accidentally. The point is that the bronze workpieces for minting coins, as well as other implements for this purpose, were found there during the excavation.