Euxine Sea
The Euxine Sea, more commonly known as the Black Sea, derives its name from ancient Greek, meaning "friendly to travelers." This body of water has a rich historical and cultural significance, especially in relation to Greek maritime exploration and colonization, which began around the eighth century BCE. Greek settlements along the coasts of the Euxine Sea played a vital role in trade, using the sea as a key route for exchanging goods such as grain, olive oil, and wine between the Greek mainland and the surrounding regions. The Euxine Sea is also steeped in mythology, notably featuring in the story of the Argonauts, as recounted in the epic poem by Apollonius Rhodius. Ancient historians like Herodotus provided some of the earliest documented observations of the sea, while later accounts from figures like Scylax and Arrian offered deeper insights into its geography and the cultures of its coastal populations. The historical importance of the Euxine Sea continues to influence the geopolitical dynamics of the region today.
Subject Terms
Euxine Sea
The Greek name for the Black Sea—a euphemistic term, meaning `friendly to travelers.’
In mythology, the sea was famous for the story of the Argonauts, told in the epic poem of Apollonius Rhodius (third century BC), but probably first developed through the influence of maritime explorations by Miletus (Balat) in Ionia (western Asia Minor), which pioneered the colonization of its coast, from the eighth and more abundantly from the seventh century onward. For Greece the western and northern Euxine shores and hinterlands provided their main source of grain supplies for several centuries, receiving olive oil and wine in exchange. The earliest surviving account of the sea is by Herodotus. A fourth-century survey bearing the name of the (sixth century) Scylax of Caryanda gives more details about its southern shores and Arrian of Bithynia (second century AD) describes its entire coastline.