Chersonesus

• Official Name: Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora
• Location: Sevastopol, Crimea
• Year of Inscription: 2013

Chersonesus was an ancient Greek colony located near Sevastopol on the southwestern portion of the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea. The name “Chersonesus” is drawn from the Greek word for “peninsula.” Founded as a republic in 421 Before the Common Era (BCE), the area was occupied in turn by the Roman and Byzantine empires, and played a key role in Russian and Ukrainian history as well. It became part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site list, known formally as the Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora, in 2013.

The site includes six sections of architectural and archaeological remains that document 2,500 years of history spanning multiple cultures. The approximately 140 residential and public stone structures and roads are framed by chora, or rectangular plots of land that were once vineyards, a key source of revenue for the area from the third through the fourteenth centuries. After that time, it remained largely uninhabited, preserving many ruins from antiquity to a greater extent than in areas where development continued. These ruins, along with Roman and Byzantine forts, other monuments, a Christian cathedral and shrines, and additional structures from multiple cultures, provide historically significant information on the cultural, political, agricultural, financial, and religious lives of its former inhabitants.

The earliest excavations of the area were begun in 1827 by Russian archaeologists. In more modern times, archaeologists from the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute of Classical Archaeology conducted extensive work in the area beginning in 1992. These excavations, led by university professor and archaeology department chair Joseph Coleman Carter, played a key role in the process that led to Chersonesus’ formal inscription as a World Heritage Site on September 30, 2013. In 2014, Crimea, which had become part of Ukraine, was annexed by the Russian Federation during the Crimean crisis. UNESCO has continued to recognize the Chersonesus World Heritage Site as part of Ukraine.

History

Chersonesus began as a Greek settlement known as Χερσόνησος, or Khersónēsos, in an area that was originally home to Scythians and another ancient group called the Tauri. The Greeks founded the area as a republic where its citizens took an oath before the Greek god Zeus and the other Olympian gods to support and defend the polis, or city-state, and its citizens. Historical research indicates that many of its inhabitants were paid agricultural workers in the vineyards or in wine production facilities, wine being the area’s chief export. Others were craftsmen, artisans, and poets. Some of the area’s citizens had enslaved workers as well.

The Greek inhabitants fought off several attempts to take over the area but were forced to seek assistance from Mithradates VI, a formidable general, and became part of the Bosporan Kingdom around 110 BCE. In the middle of the first century BCE, Romans conquered the area. They Latinized the name to Chersonesus and built a garrison that included a strong defensive wall surrounding about seventy-four acres, or thirty hectares. The Romans also built an amphitheater and other structures. Chersonesus became a major outpost for Rome, and Roman culture flourished in the area.

Chersonesus remained under Roman rule until 370 Common Era (CE) when it was overtaken by the Huns. By the sixth century, it was in Byzantine hands. The Byzantines saw strategic value in the area, which was situated in a location that allowed them to have advance warning of marauders approaching other Byzantine holdings. It was also isolated enough to serve as a place of exile for political prisoners. At various times, the area held Justinian II, the deposed emperor, and several exiled Roman Catholic popes. Other than this, the Byzantines maintained only a minimal military garrison and mostly allowed the inhabitants to rule themselves for several centuries. Over time, the name had been contracted to Cherson, which was changed to Korsun by its new Byzantine rulers.

For about one hundred and fifty years, beginning in the early eighth century, the city was ruled by elected chieftains known as fathers of the city. In 833 CE, the Byzantine Emperor Theophilus assigned Petronas Kamateros to establish a new military form of government in the area. The Byzantines continued to control the area until around the 980s CE.

From that point, the city’s history is unclear. Some sources believe it fell to Kyiv, which was ruled by Vladimir I Sviatoslavich, also known as Vladimir the Great. Vladimir was a Kyivan prince who conquered many areas near Chersonesus. After overtaking the town in 988 CE, these sources say, he struck a deal with Byzantine Emperor Basil II to marry Basil’s sister, Anna.

Basil’s agreement to betroth his sister included a requirement that Vladimir be baptized into Christianity. He was baptized in Chersonesus in 988 CE. Christians had been in the area at least since the sixth century. A basilica dating back to that time was excavated in 1935, leading to it being called the 1935 Basilica. Built on what archaeologists believe are the ruins of earlier churches, which were in turn built on the ruins of an ancient synagogue, the basilica is one of the iconic landmarks from the historic site. However, Vladimir’s actions made Christianity an official religion for the Slavic people. Chersonesus would remain an episcopal see, or seat of a Christian bishop, until its demise in the 1400s.

Some historians disagree with this, citing that it is not reported in certain ancient texts. Instead, they believe the Vladimir referred to in the existing texts is not Vladimir the Great but Vladimir Yaroslavich, a Kyivan prince who took over the area in 1053 CE. Either way, Chersonesus became reliant on the Empire of Trebizond in around 1202 before coming under Genoese rule early in the same century. Extreme damage and looting to grave sites indicated that the area was likely sacked by the Mongols around 1299. The last historical mention of the city came in 1396, and historians believe the population moved out over the next few decades.

There was little significant human activity in the area for several centuries. It was mostly used as a military outpost, housing protective artillery batteries on the shoreline along with a quarantine cemetery. The area also had some religious significance due to the presence of several monasteries as well as St. Vladimir’s Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church that was completed in 1892. It commemorated the baptism of Vladimir the Great, who by this time had been credited with bringing Christianity to the Slavic people and had been granted sainthood.

Significance

The Chersonesus site was left largely undeveloped for several centuries between the 1400s and 1800s. This preserved the ancient ruins in relatively good condition, making them a valuable source of information on how multiple cultures lived in the area. The large expanse of vineyards and the presence of related facilities, such as wine presses and wineries, provide historians with information on the cultural, financial, and agricultural history of the area. The layout of the 140 other structures—mostly stone farmhouses and public buildings laced together with a series of roads—is well-preserved and gives insight into what life was like for the ancient Greeks, and then the Romans, who lived there.

After archaeological studies began in the 1800s, a museum was opened to house found objects. The area became part of the Tauric Chersonese National Preserve, which fenced and protected large sections of the area, especially the ten hectares that have been excavated and conserved. Under the administration of the preserve, the area is open for further archaeology, study, and public visitation. Other than that, the land around the area is reserved for use by the Orthodox Christian Church and a few other entities, including a yacht club.

The actions of the National Preserve were necessary to protect the area from encroachment by rapid land and bayside development from nearby Sevastopol, as well as erosion along the Black Sea coastline. Another concern is the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine considers the site to be one of its seven wonders of the world, and UNESCO recognizes the site as belonging to Ukraine despite the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. Russia has claimed some of the monuments and objects found there as Russian antiquities, but allegations have been made that some areas within the site have been damaged by Russian activity in the area. Russians have been accused of near-total destruction of the site, which they have replaced with modern buildings. Artifacts and structures were alleged to have been destroyed or removed to Russian museums, directly challenging the cultural heritage of Ukraine. The destruction and removal have been part of the ongoing Russian effort to rebrand Crimea as part of Russia. 

UNESCO’s World Heritage designation previously allowed the site to be protected, including ancient ruins and monuments that had been left exposed to weather and other hazards. It limited the development that could be done near the area and helped to encourage and facilitate cooperation with local authorities. This protected more than twenty-five centuries of architectural and archaeological history, including the only known ancient Roman theater in the region and unique, irreplaceable Hellenistic art preserved in gravesites. However, with the Russian occupation of Ukraine, UNESCO has been unable to access the site to assess the damage. 

Bibliography

“Ancient Chersonesos.” World Monuments Fund, Feb. 2019, www.wmf.org/project/ancient-chersonesos. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

“Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora.” UNESCO World Heritage Convention, whc.unesco.org/en/list/1411. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

“Chersonesus.” Discover Ukraine, discover-ukraine.info/places/crimea/sevastopol/33. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Claus, Patricia. “Ancient Greek City of Chersonesus in Crimea Founded 2,500 Years Ago.” Greek Reporter, 3 Dec. 2023, greekreporter.com/2022/03/10/unesco-ancient-city-chersonesus-ukraine. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

“Russian Occupiers Demolish Historic Chersonesus Site and Replace it with New Building in Crimea.” Rubryka, 26 June 2024, rubryka.com/en/2024/06/26/u-krymu-okupanty-znyshhyly-antychnyj-hersones-ta-postavyly-na-jogo-mistsi-novobudovu. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Sauter, Megan. “Chersonesos Receives Its Due.” Bible Archaeology Society, 20 Sept. 2013, www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/news/chersonesos-receives-its-due. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

“Tauric Chersonese and its Chora.” Voice of Crimea, 19 Oct. 2021, culture.voicecrimea.com.ua/en/tauric-chersonese-and-its-chora. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.