In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

373 11 Conclusion: The Necropolis, Its Destruction, and the Tower of Zeno The painted grave stelai and their accompanying bases, anthemia, anthropomorphic objects, and small naiskoi were the focal point of this investigation . These objects were created and erected in one of the necropoleis of Chersonesos Taurike in the Late Classical/Early Hellenistic era, but served as building material for the Tower of Zeno (city wall tower XVII) around the mid-3rd century BC. This structure formed a corner of the Citadel, an enlargement of the previous fortification system. The stelai were discovered and published in the 1960s; in 2000–2004 many fragments were collected, some rejoined, and all documented , in order to conduct a thorough analysis of one of the most fascinating complexes of gravestones of the Greek world. The unique characteristics of the stelai, along with what seemed to be the increasing wealth of cemeteries during the late 4th/early 3rd centuries BC, should be viewed together with the development of the city and its surroundings. Therefore, before summarizing the results of this investigation, some observations will be made regarding what the archaeological material introduced here contributes to the history of Chersonesos Taurike. The Early Period of Chersonesos The commonly accepted founding date of Chersonesos is 422–421 BC, which is probably correct.1 The apoikia sent out by Herakleia Pontike, a Megarian foundation on the south coast of the Black Sea (with settlers from other areas as well as Boeotia or the island of Delos) may have followed an earlier Ionian emporion from the late 6th century BC.2 The urban 1 This foundation date is a historical construct, linked to the history of Delos and dating back to the late 19th century. Even by postulating that it was people from Delion in Boeotia and not from the island of Delos, who participated in the founding of the colony together with settlers from Herakleia Pontike, a date between 425 and 375 BC seems most plausible; for details on the ancient sources and circumstances for the dating see Hind 1998, 141–146; Saprykin 1997, 57–62; Saprykin 1998, 227–31. The city is not mentioned by Herodotus. 2 For respective finds and an early foundation date see Vinogradov/Zolotarev 1990, 85–119; Vinogradov/Zolotarev 1997, 397–419 and Zolocenter (asty) of the polis must have been relatively small in the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC, and likely encompassed only part of the later settlement area, given the location of the earliest-known graves (see Fig. 9.1).3 These were located along the northern coast of the peninsula and farther south or southeast of the Citadel.4 Burials in extended supine position are found in these necropoleis next to less frequent burials in contracted lateral position (Fig. 11.1); until now both imported and locally produced pottery have been found in both forms of burial.5 The early graves were relatively poorly furnished,6 and the sometimes anarchic arrangement of grave plots (at least in the north) does not indicate strictly regimented burial conventions. Grave stelai were not found in this northern necropolis, and we have no other evidence that would indicate the ethnicity of the deceased. The presence of an anthropomorphic object, however, does suggest that simple grave markings may have existed.7 A single fragment of an Ionian-influenced grave stele, on which the right arm with two spears and the hips of a nude youth are visible , dates to the late 5th century BC,8 and that was an occasional find made during early excavations that remains without parallel (see Fig. 9.2). The Rise of Chersonesos Around the middle of the 4th century BC, both the asty and countryside (chora) of Chersonesos Taurike tarev 2003, 604–06. For a critical comment on this see Zedgenidze 1993, 50–56; Saprykin 1997, 63–70. 3 For a summary of the characteristics of the individual necropoleis, see Zedgenidze/Savelja 1981, 3–9; on the expanse of the city, Zedgenidze/ Savelja 1981, 7, and Zolotarev 2003, 617. 4 Belov 1938, 163–95, quadrant XVIII; 1981, 165, Fig. 1, quadrant XXV. Both areas are within the 4th century BC city wall. See Makhneva /Puzdrovskii 1998, 74–79 for a burial site near the later theater. 5 Belov 1948, 160; see Avram/Hind/Tsetskhladze 2004, 942. 6 Zedgenidze/Savelja 1981, 7; Zubar/Buiskikh/Kravchenko/Rusyaeva 2005, 430–34, Figs. 266–68. 7 Belov 1938, 192, Fig. 41. 8 Kostsyushko–Valyuzhinich 1901a, 113, Fig. 12; Kolesnikova 1964, 21, Fig...

Share