How the Black Sea Greeks built houses two thousand years ago

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Gorgippia archaeological reserve, located on the embankment of the resort city of Anapa.

Almost right next to the sea, on a total area of ​​about 2 hectares, the excavation site was left untouched ancient city. Part of the fortress wall, foundations and basements of houses, and streets are visible. Local archaeologists spoke about the technologies that were used during construction in the eastern part of the Bosporan kingdom about 2 thousand years ago.

In the museum under open air a small city block: Severnaya and Shirokaya streets - that’s what archaeologists called them. This is the outskirts of the settlement, where houses were located near the fortress wall at the exit from the city. We can say that the “middle class” lived here: judging by the finds, shopkeepers, artisans, etc.

Houses were united into estates, which could be owned by both relatives and different families. There was a property qualification: whoever owns real estate has the right to manage the life of the policy and is a citizen. In the book Ekaterina Alekseeva « Antique city Gorgippia,” which was recommended in the museum, says that the size of the plots, or, as they say today, the cadastral map, remained unchanged for centuries.

From what's at hand

The ancients were distinguished by a rational approach. Houses were built from what was in abundance in this particular area: stone and clay. A rock is a stable platform. They dug a pit to solid ground, and built the inner wall of the basement, also known as the foundation, on the rock. More than half of such buildings. The stone was adjusted with an adze and laid on a clay mortar. There are buildings in which strip foundations were used.

“Everything is based on Vitruvius, we open it and read it,” says the head of the museum’s archeology department Victor Bondarenko. Refers to a famous treatise by a Roman architect Mark of Vitruvius Pollio(1st century BC) is the only ancient work of architecture surviving today. The book was constantly republished in the USSR and Russia. The last time was in the 2000s.

Vitruvius, who inspired Leonardo da Vinci to depict the famous “Vitruvian Man”, paid great attention to proportions and ergonomics.

“The steps on the facade must be installed so that their number is always odd; for since one ascends the first step with the right foot, then one must also step on the upper step of the temple with the same foot,” he writes. The rule is valid not only for temples and is used by modern designers. The open-air museum has steps that lead to the basement. There are five of them.

Brick by brick

During the excavations, standard bricks for that time were found. In particular, the size is 12.5x24 cm - almost like a modern one, but three times thinner, so that it is easier to fire. However, they were produced only a little: mainly building material there was adobe made of clay and straw.

Alekseeva’s book reports several typical sizes of adobe bricks: 42x42x7 cm, 34x25x12 cm, 30x15x7 cm and 17x7x4 cm. The masonry of the foundation buildings under the outer walls was 0.8 m wide. Two rows of large bricks were placed on it. The thickness of the foundation under the internal walls is 0.6 m.

Scientists suggest that the builders combined large and small blocks. Internal partitions, about 20 cm thick, were made by covering a frame made from bunches of reeds with clay. The finished building was also coated with clay to protect the adobe from rain.

The height of the ceilings in such houses could reach 2.5 m. In the basement, which was most often used as a utility room, the ceilings were somewhat smaller, but there it was also possible to comfortably stand at full height.

There is not much information about the interior decoration of houses in Gorgippia. In one of the residential basements, traces of plaster painted red were found. The inside of the walls was coated with the same clay, since lime and gypsum were in short supply at that time.

On Black Sea coast No volcanic ash- an important component of concrete of that time. As an alternative, builders mixed sand with lime in certain proportions (relatively little of it was needed), added grated brick as a binder - a cement mortar was obtained.

Its main advantage is that it finished form the material did not allow water to pass through. Cisterns and other surfaces plastered with this mixture can be seen in a winery discovered by archaeologists in one of the estates.

The houses were covered with ceramic tiles: during excavations, archaeologists found them in large quantities. The products are quite heavy. The roof was supported by one of the load-bearing walls, which rose to the level of the high point, in the design of many foundations you can see a “five-wall” structure, when the house is divided in half by a load-bearing wall on which a gable roof rests.

One can only guess how comfortable it was to live in such houses. Everything also depends on the climate. For example, the Mediterranean Greeks believed that the Pontic (that is, Black Sea) colonies were a little cold.

Fires and other serious disasters periodically occurred in Gorgippia, but the city was rebuilt several times until the 3rd century AD. e.

Meanwhile, some ancient construction technologies are still used today virtually unchanged.

Alexander REBEKO

Historical monuments of Crimea

There are many attractions on the Crimean peninsula. Some of them are related to specific historical events, while others carry important architectural significance. Let's look at the most interesting and significant places which are definitely worth a visit.

Sevastopol is a city with a rich historical past, so there are a lot of historical monuments here. The most ancient of them is Tauric Chersonesus. This archaeological reserve, which has existed for 2000 years, was at one time the largest city-state of the Greek colony of the Northern Black Sea region. This is evidenced by numerous ruins and ancient finds: columns, arches, walls of houses and temples, sections of defensive walls, the famous fog bell, clay jugs, household items, burial remains and much more. It was here that in 988 Prince Vladimir baptized Rus'. On the ruins of the Chersonesos ancient theater, artists from Sevastopol still perform performances. Archaeologists from all over the world are still excavating this ancient city.

Livadia palace and park complex

In 1834, the territory of Livadia (3 km west of Yalta) was bought by Count Pototsky, for whom a house was built and a park was laid out. In 1860, Livadia was acquired by an appanage department for the royal family. By that time, the Romanovs already owned the Orenda estate with a palace and park. Both estates were connected by the Tsarskaya (Horizontal) trail, which then continued to Gaspra.

The Great Livadia Palace The White Palace, the former summer residence of Emperor Nicholas II, was built in 1910-11. on the site of a dismantled old palace designed by academician N. P. Krasnov (1865-1939) in the style of the Italian Renaissance. IN palace ensemble It also includes the retinue building, the palace of the Minister of the Court Baron Fredericks, the palace church in the name of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (built in 1872), and the Italian courtyard.

Livadia Park was formed on the basis of a natural forest. In total, the park contains more than 180 species of trees, shrubs and vines.

On February 4-11, 1945, the Crimean (Yalta) Conference of the Heads of Government of the USSR, USA and Great Britain was held in the Great (White) Hall of the palace. During the conference, the palace was the residence of the President of the United States of America F. Roosevelt.


Bird home

Lock

On the Aurora rock of Cape Ai-Todor between Livadia and Miskhor rises the romantic castle “Swallow’s Nest”, which has become a kind of “ business card» South Bank Crimea. It was built in 1912 according to the design of the architect A.V. Sherwood for harrow V. Shteigel, a Baku oil industrialist. With the outbreak of the First World War, he left for Germany and sold the castle to the merchant Shelaputin, who opened a restaurant here. In 1927, during an earthquake, part of the chip collapsed, but the building survived, however, for many years it was considered unsafe and was closed. Restored in 1971. Now there is an expensive restaurant “Verona” there. Entrance to the castle site is paid. You can get to it by regular ships or by minibus from Yalta.

The cape offers a magnificent view of the Yalta Bay. The rocky island of Parus, pushed out into the sea, is picturesque, and above it on the rock there is a sculpture of an eagle.

At the foot Swallow's nest traces of Stone Age people were found by scuba divers in flooded caves.


Bakhchisarai Khan's Palace

Located in the center of the Old Town in the valley of the Churuk-Su river.

The founder of the dynasty, Hadji Giray (Gerai), in the mid-15th century moved the capital from the city of Crimea ( Old Crimea) in Kyrk-Er (Chufut-Kale), seeking independence from the Golden Horde. The construction of the capital was started by his son Mengli Gir-ey 1 (1467-1515). He conceived the palace as the earthly embodiment of the Gardens of Eden - hence the lightness of the buildings and their harmony with the trees and flowers.

Khan Kyrym Geray (1717-1769), an admirer and connoisseur of everything French, founded a unique style of “Crimean Rococo”. Having studied the architecture of the palace, Russian architects of the 19th and 20th centuries. developed this style and used it in the construction of villas and hotels, as well as mosques and public buildings throughout Crimea.

But the palace and its “Fountain of Tears” became world famous only thanks to A. Pushkin, who visited Crimea in 1820. Legends about the fountain formed the basis of poems by A. Mitskevich and Lesya Ukrainka.

Now it is a Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve. The archaeological exhibition introduces evidence of life in ancient eras, since the glaciation of Europe. The ethnographic collection is dedicated to the culture, life, crafts and folk art of the Crimean Tatars.


Sudak Genoese fortress

This is one of the best preserved medieval fortresses on the territory of Ukraine, clearly representing fortification and engineering solutions, and therefore attracts a record number of participants to its historical fencing festivals - Western European knights and Slavic knights.

The city and port of Sudak was founded in 212 by the Alans. In the 11th century becomes the main harbor of the Polovtsians, who owned the steppes from Siberia to Hungary. From the 13th century the city became the center of Venetian possessions for 150 years, but nearby, in Feodosia, the Genoese quickly strengthened their positions. In 1365 they obtained from the Golden Horde exclusive rights to everything sea ​​coast Crimea, they soon capture Soldaya and rebuild the fortress (the first buildings of which were made by the Byzantines).

In 1475, the fortress was stormed by troops landing from a Turkish squadron. Holes from powerful cannons still gape in the walls of the fortress.

In the Consular Castle at the top of the fortress you can see a small exhibition. At the very top is the famous Maiden's Tower, from where a certain princess rushed into the abyss. But perhaps this name is connected with the more ancient use of this place as an altar in honor of the goddess of the Taurus, Virgo.


Gezlev

complex medieval monuments Evpatoria

The historical predecessors of Evpatoria were the ancient Greek colony of Kerkenitida and the medieval port of Gezlev, the greatest prosperity of which was associated with the rule of the Crimean coast of Ottoman Turkey from 1475 to 1774. The city becomes a large craft and shopping center, there is a huge slave market here, as well as a military garrison and fleet.

In the 16th century According to the design of the prominent Turkish architect and engineer Koji (Hoja) Sinan, the Juma-Jami mosque, or Khan-Jami, was built. It rises above the Embankment and is visible from the sea. In the center of the city, the Turkish baths and Tekiye of Dervishes (a cult building of the Islamic brotherhood, famous for their ritual whirlings) have also been preserved - now there is an ethnographic center of Crimean Tatar crafts.

In Gezlev, later Evpatoria, there was one of the largest Karaite communities. You can see their religious temples - kenas of the 18th century, and get acquainted with national cuisine and handicrafts.


Kolos Limen

Ancient city near Chernomorskoe village

The ruins of the port city of Kalos Limen (Beautiful Harbour) near the Black Sea Bay indicate that it was populous (area 4 hectares) and dominated among the local possessions of the Greek colony of Chersonese Tauride. Smaller monuments were also discovered - fortified settlements near the villages of Popovka, Gromovo, Olenevka, Mezhvodnoe. All of them were built on the shores of bays convenient for Greek sailors.

And on high capes slightly protruding into the sea, bounded by deep ravines, the Scythians, who competed with the Greeks, created their fortifications. The chain of Scythian settlements stretches along the coast at intervals of 2-4 km. The largest of them were found near the villages of Gromovo, Lazurnoye, Okunevka, Maryino, and Morskoye. All these settlements, both Greek and Scythian, arose at the turn of the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e.

Excavations of a large Greco-Scythian settlement can be seen near the village. Northern. The most famous and interesting to visit is the Belyaus fortification near the village. Medvedevo. With finds of archaeologists and dramatic story You can get acquainted with these places in the Black Sea Museum of History and Local Lore (Revolution St., 8).


Surb-khach

monastery

The Armenian monastery of Surb Khach (Holy Cross) was founded in 1338. It is located 4 km southwest of the city of Stary Krym on a wooded mountain slope. This is the main spiritual center of all Armenians of Crimea, and from the Middle Ages until the revolution of 1917, priests for Armenian churches also in Moldova, Romania, Western Ukraine. In the fraternal building of the monastery, the cells of the students and the abbot are well preserved, and in general the layout and architecture of the monastery amazes not only with its severity and simplicity, but also with its expediency and harmony with the surrounding mountain forest and numerous springs. Several of them are set in stone, with wonderful carvings, which Armenian stone carvers have always been famous for.

Currently, excursions are held in the monastery and restoration work is underway. The oldest building is the cathedral church. In the Middle Ages, there were many Armenian monasteries throughout this area, and Eastern Crimea called Little Armenia. Now the surrounding area is famous for its wonderful mountain forests and air that is healing for tuberculosis patients. The monastery has a small Guest House and a cafe, but no electricity, and no other intrusion is envisaged modern comfort.


Scythian Naples

Archaeological reserve

4th century BC e. to the 3rd century n. e. on the site of Simferopol, Scythian Naples existed, presumably the capital of the late Scythian state (on a rocky platon above Vorovsky Street in the area Central bus station). During this period, the Scythians lost their dominant position in the nomadic world, actively adopted Greek culture, built fortresses and cities, and moved from burial mounds to the construction of crypts and mausoleums.

The tower, which can be seen on the territory of the archaeological reserve, is a modern reconstruction. But it was erected over the mausoleum of King Skilur; his excavations became a genuine archaeological sensation. More than 1,300 gold jewelry was found in the burials of the Scythian nobility!

The excavations were carried out by scientists from Odessa, St. Petersburg and other scientific centers, so there is little left in Simferopol, but excavations and discoveries continue. A project for creating an interesting museum-reserve has also been prepared.


Chufut-Kale

Cave City

It is located 3.5 km southeast of the city of Bakhchisarai. Since the 6th century. The construction of military and utility caves, temples and prisons began in the rocky cliffs. From afar, hired structures stand out: fortress walls and gates, kenas - religious buildings of the later owners of the city, the Karaites.

On the approach to the Small City Gate, a siege well with hundreds of meters was recently discovered underground passages. Excavations and sensational finds (including a treasure trove of gold and silver Roman coins) continue every summer season!

It is unknown which people founded this fortress and what it was called. It went down in history as Kyrk-Or (Forty fortifications, Turkic). The mausoleum of Dzhanyke-Khanum, daughter of the Khan of the Golden Horde Tokhtamysh, has been preserved. The founder of the Crimean Khanate, Hadji Giray, strengthened his position here and populated the city with Karaites. They call the city, which became their main center until the 19th century, Juft-Kale - Double Fortress, and the Tatars - Chufut-Kale (Jewish Fortress). In the former house of A. Firkovich, the great kagan and educator of this distinctive people, there is a small exhibition where you can try national cuisine. Behind the southern walls of the fortress, among the sacred oak grove, there is an ancient Karaite cemetery.

Among the fortress walls and towers and in the caves carved into the cliffs, films are constantly being shot; in 2001, a group from Hollywood worked here on the fencing scenes of the fantasy “Barbarian”.


Juma – Jami

The Friday mosque, Juma-Jami (on Friday, according to legend, the prophet Mohammed was born) was founded in Gezlev a year after the coronation of Devlet - Girey I - in 1552. Construction took a long time, more than 10 years, and was completed in 1564. According to the vaults The new temple announced the right to the Crimean Khanate received in Istanbul.

The composition of the Khan's mosque is built on the principle of increasing volumes, with a silhouette reminiscent of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia. The logic of its Byzantine in its expressive monumental designs is clearly visible in the external appearance of the temple.

Juma-Jami is located in the eastern part of the modern Evpatoria embankment. Rising above the adjacent buildings, it is clearly visible from the sea and shore through the greenery of the Karaevsky Garden and, together with the nearby Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas defines the face of the embankment, shapes the appearance of the sea panorama of the old part of Evpatoria.

Attractions

10051

Many cultures have left their mark on the history and architecture of Crimea, including religious monuments. From the place of the baptism of Rus' to the small Jerusalem of Evpatoria, unique works of architects of different faiths have been preserved.


The central mosque of Yevpatoria is located near the park named after Karaev. This building has great cultural and historical value - it was founded back in 1552. Naturally, since then it has gone through many reconstructions and tragic events, but since 1990 it has again become the main mosque of the city. The architect is the famous Turkish architect Hoxha Sinan, the fruits of his labor remain in Istanbul - there more than 300 buildings were built according to his designs. The mosque is also called Khan-Jami for its important role in politics during the Crimean Khanate. Now in this, perhaps the most beautiful mosque in Crimea, excursions are held on weekends for a small donation.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Historical Monument

The center of the religious life of all Karaites of Crimea, Karaite kenasses are located at the beginning of Karaimskaya Street in the old city. This complex includes two kenassas, a religious school, courtyards, a museum of Karaite culture and libraries. Now everyone can touch the heritage of the ancient people by taking part in a tour of these amazing buildings of the 18th century. In the exhibition of the museum named after S.I. Kushul you can get acquainted with items of Karaite national life. The interior features furniture from the houses of wealthy Karaites, photographs of famous Karaite figures, and national costumes.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark

This temple is located at the beginning of the Evpatoria Embankment and is one of the main architectural dominants of the city, defining the recognizable silhouette of Evpatoria from the sea. The temple was built in 1911–1918 by city architect A.L. Henry. The temple building is decorated with beautiful sand-colored shell stone; the church itself was built in the Greco-Byzantine style, so traditionally the building plan has the shape of a cross. The building is especially attractive because of its three stained-glass arched windows, which reflect the light from inside the temple in the evening, and the three-tier bell tower, which is significantly higher than the dome of the temple.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark

This snow-white cathedral with blue domes is the second largest in Crimea; it was founded in the name of the events of the Crimean War in 1893. Up to 2,000 parishioners can be inside the building at the same time. Architecturally, this cathedral was created in the likeness of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, its main highlights are a huge 18-meter dome and a square bell tower with 14 bells, as well as an octagon-shaped building plan. Unfortunately, the original decorations have not survived. However, the temple was lucky in another way - it was not blown up during the Great Patriotic War, only the windows were broken. The cathedral is located next to the mosque and, by choosing a good angle, you can take a photo of two monuments of different religions at the same time.

Read completely Collapse

Museum, Landmark, Religion, Historic Monument

The Jewish prayer house was founded in 1911 with donations from craftsmen, which is why it is sometimes called “craft house”. The first services were held here a year later, but the synagogue did not operate for long; in 1930 it was already closed. This is the only Jewish religious building in Evpatoria that has survived to this day. The rectangular building is located in such a way that the altar is oriented towards Jerusalem. The central entrance, under a stained-glass window in the shape of a six-pointed star, is for men, and the side entrances are for women. The synagogue offers excursions; before entering, you must wear a special headdress. Thanks to the close proximity of buildings of different religions: a synagogue, Karaite kenass, the Muslim monastery of Tekie Dervishes and the Juma Jami mosque, Evpatoria received the name “Little Jerusalem”.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark

The main temple of Sevastopol stands right in the city center on Bolshaya Morskaya Street. The cathedral building took 13 years to erect from local Inkerman stone. During the Great Patriotic War, the temple was severely damaged by bombing, an entire chapel was lost, and many people died, since a hospital was organized there. This unusual church is decorated with five domes, which were only gilded in 1992. The central dome is surrounded by four twelve-sided turrets, which are topped with small onions.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark

It is believed that Kievan Rus was baptized precisely in Chersonesus, which was called Korsun during the reign of Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko. The chronicle even mentioned the temple in which this happened. When archaeologists found its foundation, it was decided to erect a new church here, which was destined to become the largest temple in Crimea. Construction was completed in 1891, and the first stone of the future temple was laid by Emperor Alexander II three decades earlier. This temple is now the main symbol of the baptism of Rus', despite the fact that most of the time it stood in ruins and was restored only in the 90s of the last century.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark

On the Central City Hill there is another Byzantine-style cathedral, named after Prince Vladimir. This temple is combined with an important monument to the history of the city - the tomb of the admirals, paying tribute to the heroes of the Sevastopol defense of 1854–1855. The graves of four admirals, the fathers of the city, who did not leave Sevastopol during the siege, were connected by a common tomb. On top of it is a flat black marble cross on four sides of which the names and dates of death of the admirals are engraved in bronze. Later, more fleet commanders and participants in the first defense of the city were buried near the temple.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark, Historic Monument

This church has long been one of the recognizable symbols of Crimea. The construction of a church with unusual black domes was celebrated miraculous salvation royal family during a train crash in 1888. The chosen location is truly unique - a rocky cliff hanging over the southern coast. The church was built at an altitude of 412 meters above sea level and attracts a huge number of wedding ceremonies with its picturesque location. There is a spacious area around the church Observation deck, cafes and souvenir stalls.

Read completely Collapse


The church in the Byzantine-Georgian style was commissioned by Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov in 1885. The church has a special feature - arched doors arranged in parallel pairs, which give it a special lightness and affect the acoustics. The mosaics in the church were created with the assistance of an Italian master, one of them depicts such a rare subject as Jesus in adolescence. Starting from Alexander III, the royal family, all the Grand Dukes and Duchesses who were vacationing on the South Coast, came here to pray. A special type of Byzantine singing is used here, which cannot be heard anywhere else on the peninsula.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion

This new temple was built on a picturesque area at the foot of the Ai-Nikola rock in a place where archaeological remains of an ancient monastery were found. The surrounding rocks create excellent acoustics, which is used by the male choir during services. The temple was built in record time thanks to a local philanthropist and now attracts many visitors. Regular services are held here and there is a baptismal center.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion

The chapel of this temple in the old city center is best visible from the sea, and can be seen on all postcards and paintings of the 19th century. The first Orthodox church was built on Polikurovsky Hill, when Yalta was still literally a fishing village. It was originally built according to the drawings of an Italian architect. But later the famous city architect Nikolai Krasnov expanded the temple. However, during the Soviet period, the temple was lost, only the bell tower remained, and only due to its international significance - it is included in all international sailing directions for the Black Sea. And only by 1998 the temple was rebuilt according to what was found in Vorontsov Palace Toricelli's drawings.

Read completely Collapse

Landmark, Religion, Landmark