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CHERSONESUS

George Page
Misha Jelisavcic
John Sloan

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Greek colony on Crimean shore founded in 422-21 BC. Here we show photographs taken during visits in 1992, 93 and 97.We were most graciously guided throughout by Dr Antonova, the long-time director of archeological research. She provided an immense amount of detailed information. Dr. Antonova's article, "The traces of seismic influence on the fortifications of Cheronessos"is published in Fortifikatsiya v Drevnosti i Srednyevekov'ye - St Petersburg, 1995, as is Dr Turovskli's "About the fortifications of agricultural settlements at Heraclelon peninsula in 4th - 2nd cent B.C.". In April 2004 we received a copy of the stunning book, Crimean Chersonesos" edited by Dr Joseph C. Carter and published by the Institute of Classical Archeology of the University of Texas at Austin. This elaborately illustrated book describes both the full history of the city and the major archeological work that is still on-going to recover as much information about the city as possible. We are elaborating on the descriptions below on the basis of information in this fine book. Please go to the Univ of Texas web page for more information about what is going on and how to obtain this fine book.

History and Description

Here is the article on Chersonesus from the 11th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica.Cherson.

 

This site plan map of the ancient city is located in the museum.

  
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Illustrations

Number

Description
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Students working in main excavation area

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Outer wall
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Wall and tower, note how the lower section, the most ancient, is made of large blocks while the upper part is made of thinner facing blocks and rubble filling.
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Upper level of outter wall of Chernonese. Note how the removal of the facing of drested stone reveals that the interior of the wall - rubble - has considerable strength.

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Overview of area toward Sevastopol. The Greek city was on a headland that is now part of the southwestern section of enlarged Sevastopol. During the Crimean War this area was still outside the city and was occupied by French troops whose besieging lines were on top of the ancient ruins. The city wall shown in the previous photos is directly behind the foliage.
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View down onto the outer wall and tower - The previous photos of are the wall at left - and below are photos of the group walking between these walls - entrance way is behind and adjacent to the cross wall in foreground.
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Archeological work crew in main site
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Work team with basilica behind
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View of outer wall
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Archeological project by wall
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Dr Antonova leading Misha and Dr Turovskii, entering site at Chersonese
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Misha, George and Drs Antonova and Turovskii by outer city wall
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Inscription on stone later used to build wall
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An interior wall with basilica in background
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Modern building
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Mosaic floor, part of the 'Basilica within a Basilica" described on pages 103-106 of Crimean Chersonesos. See the book for discussion of the iconography of the designs.
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Mosaic floor in another part of the same basilica
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Mosaic floor, also in a section of this basilica. Dr Carter's book mentions that these have been removed now for preservation.
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Misha by Greek columns of this same structure. It is described in Crimean Chersonesos as originally a 6th century basilica destroyed in the 10th century and then the smaller basilica was rebuilt inside the earlier area.
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City wall - view to Constantine bastion across harbor mouth
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Telephoto picture of the Constantine fortress that existed there during the Crimean War.

  
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George and Misha discussing ruin with Dr Turovskii.

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Shrine built over spot said to be where Vladimir was baptised.
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View across ruin into Sevastopol.
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Archeological work in main area.
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Map plan of city in museum.
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19th century basilica of the Church of St Vladimir
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19th century basilica next to Greek ruins.

  
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Beach, city wall along shore, Fort Constantine in distance.
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Greek columns, house foundations.
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The "Basilica within a Basilica".
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Headland by city and view across harbor entrance.
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View from Chersonese toward the entrance to Sevastopol harbor with the white Fort Constantine in the opposite headland. This section is a popular bathing beach for the local population.
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Another mosaic floor

  
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View of city wall from inside the ruins

  
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Discussing another section of the wall with Dr. Antonova

  
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Micha and John discussing the wall with Dr. Antonova

  
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The Judgment of Paris

  
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The memorial to Vladimir's conversion

  
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19th century basilica of the Church of St Vladimir

  
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View from northern edge of Chersonese across the entrance to Sevastople harbor

  
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19th century basilica of the Church of St Vladimir

  
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View of the Black Sea across the excavated ruins on shore - the mound to left has ruins yet to be excavated and the area by the coast is off limits with modern fortifications.

  
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View of the Black Sea across the ecavated ruins on shore - the mound to left has ruins yet to be excavated and the area by the coast is off limits with modern fortifications.

  
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View of the Black Sea across the ecavated ruins on shore - the mound to left has ruins yet to be excavated and the area by the coast is off limits with modern fortifications.

  
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Dr Carter titles this structure as the "1935 Basilica" after the date of its excavation. It was Christian basilica from the 6th to end of 10th centuries. See pages 107 - 109 of Crimean Chersonesos.

  
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Another photo of a mosaic floor

  
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Our tour group in 1992 discussing the city wall

  
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View into the 'moat' between the city wall and retaining wall

  
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Foundations of homes

 
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Dr Antonova leading Misha and Dr Turovskii, entering site at Chersonese

 
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