The key role in the life of the Black Sea region and Asia Minor was played by the Scythians ruling here for many centuries. Inhabited in this area since the 7th century BC. e. to 3rd century AD e., they left behind a large number of historical monuments, including Scythian Naples.
The history of the appearance of the Scythians
Tribes that in the first millennium BC. occupied a vast territory from Altai to the Danube, in the 7th century BC. e. migrated to the Northern Black Sea region and the steppes of Crimea, where Scythian Naples is located. The ancient Greeks called this people the Scythians.
Disputes about who the Scythians are are still ongoing. According to a number of scientists, they are the indigenous inhabitants of the Black Sea region, others express the version that these tribes came here from the territories of modern Iran.
Among the many legends about the origin of this people, recorded by Herodotus during a visit to Scythia in the 5th century BC. e., only one he treated with confidence. It says that the nomadic Scythians, fleeing the war with the Massagetae, left Asia and retired to the Cimmerian land.
However, from other legends, despite their fantastic nature, you can also learn a lot of interesting things. The bulls, horses, plow and yoke mentioned in them indicate that the main occupations of the Scythians were cattle breeding and agriculture. Numerous archaeological finds confirm this.
During the formation of the first Scythian state association, the capital, which was located on the Dnieper, was moved to Scythian Naples. Crimea, due to its location, was more convenient both militarily and commercially.
The capital of the Scythians
Founded in the 3rd century BC e., Scythian Naples is located in the eastern part of present-day Simferopol, at the intersection of all trade routes, thus uniting all the settlements of the Scythian state. The city was considered the capital of the late Scythians, was a trade and cultural center. Based on the study of this historical monument, scientists came to the conclusion that the late Scythians had their own political system and culture, influenced by the Greeks and Sarmatians.
During the reign of King Skilur in the 2nd century BC. e. The state has reached its peak. Despite numerous wars with the Greek colonial cities, Scythian Naples remained the main city of the state for six centuries. The first failure befell him in 110-109 BC. e., during the reign of Skilur's son, who went down in history as an unsuccessful commander. The city was completely destroyed and burned by Diophantus, but over time it was restored.
Naples was finally destroyed during the attack of the Goths in the 3rd century AD. e. However, in the eracampaigns of Svyatoslav of Kyiv (10th century), the city was settled.
Building features
Scythian Naples was located in such a way that defensive lines had to be erected exclusively from the south, since the city was reliably protected by natural barriers from the other sides. High cliffs rose in the northeast, and a deep beam protected the capital from the western side.
Spread on 20 hectares of land, the city had a large trading area in the center where transactions were made. There were three gates for entry: western, eastern and central (for the triumph of the kings). There were six defensive towers along the perimeter, which towered 8 meters above the buildings. The city was settled taking into account class affiliation: the military lived in the east, the nobility settled in the west, and simple Tauris lived on the outskirts.
Burials in the settlement also took place according to the principle mentioned above. The nobility were buried in rich crypts, sometimes even with servants and household items. The poor were given a place for burial on the outskirts.
Archaeological excavations
After the Crimea was annexed to Russia in the 18th century, the construction of Simferopol began. People for the construction of houses took material from the walls of an ancient building.
Due to the fact that once a local resident, who discovered plates with ancient Greek inscriptions, turned to the director of the Kerch Museum Blaramberg, excavations began. Among other things, during these excavations, a relief depicting King Skilur and his son was discovered.
Archaeological research continuedup to the revolution. Several crypts, the remains of dwellings with household pits, and a large amount of inventory were found.
In the late 40s of the 20th century, thanks to large-scale excavations, historians discovered the Skilur mausoleum, the burial place of the Scythian nobility. Priceless artifacts were found here, which replenished the museums of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Scythian Naples today
Despite its historical value and uniqueness, the Scythian Naples, for a long time not receiving due attention, was … a local dump. Only in 2011 it became a historical reserve and was protected by law from illegal excavations and developments.
Unfortunately, little remains of this settlement today. The ruins of the southern wall, the foundations of buildings and the Skilur mausoleum are available for inspection. Only thanks to the guide you can imagine how life was in this ancient city.
Fortunately, the excavation continues. To date, only a twentieth part has been studied, so a large string of discoveries is yet to come. Going on an excursion to Scythian Naples, you can take part in a treasure hunt in the reserve.
How to get there
Scythian Naples (photo presented in the article) is located at the address: Simferopol, st. Archaeological, 1. You can get here by one of the many public transport routes. Having reached Tarabukina Street, you will have to walk to Archaeological Street in just a few minutes.
You can also go from the city bus station along Vorovskogo Street to Napoliskaya. There, not far from the river, there is a path along which you can climb the plateau. It is from here that you can best view both the main city of the late Scythians and the modern capital of Crimea.
