Журнал «Проблемы истории, филологии, культуры» №12, 2002

HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT WORLD AND ARCHAEOLOGY

GREECE AND ROME

L.P.Marinovich, G.A.Koshelenko (Moscow) — The Causes and Circumstances of the ‘Lykurgos Order’ Fall in Sparta

E.D.Frolov (St-Petersburg) — Power and Culture in Ancient Greece at the Joint of the Classics and the Hellenistic Period

I.E.Surikov (Moscow) — On some religious features of the old attic comedy

I.E.Surikov (Moscow) — On Some Factors of Heraklea Pontike’s Colonizing Policy

M.F.Vysoky (Moscow) — Migrations in Ahchaic Sicily (The First Half of the 5th Century B.C.)

S.M. Perevalov (Vladicaucas) — Economy of a Homeric Basileus

S.M.Krykin (Moscow) — Some Problems of the Southern Thracian’s State System Formation

S.M.Krykin (Moscow) — Fundamentals of Southern Thracians’ Economic Activities

O.V.Krykina (Moscow) — Social Stratification of Ancient Macedonia Population According to the Data of the Early Iron Age Necropoleis

O.V.Krykina (Moscow) — The Formation of the Ancient Macedonian State (According to Archaeologic Evidence)

A.V.Yudin (Moscow) — The Legal Status of South Italy’s Roman Colonies (Information Taken from the Sources)

V. V. Dementieva (Yaroslavl) — The Roman Decemvirate as the highest magistracy in Historical researches of the 19th–20th centuries

V.V.Dementieva (Yaroslavl) — The Size of Magistracy of the Consular Military Tribunes

M.V.Popov (Magnitogorsk) — The Roman Province of Dacia’s Legions

M.V.Popov (Magnitogorsk) — The Problem of Stationing the «IV Flavia» Legion in Dacia

K.V.Verzhbitsky (St.-Petersburg) — The Julii-Claudii Principate (14–68 A.D.) The Emperor’s Power Relations with Roman Society in the Ist Century A.D.

M.V.Belkin (St.-Petersburg) — Cicero and Marcus Antonius: The Sources of the Conflict

NORTH BLACK SEA REGION AND BOSPORUS

A.N.Zograf (Leningrad) — A Study of Coin Findings in the Territory of Ancient Tyra

V.P.Yailenko (Moscow) — An Opisthograph from Phanagoria Bearing a Building Inscription and Phiasos Palos’ Epitaph

T.G.Shavyrina (Moscow) — A Gem with Apollo’s Engraved Image from the Necropolis of Phanagoria

Yu.V.Gorlov, A.V.Porotov, T.A.Yanina (Moscow), E.Fouache, C.Muller (Paris) — The Historico-Geographical Situation on the Taman Peninsula in the Period of Greek Colonization

N.S. Bolikhovskaya, Yu.V. Gorlov, M.D. Kaitamba (Moscow), C. Muller (Paris), A.V.Porotov, O.B.Parunin (Moscow), E. Fouache (Paris) — The Taman Peninsula Landscape and Climate Changes in the Course of the Recent 6000 Years

V.M. Zubar (Kiev) — The Character of the Late Scythian State in the IInd Century B.C. — the First Centuries A.D.

V.A.Kutaisov (Simferopol) — Problems of Agricultural History of the North Black Sea Region

K.L.Gulenkov (Moscow) — Taxes Imposed on Bosporus in the Time of Mithridates VI Eupator

G.V.Trebeleva (Moscow) — The Structure of the Bosporus Army in the First Centuries A.D.

M.V.Mednikova (Moscow) — Ancient Cranial Surgery According to Archaeological and Palaeoanthropological Evidence

S.V.Mokrousov, N.M.Vinokurov (Moscow) — The Distillery of the Settlement Named Zelyony Mys (Green Cape)

THE CAUCASIS (ABKHAZIA AND DAGESTAN)

Yu.N.Voronov (Suhum) — Archaeologic Antiquities and Relics of Abkhazia (5–14 centuries A.D.)

V.V.Bzhania, A.N.Gabelia (Suhum) — A Settlement of the Late Bronze Age at Bamborskaya Glade, Abkhazia

A.M.Shamba, A.N.Gabelia (Suhum) — Recent Coin Findings from the Sukhumi Fortress

V.V.Vetrogradova (Moscow) — A New Greek Inscription from Dioscuriad- Sebastopolis

A.N.Gabelia (Suhum) — New Materials from Excavations of the Sukhumi Fortress

A.A.Kudrjavtsev (Stavropol), M.S.Gadzhiev (Makhachkala) — Underwater Archaeologic Researches in the Derbent Water Area

ANCIENT ORIENT

V.A.Gaibov, G.A.Koshelenko (Moscow) — Christian Communities of Dura Evropos: Discovery and Significance

A.S.Balakhvantsev (Moscow) — The Problem of Parthaunisa Location

G.A.Koshelenko, V.A.Gaibov (Moscow) — The Problem of Authenticity of the Legend About Bar Shabba

A.O.Zakharov (Moscow) — The Problem of the Yueh-chih Origin

PREHISTORY

D.L.Brodyansky (Vladivostok) — Тhе picture of a forest cat that has caught a mouse (a neolithic drawing on a thim slab of sandstone)

V.A. Rakov, D.L. Brodyansky (Vladivostok) — Pearls in Archaeology

EARLY MIDDLE AGES

BYZANTINE EMPIRE AND KHAZAR KAGANAT

A.V.Sazanov (Moscow), Yu.M.Mogarichev (Simferopol) — Bosporus and the Khazar Kaganat in the Late VIIth — the Early VIIIth Centuries

S.B. Sorochan (Kharkov) — Byzantium and Khazars in Taurica: domination or condominium?

V.E.Naumenko (Simferopol) — Relations Between the Byzantine Empire and Khazars from the Late 8th to the Middle of the 9th Centuries

N.I.Khrapunov (Simferopol) — The Administration of Byzantine Cherson from the Eighth to the Early Ninth Centuries

IN WORLD MUSEUMS

J.Steen Jensen (Copenhagen) — The Reihel Coins of the North Black Sea Region in the Royal Cabinet of Coins and Medals at the National Museum in Copenhagen

P.V.Sannikov, A.A.Valuyev (Moscow) — Compound Roman Fibulae from the Museum «Prussia»

HISTORY OF SCIENCE

V.V.Lebedinsky (Moscow) — V.D.Blavatsky and His Role in the Development of Underwater Archaeology in Russia

E.B.Petrova (Simferopol) — The Initial Period of Archaeologic Researches in Theodosia: E.F.de Villeneuve, A.A.Sibirsky, I.K.Aivazovsky

THE CAUSES AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ‘LYKURGOS ORDER’ FALL IN SPARTA

L.P.Marinovich, G.A.Koshelenko

The authors have made an attempt to define the historic period when the demolition of the Lykurgos constitution took place. The authors also attempt to clear up the attending circumstances of this event and to reveal the detailed mechanism of that process. They refer the fall of the Lykurgos order to the period from 404 to 371 B.C.

POWER AND CULTURE IN ANCIENT GREECE AT THE JOINT OF THE CLASSICS AND THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD

E.D.Frolov

It is the personality of Demetrios of Phaleron that is in the centre of the author’s attention. He was a philosopher and an orator belonging to the Aristotle and Theophrastus school, a writer and a brilliand statesman of Athens. The author also dwells on the first museions — Plato’s Academy and Aristotle’s Lyceum — and reconstructs the look of the Alexandria Museion as the first state scientific and educational institution of such a kind.

ON SOME RELIGIOUS FEATURES OF THE OLD ATTIC COMEDY

I.E.Surikov

The author tries to demonstrate that religious and mythological burlesque in Aristophanes’ plays is accounted for not by his alleged «atheism», but by some peculiarities of the genre he worked in. The roots of the Old Comedy are in the sacred parody present in most archaic religions. The meaning of that parody was rather positive than negative, and it didn’t lead to any humiliation of the traditional gods. By the time of Aristophanes that sacred meaning of parody was in general already gone, but some of its formal features survived. This thesis is confirmed by an analysis of several Aristophanes’ works, such as «The Frogs», «The Clouds», «The Birds», and «Plutus».

ON SOME FACTORS OF HERAKLEIA PONTIKA COLONIZING POLICY

I.E.Surikov

Very soon after its foundation in the 550-s B.C. Heracleia Pontika itself became the metropolis of two new colonies — Kallatis and Chersonesos Taurike (the latter was founded not in the 5th but in the 6th century B.C., as was convincingly shown by J.G.Vinogradov and M.I.Zolotarev). What was the reason for such an outburst of colonizing activity? We must take into account that Herakleia was most probably founded (by Megarians and Boeotians) on the initiative of Kroisos the Lydian, as the place of that city was on the territory subject to him. So adherents of Lydia must have predominated among early Herakleian population. After Lydia of Kroisos was destroyed by Cyrus the Great, the Herakleian polis had to elaborate a modus vivendi with Persia. As a result of internal political strife, those citizens who were especially sympathetic with Lydia and so irreconcilable with Persian domination, decided to leave homeland and to go to colonies. Others remained at home and submitted to Cyrus.

MIGRATIONS IN ARCHAIC SICILY (THE FIRST HALF OF THE 5TH CENTURY B.C.)

M.F.Vysoky

The author scientifically analyses the migration processes of considerable groups of population to Sicily, including the eastern part of the island, its northern coast and the south, in the first half of the 5th century B.C. He draws a conclusion that the ethnopolitical map of Greek Sicily underwent considerable changes, the demographic situation in poleis changed greatly too and Dorian population became prevailing

ECONOMY OF A HOMERIC BASILEUS

S.M. Perevalov

The article deals with the following problems: 1) basileus’ temenos, which is a land grant from the community, not conditional, but proprietary; 2) basileus’ household or oikos (size of estate, branches of economy, labour force); 3) secondary incomes and their sources (war, piracy, gift-exchange, trade, public affairs). It is the resources of the oikos (not political power) that provide basileus with his high social position. The author states that basileis were neither kings, nor the ruling class of the community, but the higher rank of nobility.

SOME PROBLEMS OF THE SOUTHERN THRACIAN’S STATE SYSTEM FORMATION

S.M.Krykin

The article deals with the histography of the problem of Thrace’s statehood. According to the author, the Thracian state was a power inclined to territorial expansion and an extensive growth of economy while the inner natural exchange was retained. That was its distinction from ancient and eastern states.

FUNDAMENTALS OF SOUTHERN THRACIANS’ ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

S.M.Krykin

The author has gathered information concernin Thracian agriculture which proves that Thracian tribes could not economically complete with the ancient Hellenistic world. Famine, robbery, hired service, women’s hard labour and the forced sale of children into slavery are elements of the Thracians’ life. These conditions generated the type of people who set no great store by their lives and could hardly submit to any organizing factors.

SOCIAL STRATIFICATION OF ANCIENT MACEDON POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE DATA OF THE EARLY IRON AGE NECROPOLEIS

O.V.Krykina

The author examines a number of Macedonian necropoleis dating back to the Early Iron Age, singles out their four types and arrives at a conclusion that each of them has a unique look of its own despite certain common features of the funeral rite. All of them belonged to independent and reserved social groups.

THE FORMATION OF THE ANCIENT MACEDONIAN STATE (ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGIC EVIDENCE)

O.V.Krykina

Archaeologic relics dating back to the 10th — 6th centuries B.C. as well as the evidence of archaic necropoleis pertaining to the second half of the 6th — the early 8th centuries, are of great importance for studying the initial stage of the ancient Macedonian state formation. The author analyses the make-up of the burial implements which shows that in Macedonia military aristocracy began to come into existence.

THE LEGAL STATUS OF SOUTH ITALY’S ROMAN COLONIES (INFORMATION TAKEN FROM THE SOURCES)

A.V.Yudin

In the period of completing the subjection of Italy and the beginning of Mediterranean wars, Rome founded colonies in Venuzia, Pestum, Benevent, Ezernia and Brundizij. In ancient author’s works there is never any direct mention of their legal status, but irrespective of this fact, it is possible to consider them ‘coloniae latinae’ on the basis of the following indirect information of the sources: 1) the enumerated communes were part of the treaty of alliance with Rome; 2) there existed embassies of these colonies in Rome; 3) Livius called those settlements «coloniae populi Romani» but not «coloniae civium Romanorum»; 4) in distinction from the seven colonies pertaining to the Roman Law, the above-mentioned communes did not insist on freeing their male inhabitants from military service in the fleet and did not bring and press any suit against the Roman neptor in the year 191; 5) these settlements were relatively remote from Rome which did not yet resort to evicting its citizens far from the metropolis in the IIIrd century B.C.; 6) a great number of colonists migrated to Venuzia; 7) in the allies’ war Venusians set out against Rome; 8) Pestum had a senate of its own; 9) Livius used the word «Brundisinus» but not «Romanus» when speaking of Lucius Ramius who lived in Brundizij.

THE ROMAN DECEMVIRATE AS THE HIGHEST MAGISTRACY IN HISTORICAL RESEARCHES OF THE 19th–20th CENTURIES

V. V. Dementieva

The hypotheses, available in the scientific literature concerning to decemviri consulari imperio legibus scribundis as Roman highest magistracy in the middle of the V century B.C. are analysed. The concepts of the ordinary and extraordinary character of the Decemvirs post, and the interpretations of the law-making process are stated. The points of view of the researchers on the order structure of the colleges of Decemvirs and the theory of nonexistence of the second college are considered. It is concluded, that there is no modern scientific theoretical model of the Decemvirate in the historical researches of the last decades.

THE SIZE OF MAGISTRACY OF THE CONSULAR MILITARY TRIBUNES

V.V.Dementieva

In the article it is asserted that the size of magistracy «tribuni militum consulari potestate» was inconstant and magistracy could be filled with a smaller number of magistrates than it was allowed. The author does not support a hypothesis that 6 people were the normal and the greatest possible quantity of consular tribunes. The author disagrees with a point of view that all cases, mentioned in the sources, when magistracy consisted of more than 6 members are the results of the contamination of military tribunes and censors’ lists. It is concluded that size inconstancy of magistracy «tribuni militum consulari potestate» gives additional reasons to consider its extraordinarity.

THE ROMAN PROVINCE OF DACIA’S LEGIONS

M.V.Popov

Dacian legions named «V Macedonica» and «XIII Germina» made the nucleus of the province’s army all through the period of its existence. The legionaries and officers took an active part in the romanization of Dacia. The main fields of their activities in the North- Danube region were, first of all, both military and civil building as well as exercising military control of the territories entrusted to them. Besides, the legions participated in various events outside the province.

THE PROBLEM OF STATIONING THE «IV FLAVIA» LEGION IN DACIA

M.V.Popov

The article deals with the stationing of the «IV Flavia» Legion in the Roman province of Dacia. The legion took part in Trajan’s Dacian Wars, and when they were over, it exercised control over Dacia’s south-eastern regions. The sources cannot give an exhaustive picture of its activities in the province. The main tasks of the legion were to provide the primary system of the province defence and to guard its western frontier and communications.

THE JULII-CLAUDII PRINCIPATE (14–68 A.D.) THE EMPEROR’S POWER RELATIONS WITH ROMAN SOCIETY IN THE IST CENTURY A.D.

K.V.Verzhbitsky

The article reviews the principate system development in the 1st century A.D. It also deals with the problem of the conflict between authoritarian power and society based on civil positions. The author attempts to trace the way a new kind of social psychology and new social types were formed.

CICERO AND MARCUS ANTONIUS: THE SOURCES OF THE CONFLICT

M.V.Belkin

The author examines the reasons for the conflict between the two distinguished Roman politicians which turned into a mortal fight. The ancient authors’ information and, first of all, the letters and speeches of Cicero himself reveal the motives of both the participants of the struggle. The author dwells on all the circumstances which preceded and paved the way to that deadly fight between Antonius and Cicero in the autumn of the year 44 B.C.

A STUDY OF COIN FINDS IN THE TERRITORY OF ANCIENT TYRA

A.N.Zograf

This is the first publication of the outstanding Russian numismatist A.N.Zograf’s article which is kept in his archive at the Hermitage Numismatics Department. A.N.Zograf’s manuscript was completed by 1937 and is a survey of the coin finds in Tyra during the diggings in the 30-s of the 20th century. The article has been prepared for publication by N.A.Frolova, Curator of Numismatics of the State Historical Museum, and Yu.L.Dyukov, Curator of Numismatics of the State Hermitage.

AN OPISTHOGRAPH FROM PHANAGORIA BEARING A BUILDING INSCRIPTION AND PHIASOS PALOS’ EPITAPH

V.P.Yailenko

In 1974 at Phanagoria’s central excavation site they found a limestone slab bearing inscriptions on both sides (opisthograph). The building inscription dates back to the 1st century B.C. — 1st century A.D., Palos’ epitaph, to the end of the 2nd — the 3rd century A.D. This epigraphic relic throws light on a number of important problems of Phanagoria’s history.

A GEM WITH APOLLO’S ENGRAVED IMAGE FROM THE NECROPOLIS OF PHANAGORIA

T.G.Shavyrina

The article is a publication of the bronze signetring with a gem found in a male burial ground in the south-western necropolis of Phanagoria in 1980. The gem is a typical Roman intaglio of the 2nd — the early 3rd century A.D. This finding proves the prevalence of Apollo’s cult in Phanagoria.

THE HISTORICO-GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION ON THE TAMAN PENINSULA IN THE PERIOD OF GREEK COLONIZATION

Yu.V.Gorlov, A.V.Porotov, T.A.Yanina, E.Fouache, C.Müller

The basis of this work consists in the results of ahchaeologic and palaeographic researches of the Taman Peninsula as part of the Black Sea Caucasian coast. The obtained materials make it possible to define more precisely the Black Sea level change within the limits of the Kerch-Taman coast during the recent four thousand years.

THE TAMAN PENINSULA LANDSCAPE AND CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE COURSE OF THE RECENT 6000 YEARS

N.S. Bolikhovskaya, Yu.V. Gorlov, M.D. Kaitamba, C. Müller, A.V.Porotov, O.B.Parunin, E. Fouache

The article deals with the preliminary results of the complex palaeographic researches of the Black Sea Caucasian coast with the aim of reconstructing the changes of the climate, vegetation and level of the Black Sea basin during the recent 6000 years. The article contains the data of geologico-morthologic, palinologic and radiocarbon studies of the sediments of the Taman Peninsula Black Sea coast.

THE CHARACTER OF THE LATE SCYTHIAN STATE IN THE IIND CENTURY B.C. — THE FIRST CENTURIES A.D.

V. M Zubar

The author of the article believes that the late Scythian state formation, which was created by Skillur in the second half of the 2nd century B.C., was an early class social organism. Under the influence of adjacent structures, which were better developed in the socio-economic respect, it could have been transformed into a better developed formation too. But history did not give the Scythians such a chance. First the late Scythians’ state development was stopped by Diophant’s campaings, and then by the powerful inflow of Sarmatian tribes into the Central and South-Western Crimea. As a result, the Sarmatians included this territory into their state, and gradually the Scythians were assimilated by the tribal alliance.

PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF THE NORTH BLACK SEA REGION

V.A.Kutaisov

The two most important and complicated problems of agricultural activities in the North Black Sea Region are the system of farming — the rotation of crops — and the level of yield. Basing himself on the analysis of cultivated cereals from the palaeobotanical samples, the author concludes that as early as in the IVth — IIIrd centuries B.C. it was possible to use the three-field system there. Besides, in the late IVth and the early IIIrd centuries B.C. there was a gradual transition from spring crops to winter ones which was the result of the climate getting warmer. To solve the problem of yield, the author uses the statistic data of the XIXth — the early XXth century, a period of extensive agriculture when mechanization and fertilization were not widely used, i.e. there existed conditions, more or less resembling those of the ancient time.

TAXES IMPOSED ON BOSPORUS IN THE TIME OF MITHRIDATES VI EUPATOR

K.L.Gulenkov

The author attempts to define the amount of taxes which Bosporus paid to Mithridates and to clear up whether they were ruinous or, vice versa, sparing for the kingdom.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOSPORAN ARMY IN THE FIRST CENTURIES A.D.

G.V.Trebeleva

While analysing epigraphic and narrative sources, the author makes an attempt to reconstruct the hierarchy of the Bosporan army command in the early years of our era and besides to clear up the way the foot troops and cavalry of Bosporus were organized.

ANCIENT CRANIAL SURGERY ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND PALAEOANTHROPOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

M.V.Mednikova

In the article the author cites instances of crania trepanation in the Roman and early Byzantine periods. The author’s combined examination of written, archaeologic and palaeoanthropological sources proves the existence of thorough surgical knowledge and skill in the ancient world. In the great majority of instances trepanning gives evidence of military activities connected with the process of conquering provinces.

THE DISTILLERY OF THE SETTLEMENT NAMED ZELYONY MYS (GREEN CAPE)

S.V.Mokrousov, N.M.Vinokurov

In the article the authors publish the results of excavating a distilly found in the settled place named Zelyony Mys (Green Cape) which is situated on the Azov Sea coast of the Kerch peninsula. Such distilleries were widespread in the North Black Sea Region, including Bosporus, Olbia and Chersonesus, in the IIIrd — Ist centuries B.C. an also in the first centuries of our era, and even in the late ancient time.

ARCHAEOLOGIC ANTIQUITIES AND RELICS OF ABKHAZIA (5–14 CENTURIES A.D.)

Yu.N.Voronov

The well-known archaeologist Yu.N.Voronov tragically perished during the armed conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia. This article was written more than 15 years ago as a part of the volume «Archaeology of the USSR» dealing with the archaeology of the Crimea and Transcaucasia in the early and developed Middle Ages. The article is of great scientific interest.

A SETTLEMENT OF THE LATE BRONZE AGE AT BAMBORSKAYA GLADE, ABKHAZIA

V.V.Bzhania, A.N.Gabelia

The authors publish the results of excavating a settlement of the late Bronze epoch which was found in the village of Bambora, Gudauta district, Abkhazia. The materials found there make it possible to reconstruct historical processes which were going on in the territory in the 2nd — 1st milleniums B.C.

RECENT COIN FINDINGS FROM THE SUKHUMI FORTRESS

A.M.Shamba, A.N.Gabelia

This is a publication of 12 coins found in the Sukhumi fortress during the work of the Abkhazia State University expedition in 1999–2000. Among them there are coins of the Kingdom of Bosporus, the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

A NEW GREEK INSCRIPTION FROM DIOSCURIAD-SEBASTOPOLIS

V.V.Vetrogradova

In the first centuries A.D., the old Abkhazian tribes nominally formed a dependency of the Roman Empire. Romans did not yet have fortifications of their own on the coast of Abkhazia. It is established that a city called Sebastopolis arose in the first half of the 2nd century A.D. on the site of what was formerly known as Dioscuriad. In the opinion of many scholars, Sebastopolis, as well as Dioscuriad, should be connected with presentday Sukhum. By the 3rd century A.D., the city had become a major centre of trade and crafts. Unfortunately, the monuments of ancient Dioskuriad/Sebastopolis have been insufficiently investigated until now. Steps have been taken in the recent years to advance the study of its archeological remains, concentrated in the territory of the Sukhum Fortress. The most important and interesting of the finds made in the recent years and published in the present volume, is a fragment of a limestone slab with an ancient Greek inscription. Five lines of the inscription are preserved. Preliminary study and reconstruction of the text allow one to classify it as one of the so-called «laudation inscriptions», widely spread in the Black Sea region in ancient times and belonging to the genre of decrees (to y…jisma tou d…mou). The inscription in question praises the merit acquired by a man who was able to do some socially important deed. The inscription, which may be dated from the 2nd century A.D., testifies to the existence of an uninterrupted tradition of using Greek in ancient Abkhazian culture and bridges the temporal gap between early Hellenistic (the Eshery Inscription) and early Christian epigraphic monuments.

NEW MATERIALS FROM EXCAVATIONS OF THE SUKHUM FORTRESS

A.N.Gabelia

This is a publication of the results of the archaeologic researches in Sebastopolis in 1999. In the course of diggings the archaeologists found four premises, several burials, amphorae of the 3rd — 2nd centuries B.C., coins of the Kingdom of Bosporus, the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.

UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGIC RESEARCHES IN THE DERBENT WATER AREA

A.A.Kudrjavtsev, M.S.Gadzhiev

This underwater archaeologic work resulted in finding the remains of Derbent’s sea walls pertaining to the Sasanian period as well as architectural remains of the 6th — 13th centuries proving that Derbent was the biggest harbour on the Caspian Sea in the 8th — 13th centuries. This conclusion coinsides with the information by Arabian and Persian authors.

CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES OF DURA EVROPOS: DISCOVERY AND SIGNIFICANCE

V.A.Gaibov, G.A.Koshelenko

One of the most sensational discoveries in Dura Evropos was that of the building of the Christian community. This is the first publication of materials about the Dura Evropos Christian relics which were kindly given by Academician G.M.Bongard-Levin. These materials throw a new light on many problems of the early history of eastern Christianity.

THE PROBLEM OF PARTHAUNISA LOCATION

A.S.Balakhvantsev

Basing himself on the historico-philologic analysis of the texts by Isidor Haransky, Strabon, Pliny, Ptolemy and Arabian sources, the author of the article attempts to define the location of Parthaunisa and arrives at a conclusion that it is identical to the sites of Old and New Nisa.

THE PROBLEM OF AUTHENTICITY OF THE LEGEND ABOUT BAR SHABBA

G.A.Koshelenko, V.A.Gaibov

The authors analyse the legend about Bar Shabba, a Christian who was taken prisoner during the wars between Sasanides and Rome in the 3rd century B.C. Bar Shabba became the first bishop of Merv.

THE PROBLEM OF THE YÜEH-CHIH ORIGIN

A.O. Zakharov

This article is on the historiography of the Yüeh-chih origin. According to the methodology of study, the author distinguishes two main directions of research, archaeological and linguistic. From all the supposed decisions of the Yüeh-chih origin problem the hypothesis of V.V. Ivanov about their Tokharian origin seems to be the most authentic.

ТHЕ PICTURE OF A FOREST CAT THAT HAS CAUGHT A MOUSE (a neolithic drawing on a thim slab of sandstone)

D.L.Brodyansky

In Primorye (the Far-Eastern Territory) there is a new neolithic relic named Gvozdevo- 3 where the archaeologists found a thin slab of sandstone with a subject drawing representing a cat that caught a mouse. This kind of drawing, generally rare in the neolithic period, has been found in the Boysmana culture for the first time (6500-6000 years B.C.) Equally with «the sea mistress» — a woman wearing a hood — and the mythic Raven, the Cat has supplemented the number of identified personages of fossilized art.

PEARLS IN ARCHAEOLOGY

V.A. Rakov, D.L. Brodyansky

Here one can get information on: a) the findings of pearls in various archaeological relics dating back to the time from the palaeolithic period to the Middle Ages; b) the use of pearls and nacre in some peoples’ funeral rites; c) the cultivation of pearls. Despite the short life of pearls, their remains in the form of small spherical objects devoid of their original shine, must often occur in archaeological relics.

BOSPORUS AND THE KHAZAR KAGANAT IN THE LATE VIITH — THE EARLY VIIITH CENTURIES

A.V.Sazanova, Yu.M.Mogarichev

Archaeologically the conclusion concerning the occupation of Kerch by Khazars in 679–680 and the subjection of Bosporus to them in the end of the VIIth — the first half of the IXth century, was based on the following evidences: 1) a strong layer of fire caused by the capture of Kerch by Khazars; 2) the existence of the Khazar citadel; 3) a strong Khazar layer with numerous buildings and materials characteristic of them. The authors’ researches have convinced them that one strong layer of Khazar fire does not exist. Moreover, it is impossible to define ahchaeologically its exact date as 679–680. In the layer of Fire B referred to the last quarter of the VIIth century no Khazar materials were found. Therefore both the layer and the complex which A.I.Aibabin considers to be Khazar ones, cannot be treated as such. Besides, in distinction from T.I.Makarova’s opinion, the authors believe that the basilical complex was ruined almost 100 years earlier than the pre-supposed Khazar invasion took place and is explained by other historical events. In the end, the authors have to state that the archaeologic materials existing at the present time don’t prove the conception of the Khazar capture of Kerch in 679–680 and its belonging to them in the VIIth — the first half of the VIIIth century.

BYZANTIUM AND KHAZARS IN TAURICA: DOMINATION OR CONDOMINIUM?

S.B. Sorochan

The article deals with the problem of the possible status of Crimean in the structure of Byzantium and Khazars. The author refuses an old point of view of Khazars’ domination or protectorate over the Taurica at the end of the VIIth–IXth centuries. The careful critical analysis of written sources and materials are found long-term archaeological excavations results in a think to search for an explanation of the situation, which developed in the Early - medieval Crimea, under the conditions of Byzantian-Khazar condominium. Its traces in Cherson, Sugdeja, Bospor, in the South-West Crimea so long as the change of political conditions resulted in the birth of Byzantian thema of Climates.

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE AND KHAZARS FROM THE LATE 8th TO THE MIDDLE OF THE 9th CENTURIES

V.E.Naumenko

It is the political history of the North Black Sea Region in the 8th — 9th centuries which is dealt with in the article. At that time it was Taurika which became the main arena of contacts between the Byzantine Empire and the Khazar Kaganat. The author details all the facts of the complicated political situation in the region and the relations between the two great powers.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF BYZANTINE CHERSON FROM THE 8-th TO THE EARLY 9-th CENTURIES

N. I. Khrapunov

During the seventh century the position of Byzantium in the Crimea weakened, and it lost there the majority of its territories there, except Cherson. As a result, the principle of governing the city changed; the position of the governor, the doux, appointed directly from Constantinople, was abolished, and his responsibilities were divided between dignitaries of the municipality. The administration of Cherson throughout this period was a mixture of the later Roman and Byzantine administrative principles. Responsibilities of governing the city were carried out by officials with ancient titles, which were probably elected by the local community and ratified by the Emperor. The supreme power in Cherson belonged to the board of the archontes. The position of the kyrios, its responsibilities, principles of appointment, and even its title are still enigmatic. Another collective position of the pateres tes poleos was probably irregular and honorary. The proteuontes of Cherson were probably the informal committee of notables who executed some responsibilities in governing the city and supplied candidates for the higher positions of the administration. The period of the archontate ended during the reign of Theophilos (829–842), when the political and administrative situation in the Crimea changed completely.

THE REIHEL COINS OF THE NORTH BLACK SEA REGION IN THE ROYAL CABINET OF COINS AND MEDALS AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM IN COPENHAGEN

J.Steen Jensen

In the article the author publishes Bosporus coins which the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen got owing to the contacts of the prominent Russian collector Jacob Reihel and the leading Danish numismatist and founder of a number of museums in Copenhagen C.J.Thomsen in the 40-s of the 19th century.

COMPOUND ROMAN FIBULAE FROM THE MUSEUM «PRUSSIA»

P.V.Sannikov, A.A.Valuyev

The following is a publication of two Roman fibulae from the Kaliningrad Museum of History and Arts. The authors define their structural peculiarities and re-consider their existing typology and classification.

V.D.BLAVATSKY AND HIS ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGY IN RUSSIA

V.V.Lebedinsky

The article deals with V.D.Blavatsky’s underwater expeditions in the North Black Sea Region in 1958–1965. These researches were of great scientific importance both for Russia and Europe. V.D.Blavatsky devised special methods of underwater archaeologic prospecting.

THE INITIAL PERIOD OF ARCHAEOLOGIC RESEARCHES IN THEODOSIA: E.F.DE VILLENEUVE, A.A.SIBIRSKY, I.K.AIVAZOVSKY

E.B.Petrova

The article deals with the first archaeological researches of Mount Tepe-Oba barrows which are referred to ancient Theodosia. This work was done by E.F. de Villeneuve, Head of the Theodosia Museum of Antiquities, A.A.Sibirsky and I.K.Aivazovsky in 1852–1853. Fragments from E.F. de Villeneuve’s letters addressed to the members of the Odessian Community of History and Antiquities are also published in the article. They are now kept at the Odessa Regional State Archives.