Abstract
The paper is a publication of lead tesserae and coin-like pieces from excavations by the archaeological expedition of the Institute for the History of Material Culture RAS at the southern suburb of Chersonesus in 2021–2023. A total of 369 lead pieces of 24 types were retrieved, including 8 types previously unknown. The vast majority (262 pieces) were discovered on the territory where there was a sacred site with a mausoleum (heroum), a temple in antae, an altar, rooms for gifts, pilgrims and priests, a stone-paved courtyard for processions, a sacred spring (nymphaeum). This fact allowed the author to join the opinion that these signs are tesserae, the images on which had a cult and votive significance. The free distribution of food during religious festivals and other ceremonies was regulated by the tesserae.
Keywords
Chersonesus Taurica, tesserae, lead coin-shaped tokens.
Andrey E. Tereshchenko
State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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