Reserve "Tanais". Excavation estates. 2007
Tanais ancient city at the mouth of the river. Don. In the first centuries A.D. e. belonged to the Bosporan kingdom. Located approximately 30 km west of Rostov-on-Don, near the Nedvigovka farm.
Tanais Nature Reserve is one of the largest archaeological museum-reserves in Russia. The territory of the Tanais reserve covers more than 3 thousand hectares and unites an ensemble of historical and cultural monuments of different times and peoples from the Paleolithic era to monuments of residential and religious architecture of the 19th century. This is the northernmost point of ancient civilization.
Also Tanais the ancient Greek name of the Don and Seversky Donets rivers.
History of Tanais
Tanais River and the Greek colony of Tanais, along with other Greek colonies along the northern coast of the Black Sea.
Tanais Greek colony
Tanais was founded in the 3rd century. BC e. Greeks, immigrants from the Bosporan kingdom, on the right bank of the then main branch of the mouth of the Tanais River Dead Donets. For many centuries, Tanais was a major economic, political and cultural center of the Don-Azov region. The Greek geographer Strabo calls it the largest marketplace of barbarians after Panticapaeum. Ancient geographers and historians drew the border between Europe and Asia from Tanais. The city gradually acquired features characteristic of the lifestyle of local tribes. Tanais fought for independence from the Bosporan rulers. In 237 AD e. it was destroyed by the Goths. Restored 140 years later by the Sarmatians, Tanais gradually turned into a center of agricultural and craft production, and at the beginning of the 5th century AD. e. fell into disrepair.
Tanais Italian colony
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the Venetians founded the city of Tana in a new place - on the changed main branch of the Don mouth, now called the Old Don. Later, control of the city passed to Genoa, who built a Genoese fortress here. In Polovtsian times, the colony of Tanais began to be called Tan for short. In 1395, Tamerlane's troops razed the city to the ground, completely destroying the walls.
Tan = Azov
In the 15th century, the Tang colony was partially restored on the site of the later city of Azov. The rule of the Genoese came to an end in the fall of 1475. The Ottoman Turks, having previously captured all the Genoese fortresses of Crimea and the Orthodox Crimean principality of Theodoro in the same year, landed troops and captured the Tang colony. The Turks owned the city, which finally received the name Azov, with short interruptions from 1475 to 1736, when, as a result of numerous wars, it finally passed to the Russian Empire.
Tanais river
The ancient Greek cartographer Ptolemy gave the coordinates of the source and mouth of the Tanais, according to which this is exactly the Seversky Donets, brought along the lower reaches of the present Don to the Sea of Azov; Thus, Girgis was considered by him to be a tributary of Tanais, located closer to the then civilized world
At the mouth of the Tanais River, not far from its confluence with the Sea of Azov, on the then main channel of the river, two thousand years later called Dead Donets, the Greek colony of Tanais was founded.
In the 1st century BC. The ancient Greek historian Strabo wrote that at the confluence of the Tanais River into Lake Meotia lay the city of Tanais, founded by the Greeks.
Its central square served as a trading place for Greeks and nomads, where goods flocked, including furs and wine, and slaves were sold. The city was small, but noisy, life was in full swing.
If we consider that the Greeks called the Sea of Azov the Meotian Lake, and the Don River Tanais, then the geography of the place becomes more accurate. However, the ruins of the city of Tanais were only found at the beginning of the 19th century. Colonel Ivan Alekseevich Stempkovsky made several expeditions; he was sure that he would find an ancient city on these lands. But only several decades later archaeological excavations began, which did not immediately bring success. The bulk of the work took place in the mid-20th century.
The central and richest part of ancient Tanais was facing the river and the sea. A traveler arriving in the city on a ship looked at her.
On the narrow streets there were stone houses with thatched or reed roofs. There was no shortage of stones. Around the city there were natural outcrops of limestone, which is soft and easy to process. In Tanais, limestone was not cut; natural blocks were used, from which curved walls were built, holding the stones together with liquid clay or mud. Such houses were not durable; they were often rebuilt, erecting new buildings on the old foundation.
During the excavations, no architectural decorations of the buildings were found. The inside of the house was covered with clay. The premises were heated by fire - the hearth smoked, creating the threat of fires.
People preferred to settle inside the city walls, where it was safer.
Ships loaded with goods from different countries arrived at the harbor. At the bazaar there was a brisk trade in wine, olive oil, furs, fish and other things.
There is still a legend about underground passages supposedly leading all the way to Azov. But archaeologists are inclined to believe that sewage flowed through the galleries.
Around Tanais there were extensive necropolises, which were subsequently destroyed.
The city existed for 700 years, but unexpectedly trouble came. Strabo writes that the rebellious Tanais was destroyed by King Polemon, who razed it to the ground; the inhabitants were forced to leave these places in search of new homes. Archaeologists do not agree with Strabo. They believe that a fire played a key role in the destruction of the city, after which Tanais was unable to recover. And Polemon forbade the city to have a defensive system, as a result of which part of Tanais was abandoned and used as a garbage dump.
In 1961, on the basis of excavations, the Tanais archaeological museum-reserve was created.
The valuables found in the ancient city are kept in various museums, including the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Historical Museum in Moscow, the Rostov Museum of Local Lore, and the Azov Historical, Archaeological and Paleontological Museum-Reserve.
In the Tanais reserve itself there is also a museum exhibition, but it is not distinguished by the richness of the collection.
Plate with the sign of King Rimitalko. Was built into a defensive wall
The Tanais Museum-Reserve is located 30 km from Rostov-on-Don.
Address: x. Nedvigovka, Rostov region, Myasnikovsky district
www.museum-tanais.ru
Working hours: daily from 9-00 to 17-00, without breaks, without weekends and holidays
*Literature used: “Tanais – the lost and found city” by D.B. Shelov.
The trip to the Tanais Museum-Reserve was organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Rostov Region as part of the Free Don program.
Tanais was founded in the 3rd century. BC e. Greeks, immigrants from the Bosporan kingdom, on the right bank of the former main branch of the mouth of the Tanais River (now Don) - the Dead Donets, after which the city received its name.
Seven wonders of the Don
|
For many centuries, Tanais was a major economic, political and cultural center of the Don-Azov region. The Greek geographer Strabo calls it the largest market place for barbarians after Panticapaeum (the capital of the Bosporan kingdom, in the territory of present-day Kerch). Ancient geographers and historians drew the border between Europe and Asia from Tanais. The city gradually acquired features characteristic of the lifestyle of local tribes. Tanais fought for independence from the Bosporan rulers.
In 237 AD e. it was destroyed by the Goths. Restored 140 years later by the Sarmatians, Tanais gradually turned into a center of agricultural and craft production, but at the beginning of the 5th century it fell into disrepair.
Tanais - Italian colony
At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the Venetians founded the Tana trading post in a new location - on the changed main branch of the Don mouth, now called the Old Don. Later, control over the city passed to Genoa, which built a Genoese fortress here.
In Polovtsian times, the colony of Tanais began to be called Tan for short. In 1395, Tamerlane's troops razed the city to the ground, completely destroying the walls.
Colony of Tana on the site of the city of Azov
In the 15th century, the colony of Tana (the medieval name of the Genoese colony of Tanais) was partially restored on the site of the later city of Azov.
The rule of the Genoese came to an end in the fall of 1475. The Ottoman Turks, having captured all the Genoese fortresses of Crimea (Captaincy of Gothia) and the Orthodox Crimean principality of Theodoro before attacking Tana in the same year, landed troops and captured the colony of Tana. The Turks owned the city, which finally received the name Azov, with short breaks (in 1637-1643 and 1696-1711) from 1475 to 1736, when, as a result of numerous wars, the city of Azov passed to the Russian Empire.
Archaeological excavations
Tanais was discovered as an archaeological site in 1823 by a corresponding member of the Paris Academy, Colonel I. A. Stempkovsky. On the personal instructions of Nicholas I, who was interested primarily in the treasures of the burial mounds, excavations in Tanais were subsequently carried out by P. M. Leontiev, a professor at Moscow University in the department of Roman literature and antiquity, and from 1867 - by V. G. Tizengauzen. The study of the Nedvigov settlement was carried out under the control of the Imperial Archaeological Commission. True, Leontyev’s excavations, which were carried out haphazardly, only caused damage to the ancient settlement. Not finding anything that seemed worthy of attention, Leontyev stopped excavations.
At the end of the 1860s, during the construction of a section of the Rostov-Taganrog railway, workers engaged in breaking stone in the Nedvigovka area came across the ancient settlement of Tanais. However, no measures were taken to resume excavations. Having shown some interest in the second “discovered” settlement, the chairman of the Archaeological Commission, Count S. G. Stroganov, wrote a letter to the appointed ataman of the Don Army, M. I. Chertkov. M. Chertkov, in turn, sent the director of the Novocherkassk gymnasium Robush and the artist Oznobishin to Nedvigovka for inspection.
From the 70s until the Soviet government declared all ancient monuments public property under state protection, local residents plundered the settlement for their own needs, using the stone of the ancient city in their buildings.
From 1870 to 1872, excavations at the Nedvigovsky and Elizavetinsky settlements were led by P. I. Khitsunov.
“Tanais” is the first of the archaeological museum-reserves created in Russia on the territory of Russia.
In 1955, the USSR Academy of Sciences formed the Lower Don Archaeological Expedition, which, together with Rostov University and the Rostov Museum of Local History under the leadership of D. B. Shelov, began scientific research of the ancient settlement. Four years later, the excavated site and burial ground were declared a protected area. And in 1961, one of the first archaeological museum-reserves in Russia was opened here, with an area of more than 3 thousand hectares. From 1973 to 2002, the permanent director of the museum-reserve was V. F. Chesnok. Then the director for a short time was the former Deputy Minister of Culture of the Rostov Region V. Kasyanov. In 2005, V. Perevozchikov was appointed director.
The initiators of the creation of the museum-reserve were the head of the Lower Don expedition D.B. Shelov and deputy Director of the Rostov Regional Museum of Local History S.M. Markov. In 1958, the Rostov Regional Executive Committee issued a resolution “On the creation of the Tanais Museum-Reserve as a branch of the Rostov Regional Museum of Local History.” In 1960, the land with the main area of the settlement and the adjacent areas of the necropolis was transferred to the museum for indefinite use. The construction of the first museum buildings based on panel structures began: a museum exhibition, administration and two small utility rooms. Two staff positions were allocated (manager and watchman). On August 1, 1961, the museum opened and received its first visitors.
In 1981, by decision of the Rostoblis Executive Committee, protective zones of the reserve with an area of 1200 hectares were approved. In 1990, the museum-reserve received the status of an independent cultural institution.
In February 2009, the Tanais Archaeological Museum-Reserve became a candidate for inclusion in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites).
Today the reserve employs about 40 people. On the territory of his estate there is a new museum building with the main historical exhibition, a storage building, administrative premises, buildings for permanent and temporary exhibitions, museum teaching classes, and technical services. The reserve has become a significant cultural, educational and scientific center of the region, known far beyond its borders.
The most important role in the formation and development of the museum-reserve belongs to the half-century creative union of the reserve and the Lower Don archaeological expedition, which has become international since 1993 (teams of the German Institute of Archeology and the Institute of Archeology of the University of Warsaw).
To date, excavations have uncovered approximately a tenth of the ancient city, as well as a significant area of the city necropolis. Unique standard stock collections and a unique “open-air” exhibition have been formed, which comprises the majority of the explored areas of the settlement. This exhibition also includes large-scale reconstructions of ancient buildings on the museum estate and a lapidarium - a collection of massive, voluminous finds, mainly made of stone. Items from excavations stored in the reserve funds number more than 140 thousand items. The most expressive of them can be seen in the historical exhibition of the museum. The collections have created a unique “Hall of Amphora Standards” - the only experience in Europe of open storage of amphora containers. The museum estate also houses the “Museum of Historical Costume” exposition and a complex of thematic exhibitions of a historical, archaeological and artistic nature.
The museum has accumulated significant experience in working with visitors and has developed interesting and exclusive forms of this activity. Tourists are offered a series of excursion routes through the exhibitions of the museum, the ancient settlement, historical, cultural and natural monuments of the protected areas of the reserve, covering the chronological range from the Paleolithic era to the 20th century. A variety of interactive programs are conducted: historical workshops on ancient craft, written, trade, and sports technologies at the museum and pedagogical centers of the reserve; educational games based on competitions; large theatrical mass celebrations in ancient traditions. The museum publishes booklets, guides and other popular science literature about Tanais, and specialized archaeological collections.
Every year on the third Saturday of September, Tanais City Day is celebrated here.
The holiday program was developed based on the ancient celebration of the same name, which is narrated by the text of a marble slab from 104 AD, found at the ancient site. It is assumed that the festival combined the birthday of the city of Tanais and the honoring of the river god.
Guests will be treated to a series of theatrical performances, master classes on ancient crafts, competitions, quizzes and competitions, and new exhibitions.
Everyone can become a participant in historical reconstructions of the Pythian and Olympic Games, various myths and ancient Greek holidays.
Suggested by a user under the nickname Nikolay S. When preparing the material, data from Wikipedia and the museum’s official website were used.
I’ll tell you about one more pearl of the Rostov region - the Tanais nature reserve.
What is Tanais? This is an open-air excavation of an ancient Greek city of the 3rd century. BC. That is, this is the northernmost point of the ancient Greek state. Just think for a moment where the Greeks sailed, how vast this country was! And all this without modern means of transportation and communication. How inquisitive these people were, how thirsty they were for new discoveries. I admire and envy them.
The city was named after the Tanais River, the modern Don, and served as a border point between Europe and Asia. Later there was the Italian city of Tana. Still later, it came under the control of the Genoese. In the 14th century, Tamerlane's troops razed the city to the ground. Later, the Genoese restored the Tana colony on the site of modern Azov. Well, you already know the history of Azov from the previous one.
Tanais first attracted archaeologists in 1826. But then they were only interested in the treasures of the Scythian burial mounds. Having found nothing valuable, the excavations were abandoned.
Several decades later, during the construction of the Rostov-Taganrog railway, workers discovered the ancient city for the second time. The settlement was not protected in any way, and local residents stole artifacts for household needs. Only in 1959 the object was declared a protected area, and in 1961 a museum was opened. And in 2009, Tanais became a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Now the ensemble of the reserve unites monuments from different eras - from the Paleolithic to the 19th century. The museum is located on the outskirts of the Nedvigovka village on the banks of the Dead Donets, 30 km away. from Rostov-on-Don.
The entire route through the Tanais nature reserve can be divided into two parts. The first part is museums, the second part is excavations. First we walked around the museum part, then we went for a walk around the territory of the reserve.
Several museum buildings display things found during excavations: weapons, Tanait skeletons, household items, Scythian women. Reconstructions of clothing and jewelry from different eras, models of individual buildings and the entire city; on the holographic pyramid you can see the appearance of a Tanaitian lady.
Also on the territory of the reserve there are several restored objects - a farmer’s hut, a model of the western gate, a Roman bridge, a Polovtsian sanctuary, a collection of three-dimensional objects from excavations.
It will be very interesting to go to museums with children. Master classes in weaving and pottery are given here. They teach sword fighting techniques.
Every September the museum holds a holiday - Tanais Day. This is a theatrical performance in the style of past eras. There are also picnic areas on site. There are tables and benches under awnings. After an interesting and educational excursion, visitors can have a Greek-style lunch.
Here is another interesting place to add to the list of attractions of the Rostov region. And I’ll probably go there again. Somehow I don’t have enough photos and impressions. I need a review of the material I have covered.
Despite the fact that my visit to this ancient city at the mouth of the Don River was already 10 months ago, I still decided to post a few photos, as I love the Don region. But first things first
Rostov-on-Don, early June 2011. As usual: photography of the city and on the railway, first vacation on the beaches of Levberdon, night walks around the city..... - beauty! But...Then I noticed that I had not visited a single attraction of the Don region, except for Rostov-on-Don itself. But they exist: the city of Azov, the village of Starocherkasskaya - the birthplace of Ataman Matvey Platov, and now a museum-reserve, as well as the Tanais museum-reserve - an ancient city (3rd century BC - 5th century AD) at the mouth of the river Don. It was the latter that we decided to visit.
At 15.10 I already boarded the Rostov-Taganrog electric train. Last year, I already went in this direction, albeit with the goal of swimming in the waters of the Taganrog Bay, and now my goal is the Tanais Museum-Reserve. At 15.30 the electric train set off. From Rostov to Tanais it’s only an hour’s journey, but what places are there? No, in general, the first 20-30 minutes are basically nothing special - ordinary areas of Rostov with rural-type houses, farmsteads, however, after the Khapra station the beautiful expanses of the Don River delta begin.
Safyanovo, Martynovo, Nedvigovka... and finally the Tanais stopping area. I get off the electric train and try to find my way. The Tanais Museum-Reserve is located near the Nedvigovka village, and if something happened, there was someone to ask how to get to this ancient city, but I didn’t have to, the first road led me to the gates of the museum-reserve
Entrance to the museum from the railway side
A small reminder for visitors to Tanais
And here I am on the territory of the ancient city. Having passed through the gate, I almost immediately find myself in the western city district
A few photos and a little from the history of the ancient city.
Actually, walking on masonry, jumping on them, etc. and so on. It’s impossible, after all, this is a story that the earth has kept for many centuries. However, I will allow myself to take one photo inside, carefully going around the masonry and going down inside the ancient estate
In the last photo, in addition to the ruins, the Dead Donets, one of the branches of the Don River is clearly visible, and further beyond the horizon another branch, after 8-12 kilometers these branches will flow into the waters of the Taganrog Bay
But alas, in 15 minutes there is a return electric train to Rostov. The visit to the Tanais Museum-Reserve is over. Finally, a few more words. For a long time, nothing was known about these places, and only during the time of Alexander I they first learned about it. Excavations near Nedvigovka continued later, but only in 1955 a large expedition was organized, a thorough study of these places was carried out, and in 1961 Tanais was declared a museum-reserve.
I definitely recommend everyone who, by the will of fate, finds themselves on the territory of the Don Territory to visit here. And when I return to these parts, I will go to another place, which I will definitely tell you about visiting.
