gr | Thessaloniki
International Workshop
Where to find us
The School of Humanities would like to invite you to the International Workshop on the Black Sea in Antiquity, organised at the International Hellenic University
on 21-23 September 2012.
9:30-10:30 Registration
Morning session
10:30
Morning session
11:00
10:50
11:20
11:10
Discussion
11:30
11:50
12:10
Discussion
11:40
Discussion
12:00
12:20
12:40
Discussion
Evening session
18:30
18:50
19:10
Discussion
19:30
19:50
20:10
Discussion
Evening session
18:30
18:50
19:10
Discussion
19:30
19:50
20:10
Discussion
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS | 01
The Black Sea region, and especially the Northern coast, which has more abundant
documentation, constitutes a privileged area for the study of relations between Greeks
and natives in colonial reality, both for the presence of a different range of barbarous
people with whom the Greek colonies are in close contact (Scythians, Taurians,
Meotians, Sarmatians, etc.) and the manner of living established over time.
The tribes of the Eastern Black Sea region played a crucial role in the political and
economic affairs of the ancient kingdoms of the Bosporus and Colchis, i.e., at the
edge of the Greek oikumene. While ancient Greek and Latin sources refer to a number
of these tribes by name, descriptions of them tend to be brief and biased. In order
to understand the true nature of these peoples, and place them geographically, it is
essential to examine both linguistic and archaeological evidence. Linguistic analysis
of the tribal names and epigraphic evidence clearly attest to the distinct identities of
these tribes. Archaeological evidence, however, plainly demonstrates a shared material
culture of the Maeotians. Variations in the burial culture, together with the linguistic
distinctions, allow us to classify the ancient tribes of the region as different sub-groups
of the Maeotians, while also serving to establish their individual territories within the
Eastern Black Sea region.
In this context, the Hellenistic period is of particular interest, because during this period
the Hellenization of large areas of indigenous elites seems to have been accompanied,
however, by an evolution in relations, which are often conflictual with the Greek cities,
for a variety of reasons that are still under discussion. In this regard, the case of the
Scythians is exemplary.
In particular with my paper I will analyze the Scythian Kingdom of Crimea with its capital,
Scythian Neapolis, which represents a particularly significant example of a Hellenized
indigenous community. The Scythian Kingdom of Crimea has not yet been adequately
explored by the scholars of the Greek world. Particular attention will be devoted to
some recent inscriptions, which require a more in-depth study.