Greek Networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus
Introduction
In my essay I have looked at cultural development as a result of Greek networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus. The first settlements in this area were Milesian (a polis situated on the west coast of Asia Minor) settlements founded in the early 6th century BC. However, in this period the contact between the local population and the Greek settlers was out of the question. This changed when the local dynasty of the Archeanactidae was replaced by the dynasty of the Spartocidae in 438 BC. The Spartocidae united the Greek poleis and founded the Bosporan Kingdom. Panticapeum, Nymphaion and Phanagoria were important poleis in this area. Contrary to the conservative dynasty of the Archeanactidae, the Spartocidae were very interested in contact with the Greek settlers. From the last years of the Peloponessian War through to the middle of the fourth century BC, the ties between the Athenian elite and the Bosporan elite were very strong. It is not clear how this network was forged, but the foundation for this network probably was the Athenian expedition under command of Pericles in 437 BC. Especially the strong ties with Athens resulted in cultural development in the Cimmerian Bosporus. Which networks led to cultural development in the Cimmerian Bosporus and did this cultural development only influence the Bosporan elite or the Athenian elite as well? My research can be placed in the broader debate concerning the coexistence between Greeks and the local population in their colonies. It contributes to the point of view that the Greeks mostly lived in harmony with the local population, instead of only taking advantage of them. In this case the coexistence resulted in cultural development.
In my essay I have looked at cultural development as a result of Greek networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus. The first settlements in this area were Milesian (a polis situated on the west coast of Asia Minor) settlements founded in the early 6th century BC. However, in this period the contact between the local population and the Greek settlers was out of the question. This changed when the local dynasty of the Archeanactidae was replaced by the dynasty of the Spartocidae in 438 BC. The Spartocidae united the Greek poleis and founded the Bosporan Kingdom. Panticapeum, Nymphaion and Phanagoria were important poleis in this area. Contrary to the conservative dynasty of the Archeanactidae, the Spartocidae were very interested in contact with the Greek settlers. From the last years of the Peloponessian War through to the middle of the fourth century BC, the ties between the Athenian elite and the Bosporan elite were very strong. It is not clear how this network was forged, but the foundation for this network probably was the Athenian expedition under command of Pericles in 437 BC. Especially the strong ties with Athens resulted in cultural development in the Cimmerian Bosporus. Which networks led to cultural development in the Cimmerian Bosporus and did this cultural development only influence the Bosporan elite or the Athenian elite as well? My research can be placed in the broader debate concerning the coexistence between Greeks and the local population in their colonies. It contributes to the point of view that the Greeks mostly lived in harmony with the local population, instead of only taking advantage of them. In this case the coexistence resulted in cultural development.
Networks
There were three different Greek networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus. The first network was economical. The grain trade with Athens was the most important component of this network. Beside the trade in grain, there was also trade in wood, fish, hides and Greek pottery. The second network was cultural. Sometimes the sons of the Bosporan elite were sent to Athens to visit the School of Isocrates (Athenian rhetorician). Here they were educated by Isocrates himself. In this way they learned the Greek culture. When they returned in the Cimmerian Bosporus, they were considered Greeks. There were also Athenian aristocrats who settled in the Greek poleis of the Cimmerian Bosporus. Both examples show how the Greek culture was spread in this area. The third network was a political network. However, the political influence of this network was not direct, with the exception of the Athenian grain trade. There were Athenian hoplites who served in the army of the Bosporan elite. The final example has to do with the Athenian education which I have mentioned earlier. The Bosporan elites who were educated by Isocrates, probably used this knowledge in political affairs. Thus, the Athenian influence of this political network was weaker than the influence of the economical and cultural network.
Cultural development
The cultural development as a result of the Greek networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus was best reflected in the great royal kurgans (barrows) and the graves of Panticapaeum and Nymphaion dating to the 4th century BC. The Bosporan elite received very elaborate burials. The masonry of some of the kurgans was made by Greek masons. An example of this is the royal kurgan of Kul-Oba. The kurgan was built in the period 400-350 BC. Archaeologist have found a lot of Greek artefacts inside the tomb of the kurgan. These artefacts range from medallions of Athena to bracelets with Greek depictions. Furthermore, a number of graves from Nymphaion contain beautiful Greek paintings. In one of the tombs archaeologist have found a painting which depicts the conduction of Persephone (the daughter of the goddess Demeter). The Greek artefacts were found alongside Scythian artefacts. The Scythian culture was the original culture of this area. The culture of the Scythians can be traced back to the Iranian equestrian tribes who invaded the regions of the Black Sea in the 7th century BC. Elements of this culture were the nomadic lifestyle, animals and beasts (e.g. horses and griffins) and weaponry (knives and bows). In some of the kurgans it is hard to decide whether it belonged to a member of the Bosporan elite or a Greek. A new culture was emerged with influences of the Scythian culture and the Greek culture. From these examples it becomes clear that the Bosporan elite was mainly influenced by the Greek elite and not the other way around.
The cultural development as a result of the Greek networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus was best reflected in the great royal kurgans (barrows) and the graves of Panticapaeum and Nymphaion dating to the 4th century BC. The Bosporan elite received very elaborate burials. The masonry of some of the kurgans was made by Greek masons. An example of this is the royal kurgan of Kul-Oba. The kurgan was built in the period 400-350 BC. Archaeologist have found a lot of Greek artefacts inside the tomb of the kurgan. These artefacts range from medallions of Athena to bracelets with Greek depictions. Furthermore, a number of graves from Nymphaion contain beautiful Greek paintings. In one of the tombs archaeologist have found a painting which depicts the conduction of Persephone (the daughter of the goddess Demeter). The Greek artefacts were found alongside Scythian artefacts. The Scythian culture was the original culture of this area. The culture of the Scythians can be traced back to the Iranian equestrian tribes who invaded the regions of the Black Sea in the 7th century BC. Elements of this culture were the nomadic lifestyle, animals and beasts (e.g. horses and griffins) and weaponry (knives and bows). In some of the kurgans it is hard to decide whether it belonged to a member of the Bosporan elite or a Greek. A new culture was emerged with influences of the Scythian culture and the Greek culture. From these examples it becomes clear that the Bosporan elite was mainly influenced by the Greek elite and not the other way around.
Conclusion
Greek networks in the Cimmerian Bosporus led to cultural development in this area. However, the influence of the economic and cultural network on the cultural development was stronger than the political network. The cultural development was best reflected in the kurgans and the graves in the vicinity of Panticapaeum and Nymphaion. The funerary evidence of this area shows the emergence of a new hybrid culture. This new culture contained elements of the Scythian culture and the Greek culture. However, the cultural development was mainly one-sided. The culture of the Bosporan elite was mainly influenced by the culture of the Greek elite.
N.D.
Literature
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2. Boardman, John. The Greeks overseas: their early colonies and trade. Londen: Thames and Hudson, 1980.
3. Braund, David. “Pericles, Cleon and the Pontus: The Black Sea in Athens c. 440-421.” in Cultural Interactions in Scythia, Athens and the Early Roman Empire (sixth century BC – first century AD), ed. David Braund, 80-99. Exeter: University of Exeter Press, 2005.
4. Minns, Ellis Hovell. Scythians and Greeks: a survey of ancient history and archaeology on the north coast of Euxine from the Danube to the Caucasus. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1913.
5. Moreno, Alfonso. Feeding the Democracy: The Athenian Grain Supply in the Fifth and Fourth Centuries BC. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
6. Petersen, Jane Hjarl. “Kurgan Burials from Nymphaion – A New Approach.” in Meetings of cultures in the Black Sea region: between conflict and coexistence, ed. Pia Guldager Bilde and Jane Hjarl Petersen, 215-235. Aarhus: Aarhus University Press, 2008.
7. Vinogradov, Jurij A. “Rhythms of Eurasia and the Main Historical Stages of the Kimmerian Bosporos in Pre-Roman Times.” in Meetings of cultures in the Black Sea region: between
Images
1. Ancient Greek colonies on the northern coast of the Black Sea (c. 450 BC) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonies_in_antiquity
2. Crimea Kerch Tsar's barrow - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crimea_Kerch_Tsar's_barrow-03.jpg