Tyras

Remains of Roman Tyras, near the medioeval genoese walls of Maurocastro

Tyras and the other Greek colonies along the north coast of the Black Sea in the 5th century BCE.

Tyras (Ancient Greek: Τύρας), was an ancient Greek city founded as colony of Miletus, probably about 600 BC, situated some 10 m from the mouth of the Tyras River (Dniester). The surrounding native tribe were called the Tyragetae.

History

Of no great importance in early times, in the 2nd century BC Tyras fell under the dominion of native kings whose names appear on its coins, and it was destroyed by the Getae about 50 BC.

In 56 AD, it seems to have been restored by the Romans under Nero and henceforth formed part of the province of Lower Moesia. There exists a series of its coins with heads of emperors from Domitian to Alexander Severus.

Indeed the autonomous caulking of coins in the city, called by the Romans Alba Julia, lasted from the time of the emperor Domitianus (81 AD) up to the end of the board of the emperor Alexander Sever (235 AD) with little breaks. The coins of Tyras of this period represented copper with the portraits of the members of the Imperial house for the province of the Roman Empire.

In Tyras was stationed a small unit of the Roman Classis Flavia Moesica.

Soon after the time of Alexander Severus, it was partially destroyed by the Goths, but archeological findings show that Romans remained there until the end of the fourth century (under Theodosius I). Later the Byzantines renamed the city, destroyed by barbarian invasions, with the new name Maurokastron (meaning "white fortification").

Its government was in the hands of five archons, a senate, a popular assembly and a registrar. The types of its coins suggest a trade in wheat, wine and fish. The few inscriptions are also mostly concerned with trade.

Its remains are scanty, as its site has been covered by the great medieval fortress called by the Genoese Maurocastro (and later Akkerman/Cetatea Alba).

See also

• O D E S S A S T A T E M U S E U M o f A R C H A E O L O G Y
• Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi
• P.O. Karyshkovskij, I.B. Klejman “The City of Tyras. A Historical and Archaeological Essay” – Polis Press, Odessa, 1994.
• MA in Black Sea Cultural Studies. International Hellenic University-School of Humanities

Sources

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.