Scientists during excavations of the ancient city of Phanagoria on the Taman Peninsula discovered an altar unique for the ancient Greek colonies of the Black Sea region, the head of the Phanagoria archaeological expedition Vladimir Kuznetsov told TASS on Thursday.
“The complex dates back to the time of the foundation of Phanagoria - around the middle of the 6th century. BC. - and is a rare find, one of the oldest and unique ancient Greek sanctuaries in Russia. I have not heard that such a complex was found somewhere in the Black Sea region, and for the Mediterranean it is a rarity. It is its design that is unique, just such, with such a set of features, have not been encountered before, said Kuznetsov.
He explained that the mud brick building was buried two meters into the mainland soil - a layer of soil that had formed before people settled in this place. A staircase led up from the basement, which ended in a small platform in front of a rectangular altar, also made of bricks. At the edge of the altar was a bowl 80 cm in diameter, and next to it was a deep pit. Moreover, traces of fire and ash can be traced on the surface of the altar and along the edge of the pit.
"The complex requires serious study, and our task is to understand how this kind of structure functioned on the basis of the knowledge we already have," Kuznetsov said. Now scientists believe that the building they found is a sanctuary dedicated to underground deities. Sacrifices were made on the altar, and their blood was poured into a bowl so that it did not fall on the altar. In the pit, judging by the bones found, the remains of the sacrifices were dumped.
Phanagoria is an ancient city founded in the 6th century BC on the Taman Peninsula. Later it became the capital of the Asian part of the Bosporus kingdom, created by the Greeks on the basis of colonial cities on the shores of the Black and Azov seas. In the IV century AD, the warlike tribes of the Huns expelled the Greeks from the territory of the Taman Peninsula.
Archaeological excavations on the territory of the ancient city have been conducted since the 19th century, at present, excavations are carried out annually, Phanagoria is studied by scientists of various specializations. In 2012, with the support of the Volnoe Delo Foundation of Oleg Deripaska, a scientific and cultural center was created on Taman, and the work of the Fanagoria archaeological expedition is also financed.