Showcase II


The administration of the city. In the early sixth century, Chersonesos became a part of the Byzantine Empire. It was a distant provincial city, a place of exile for disfavoured political and church figures, and at the same time an important stronghold that controlled movements of barbarian tribes that threatened the Byzantine Empire.

It was the last quarter of the sixth century when the old name of Chersonesos was finally replaced with the new form, "Cherson". We will call it in this way, too.

On the wall near the map, there is marble slab with the inscription about defensive walls renovation. It is more then one and a half thousand years old!

The inscription says that the city's administration was headed by the official called vicarius, who was appointed from Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The rank of those who governed Cherson became higher accordingly to the increased importance of Cherson. The city was ruled by the officer called dux, who was the commander of all Byzantine troops in the Crimea.

In the bottom part of the vitrine, to the right from throwing balls, there is a fragment of marble slab with inscription about the construction work that was done under the direction of the dux.

In the right part of the vitrine, you can see lead hanging seals called molybdoboulloi; these are the evidence that different officials existed in Cherson. Strategos was the governor of a military and administrative unit called the theme; kommerkiarios was a customs official; logothetes stood at the head of a department of state; and sakellarios was a treasurer.

The army of mediaeval Cherson.

The Byzantine Empire was threatened by dangerous enemies all along its frontiers, which is why creation of a strong army and protection of the imperial territory were among the most important challenges to the emperors.

On the northern frontiers, the main attention was paid to Cherson and its defence. Along with the standing Byzantine army there also were militia and fleet. Land forces included infantry, cavalry and artillery. Infantry and cavalry, in their own turn, were divided to light- and heavy-armed. Light-armed warriors battled with bows, axes, knives and javelins. Heavy-armed warriors had swords, spears and pikes.

Although the army of battle was usually of mixed nature, from the sixth century onwards cavalry became the most important force. It was more manoeuvrable than infantry that was especially important in battles with mounted nomads. Byzantine cavalry borrowed nomadic metal stirrup, semi-rigid saddle, sabre, armour-piercing spears, and long range heavy bow. Infantry was just a protection for cavalry.

In the previous vitrine above the stone balls used for throwing with a large stationary ballista, you can see the arms of infantrymen and horsemen. There are swords and metal parts of shaft weapon such as armour-piercing pike, spear and javelin.

Showcase II
  1. Seal: Strategoi, governors of the Theme
  2. Seal: Kommerkiarioi, custom officials
  3. Seal: Logothetes, official in charge of the kommerkiarioi
  4. Sakellarios, the head of state treasury

Museum halls


Hall 1



Exhibition sections:
ВЕЛИКОЕ ПЕРЕСЕЛЕНИЕ НАРОДОВ_en; ГОРОДСКОЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЕ_en; Army; Religion; МОНУМЕНТАЛЬНАЯ АРХИТЕКТУРА И ИСКУССТВО_en; ГОРОДСКОЕ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВО_en; РЕМЕСЛА_en; СЕЛЬСКОЕ ХОЗЯЙСТВО И ПРОМЫСЛЫ_en;

Hall 2



Exhibition sections:
ОБРАБОТКА КОСТИ И ДЕРЕВА_en; ТКАЧЕСТВО И ПРЯДЕНИЕ_en; БЫТ_en; МОНЕТНОЕ ДЕЛО_en; ТОРГОВЛЯ_en; РУССКО-КОРСУНСКИЕ СВЯЗИ_en;

Hall 3



Exhibition sections:
СЕВЕРНОЕ ПРИЧЕРНОМОРЬЕ И ВИЗАНТИЯ В XII – XIII вв._en;