New Findings ofPectoral Crosses on the Territory of Historical Alania (II)

Introduction. One of the material evidences of the Christianization of the territory of historical Alania (the east of the Krasnodar Territory – the northern regions of Chechnya) in the period from the 10th to the beginning of the 13th centuries is the data of staurography: the finds of crosses-encolpia, pectoral crosses, crosses-quadrifolia. The study of this category of finds allows us to consider the features and chronology of the process of Christianization of the population of the largest state in the North Caucasus in the Middle Ages, to study more closely the historical and social portrait of ordinary members of the Christian community of Alania and its elite. Methods. As a result of the messianic activity of Byzantium, which led to the baptism of the Alans at the beginning of the 10th century, as well as the establishment of the Alan Diocese (914), objects of small Christian plastics – crosses of provincial Byzantine as well as ancient Russian origin – are becoming widespread on the territory of Alania. And already with the spread of Christianity in the local Alan environment there are imitative and imitation types of crosses that are not found outside the North Caucasus. To date, more than 125 different crosses are known on the territory of Alania. Analysis. To this case, we can add the finds of five more interesting specimens found in recent years in the eastern regions of the Krasnodar Krai, the south of the Stavropol Krai, the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia. The first quadrifolia cross (fig. 1, 1) is a reverse leaf with the image of an unknown Holy Warrior (St. George?), dating from the second half of the 11th – 12th centuries. Such quadrifolia crosses (including two direct analogies) are known on the territory of Alania, originally imported from the urban craft centers of the Asia Minor provinces of Byzantium or Western Georgia, or could be made according to imported prototypes by local (or visiting) craftsmen. The four following crosses indicate the links between Alania and Ancient Russia. Two crosses (fig. 1, 2–3) – with three-part endings and a rhombic middle cross, one cross has traces of manufacturing defects – the right blade is not completely cast. These crosses were brought from the territory of the Old Russian state, where they are quite widespread and date back to the 11th – 12th century abroad. They are found on the territory of Latvia, Bulgaria and Romania, where they were also imported. The fourth cross (fig. 1, 4) is equi-pointed with rectangular branches. Similar crosses are known in the territory of Ancient Russia, from where they also came to the North Caucasus, where imitative crosses were made. They date from the end of the 11th – beginning of the 12th centuries. The fifth cross (fig. 1, 5) – with a square central part. Such crosses are widely found in many regions of Kievan Rus, but in the territory of the North Caucasus they were imported. Results. The considered finds of crosses complement the body of small Christian plastic products of the 11th – 13th centuries of ancient Russian origin, represented on the territory of Alania by crosses-encolpions, cast icons and coils. The presented finds of crosses not only add to the evidence of Christianization of Alania in the 11th – 12th centuries, but also indicate close trade, religious and ethno-cultural contacts of the population of the North Caucasus with the Asia Minor provinces of Byzantium, Georgia and Ancient Russia

New Findings of Crosses on the Territory of Historical Alania

Introduction. In the period from the 10th to the beginning of the 13th centuries on the territory of historical Alania (the east of Krasnodar Krai – the northern regions of Chechnya), the Christian church flourished. The material evidence of religious life in this territory is the data of staurography – namely, the finds of reliquary crosses, pectoral crosses, quadrifolia. The choice of the subject of personal piety was determined not only by the assortment of local craft workshops and the directions of trade relations, but also by the taste and capabilities of each person. Therefore, the study of this category of finds makes the historical and social portrait of the early Christians of the North Caucasus more prominent. Methods. As a result of the baptism of the Alans in the 10th century and the establishment of the Alan Diocese with its center in Nizhny Arkhyz (914), crosses of Byzantine provincial and ancient Russian origin are becoming widespread on the territory of Alania. With the spread of Christianity, imitative and imitation types of crosses appear in the local Alan environment, the finds of which have not yet been found outside the Caucasus. To date, there are more than 120 crosses-encolpia, pectoral crosses and quadrifolia of the 12th – 13th centuries known on the territory of historical Alania. In this regard, the discovery of each new cross is of outstanding interest. Analysis. Currently, to the body of crosses originating from the territory of Alania, we can add the finds of four more interesting specimens found in recent years in the eastern regions of Krasnodar Krai, the Karachay-Cherkessia Republic, the south of Stavropol Krai, and the north of the Chechen Republic. The first cross is the front leaf of the reliquary cross with the image of the Crucifixion, dates from the 11th – 12th centuries and belongs to the Byzantine crosses of the Balkan (?) origin. Such crosses are quite common, being one of the first in Old Rus, made by visiting craftsmen. The second cross – the reverse leaf of the reliquary cross with the image of the Virgin the Sign. Only two similar instances are known. These crosses were made by local (or visiting) craftsmen in Alania according to numerous Byzantine samples and date back to the 12th century. The third cross is one-sided, with the image of an unknown saint (St. Nicholas?). Crosses of a similar shape are known, but with the image of the Crucifixion. These crosses were made in the local, Alan environment and date back to the 12th – 13th centuries. The fourth cross is one-sided, silvered, with the image of the Crucifixion. As analogies, seven one-sided crosses identical in shape and composition from the territory of the Northern and Western Pre-Caucasus are given. In Alania, these crosses were in use from the middle or the second half of the 10th century to the turn of the 11th – 12th centuries. Different versions of the image of Christ are explained by the presence of several local workshops, as well as different craft and artistic traditions. Results. The presented finds of crosses not only add to the evidence of the Christianization of Alania in the 11th – 12th centuries, but also provide valuable information about the nature of the local, imitative Byzantine originals of the production of objects of personal piety

Book Review: Alekseenko, N. A. Byzantine Cherson of the 6th–13th CC. in the Monuments of Sphragistics. 1. Officials of Cherson of the 8th–11th CC. [Text]. – Sevastopol : Kolorit Publ., 2017. – 474 p. : 273 figs.

The review contains the analysis and evaluation of the monograph by N. A. Alekseenko devoted to the seals of officials of Byzantine Cherson of the 8th–11th centuries

The Byzantine Aristocracy in the Crimea and Taman: the Hagiostephanitai (12th Century)

Introduction. Finds of seals of representatives of more than 50 Byzantine names of 11th-12th centuries are known in the Crimea (Chersonesos, Sudak, Kerch, etc.) and Taman Peninsula by the present time. Among them are Doukai, Komnenoi, Palaiologoi, Angeloi, Kastamonitai, Vrahamiai, etc. From the end of the 11th century, the appearance of the seals of representatives of noble families on this territory can be an indicator of change of stratiotai with the private hetaireiai, especially members of the Komnenoi clan, in the empire. On the other hand, the interest of the highest layers of the Byzantine Empire to these territories could be due to the fact that the addressees hung the seals to the documents that were sent to their private possessions. Methods. In this context, the comparative analysis of a small number of seals met simultaneously in two or three urban centers is of undoubted interest for studying the Byzantine presence in the Crimean-Taman region (Chersonese, Sudak, Taman). Analysis. The found seals of various representatives of one and the same family in the Crimea and Taman are of great interest. This is the Hagiostephanitai family (12th century): the seal of Theodore was found in the Crimea, and the seal of Nicholas – in Taman. Results. In conclusion, the article presents information about four representatives of the Hagiostephanitai family known from sphragistic monuments

О христианском имени и политическом статусе Ростислава Тмутараканского

The article deals with the question of the Christian name of Rostislav Vladimirovich the prince of Tmutarakan. The newly found seal of Rostislav Vladimirovich shows that he bore the Christian name Gabriel (in honour of the archangel Gabriel), which came to the Rurikids probably from the Bulgarian Kometopouloi dynasty. The Greek legend on the seal of Rostislav speaks probably about his self-presentation as the ruler of the Greek-speaking territory. DOI: 10.31168/2305-6754.2023.2.01В статье рассматривается вопрос о христианском имени Тмутараканского князя Ростислава Владимировича. Новонайденная печать показывает, что он носил христианское имя Гавриил (в честь архангела Гавриила), которое пришло к Рюриковичам, возможно, из болгарской династии Комитопулов. Греческая легенда на печати Ростислава, вероятно, говорит о его саморепрезентации как правителя грекоязычной территории.DOI: 10.31168/2305-6754.2023.2.0

Turkels – a Turkic Family in the Byzantine Civil Service

Introduction. The paper considers the two Byzantine lead seals of the second half of the 11th century, the owner of which was a translator (ermeneutes) with a non-Christian name Turkeles. Analysis. The correct reading of the owner’s name was possible by comparing the sigillographic texts with the inscription on a silver bucket found in Perm region (Russia). This richly ornamented vessel made in the last third of the 11th – 12th c., belonged, according to the inscription, to a Christian person called Theodore Turkeles. The most probable etymology of this very rare name is Turkic. Because both seals originate from the territory of the Old Rus, we can suppose that he was involved in the northern policy of Byzantium. Results. It can be assumed that the owner of the seal, Turkeles, became the first Rhomaios in his family, entering the service of the Emperor as a translator from Turkic languages. The owner of the bucket, Theodore was called by the second name Turkeles, either from his father or as a family name. Since no other Turkeles is attested in the Byzantine sources, the bearers of this name were not very successful in cultivating their family tree, and the patronymic could simply not have time to turn into a family nickname

Leo Sgouros – Tyrant and Patriot. The Ruler of the Northeastern Peloponnese in the Early 13th Century

Leo Sgouros is one of the Byzantine magnates who ruled in the northeastern Peloponnese in the late 12th – early 13th centuries. The paper discusses the separatist activity of the Leo Sgouros which allowed him in a short time to create ephemeral ‘state’ in the South of Thessaly, Boeotia, Attica, Corinth and the Argolid. In order to give legitimacy to his authority Leo Sgouros married the daughter of the deposed Emperor Alexios III. But his way from separatism to Imperial idea was interrupted by the clash with the knights of the Latin Empire who have predetermined his defeat. Among the reasons for the defeat we can name the enmity with the clergy and nonpossibility of joining with other governors in fighting the crusaders. According to later legend, Leo Sgouros died, throwing himself with his horse from the cliff of the Acrocorinth fortress, besieged by the crusaders. According to another version, Leo Sgouros died under the walls of his native city Nauplius. The study examined the seal of the Leo Sgouros with a rare title of sebastohypertatos (higher sebastos), and similar seal which was reused by John Branas. Data analysis suggests that such a contradictory personality as Leo Sgouros’ may be characterized not only as an ambitious tyrant and the defender of Byzantine Hellenism. The Annex contains information about the seven of Sgouros names that have become known in recent years by virtue of the monuments of sphragistics

The Lapidary Collection of the Taman Ancient Settlement: Identification Options of the Byzantine Reliefs

The paper presents heterogeneous carved stone blocks of the Middle Ages, originating from different parts of the Taman settlement. Some of them are preserved only in photos, the rest are kept in the collection of the Taman archaeological Museum, as well as in Krasnodar. The considered artifacts are divided into three groups: 1) columns’ capitals and their fragments; 2) fragment of the plate depicting an angel holding the scarf; 3) blocks decorated with “twist”-type ornaments. Byzantine reliefs belong to two chronological groups. The first group (end of the 5th-6th c.) unites the four capitals and the fragment of plate with angel. Their presence proves the hypothesis that a church building of the early Byzantine period was located somewhere on the Taman settlement. The second group (9th-11th c.) includes the lost reliefs that were registered in the photos of the archaeological records by A.S. Bashkirov and B.A. Rybakov. It is likely that they are connected with the Byzantine church of the inscribed-cross type on the four pillars or columns, built in the 10th-11th centuries and existed in the Taman settlement till the 18th century. Analogies and the date of construction of the church allow narrowing down the period, shifting the emphasis in favor of the 11th century