Eski Kermen (Эски- Кермен)

Eski Kermen

 

Location: Crimean peninsula  Map

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Description of Eski Kermen

Eski-Kermen is a medieval fortified city in the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula, 14 km south of the city of Bakhchisaray and 5 km north-west of the ruins of the medieval city of Mangup-Kale. The name is translated from Crimean Tatar as "old fortress". Along with this oikonym, another name of the fortress is known - “Kut” (“Kut-Eli”), which literally means “Gothic fortress” (or “City of the Goths”). According to the researchers, the etymological analysis of the oikonym (along with the results of archaeological excavations) indicates that a certain part of the Tauride Germans lived here, probably Gothic warriors and members of their families.

The territory of the city occupied an area of 8.5 hectares, having a length of 1040 m and a width of 170 m. It is built on a table-shaped mountain plateau, limited by cliffs up to 30 m high. It is one of the most visited cave cities of Crimea, after Chufut-Kale. It is included in the Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Reserve.

Routes to Eski-Kermen go from the villages of Kholmovka, Zalesnoye, Ternovka, Red Poppy, which can be reached by bus from Bakhchisaray.

 

History

The city was founded at the end of the 6th century AD as a Byzantine fortification and existed until the end of the XIV century. The history of the city before the 10th century is little known, since the city was an insignificant fortification. Although at the moment some researchers are inclined to the version that perhaps the Doros fortress was located here, and not on the Leaky Cape of Mangup-Kale. This is reflected in the name of the city by the Crimean Tatars: "Old Fortress". Indirect confirmation of this hypothesis is the presence of a siege well of the VI century, with a staircase of six marches and eighty steps, with a twenty-meter corridor; this was not the case in other known fortifications of the Byzantines during the construction of a defensive line against nomad raids in the Middle Ridge of Crimea.

From the 10th century, the gradual growth of the city and the growth of its significance began, with the greatest flowering falling on the 12th and 13th centuries, when the number of inhabitants exceeded 2000 people. At that time, a full-fledged medieval city already existed here, the plateau was built up with rectangular quarters, separated from each other by fairly wide streets, along which a wagon could pass. On the territory of the city was the ruling bishop of the district, as evidenced by the remains of the pulpit in the temple at the central gate. The basilica, presumably built in the period from the end of the 4th century to the beginning of the 8th century, is being rebuilt and expanded in the central part of the plateau.

In 1299, the city was destroyed by the Mongols under the leadership of the Golden Horde beklyarbek Nogay and was no longer able to fully restore its former significance. In 1399, the Mongol army, led by the temnik of the Golden Horde, Edigei, destroyed the rebuilt fortifications and completely destroyed the city, which was no longer restored after that. Only a small settlement remains in the vicinity: Cherkes-Kermen (village Strong), located between the northern tip of Eski-Kermen and Kyz-Kule. It existed from the period of late antiquity until the early 70s. XX century.

 

Attractions

Well-preserved fortifications of the 6th and 12th centuries.
About 350 caves carved into the rocks in the city itself and about 50 outside it. Most of them appeared in the XII-XIII centuries as utility rooms, mainly as cattle pens, less often as warehouses. A small part of the caves (15%) performed defensive or sacral functions.
The ruins of the basilica measuring 24×13 m from the end of the 6th century, with later additions in the 11th century.
The complex of the siege well of the VI century, with a staircase of six marches and eighty steps, with a twenty-meter corridor leading to a cave where drinking water accumulated. The well operated until the end of the 7th century.
Several cave temples carved into the rocks in XII-XIII with many frescoes (heavily damaged by vandals).