Panticapaeum, Archaeological site on Mount Mithridates, Kerch, Russia.
Panticapaeum is an archaeological site spread across Mount Mithridates in Kerch, showing remains of temples, palaces, and fortification walls scattered at different levels. The ruins reveal how an ancient city was organized from the base to the summit of the mountain.
Settlers from Miletus established this city in the 7th century BC, and it later became the capital of the Bosporan Kingdom, a major trading center in the Black Sea region. The site remained inhabited for many centuries before eventually being abandoned.
Pottery, jewelry, and stone carvings found here reveal how Greek, Scythian, and Sarmatian peoples lived and traded together over many centuries. Walking through the excavations, you see evidence of different cultures leaving their mark on the same place.
Start your visit at the base of the mountain and climb up using the main staircase, passing ruins at different levels as you ascend toward the summit. Wear sturdy shoes since the path is steep and there are many uneven surfaces to navigate.
The ancient acropolis here was once fortified so strongly that its defensive structures outmatched those of Athens itself. What makes this remarkable is that people kept living here almost continuously for thousands of years, right up until modern times.
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