Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-09
PREHISTORIC CRIMEA.
English Fought I'm Land the
Greeks Told Fairy stories About.

fI.OHuOti s'vNl'ANF
We halt at the excavated city OF an
clent Kherson, remarkable TOT c"''o"
rock dwellings and tombs still containny
the bones of early inhabitants: oNt
whether of Tartar invader or Crock
colorlst, who shall say? Civilization anu
barbarism tread so closely on each other
In the Crimea that historical traces oi
the distant past often become CONFUSED
beyond recognition.
Grim Tartary, known TO the ancient
world as Chersonesus Taurica. possessed
a legendary reputation many Srhtuii
before the Christian era, but the carry
history OF the bleak anu barren pen, ab",
Is yelled in the twilight OF dreanihhi a.
myth Greek thought pictured the 'hei-
sonesus as a dark realm OF mysttry am
DEATH and the fancies OF the carry pp' =
teemed with vivid imagery dra~n iro l
the inhospitable shores ana savage ,'il
washed by the stormy WIVES " Wv
treacherous Euxine. ..
Although the city of Sebastopol was
built on the supposed site Of hhers9 .
when the Crimea was annexed 10 tuost,,
i'm i1S6 recent excavations show thnt w
ancient town extended far inland, sanly
tracks seam the plain in every dlrectioh
around the rocky dwellings on the eatS
Turf: baths ovens, ana clsterhs hoh
combed the granite founda,iohsi a,ih
museum contains numerous househoio
utensils OF earthenware ana IRON az
gether with the stone weapons ana HINT
arrow heads OF primitive times. 600.
Rude carvings of discs and circles aNln-
bolize some forgotten Eastern creed
hurled too deeply In the dust or ages ~
be capahle OF excavation. Archaic seup-
ture. Greek inscriptions, ana roman conan
and we escape from the bewilderins
chronology of ancient kherson TO the
neighbor.ng church of ST. Vladimir,
distinct landmark OF one mn, meh ao,in,
sanctuary now forms the crypt OF tnt
brilliant cathedral over head. ana inc
rugged simplicity Of the venerable church
contrasts sharply with the elaborate or
nauent Of the modern temple.
The black stone font wherein me apns-
tie of Russia baptized the irst Tartar
converts 10 Christianity occupies the n
tire Of the shaaowy crypt; The snot or
and considered holy ground. Wild-looking
peasants, with matted hair and lons
boards are kissing the. l"weilen tyons
i'm tho upper church. with much prenn,-
narv having and crossing The uncou'h
aspect OF these fervent Worship rs shovs
that. even In the nineteenth century, kvs-
sa still hoyers on the edge OF DaTDd-
rism. ...u-,, %
81 George. hewn in a granite cliH "hien
towers up perpendlculary from ,nr
Black Sea. Long tunnels lesu 10 lfns
ninth OF cells and chapels. from whe',r
side of the preciDice. wcere aroutus eng;
10 the narrow lodges ana yellow broom
trees wave In the winds.
These impregnable strongholds we, we're a ape
trihes OF wandering Tartars In the
early days Of Rgsssn c Csd,ss lcb ana ~
iaosnds OF attack and d-fsuc- c9lorct
by the miracles OF local 81, saints Eit
additional interest TO English mings
Miss Nightingaie's headquarters GurinF
the Crimean war. - -, ...
s brown-frocked monk, with long grty
cnrls and aowinz beard. conducts
through the maze Of rock tnnn ,s n !
chanting OF the Eastern Church ming
with the eternal voice. OF the sea AZ y
breaks into foam against the fro"n.h .
cliff Across the water, blus as moi'f J
iapIs-lazuli to-day. thousands OF So
eIills 1y in a white cloud to their houi
in the rocks. described as THE bi!' +.
haunted headlands" even In the s,. Day o,a o
drame, "Iphlgena in Tauris,' the wa
scenery of this iron-bound coast. with Tvs
fierce traditions OF human sacrifice ana
harbarIc orgies.