Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-03
Early CoIonists in the Little
Peninsula.
EXPULSION OF CIMMERIANS
Graves Of Ancient Kings Scattered
About the Country.
CATACoMBs NEAR KERTCH
Colonization by the Karaims Eight
Centuries Before the
Christian Era.
BY WILLIAM T. CURTIS.
special COrrNspopdenre NJ The Star and m

BY WILLIAM T. CURTIS.
Special corrsspondenee Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
YALTA. the Crimea, August 2, 1910.
The Crimea Is a fascinating field for
historians and archeologists for its orig
inal inhabitants furnished much material
for mythology. and their remains abound
in various parts OF the little peninsula.
The Cimmerians. the first inhabitants re-
ferred to in history. were known to Homer
and Herodotus. and their gloomy situation
described in the Odyssey, Ills.
The Scythians. an Asiatic tribe. drove
the Cimmerians out Of the Crimea in $50
B. c. The latter crossed the Black sea
and settled along the coast Of Asia Minor
Thence they spread over Europe and
were the founders Of three races-the
Welsh. the Milesians and the Goths. Welsh
names abound throughout the Crimea.
and in the mountains of Wales the old
families are known as Cymry
The Strait of Kertch, which connects
the Sea of Azof with the Euxine or Black
sea. Is labeled the "Cimmerian Bospho-
| rus" on all the early maps. The word
''bosphorus" means literally the pas
sage Of an OK" and is an ancient desig-
nation of streams and water courses
which will permit an OK to cross them by
wading or swimming.
The port OF Theodosia, the first impor-
tant town on the Black sea south Of
Kertch. dates back thousand years be-
fore the Christian era, and was known to
Ptolemy, Strabo. Pliny and the historians
and geographev of the Romans, Greeks
and the Egyptians under the name Cana;
afterward as Ardava. which means 1.-The
City Of the Seven Gods This was the
capital Of the Milesians In the seventh
century before Christ and 1t was a place
Of great importance.
Tumuli and Catacombs.
Scattered Throughout the country are
tumuli which are believed to be the
graves Of kings, and several Of them
have already been explored with surpris-
ing success. Herodotus, the Greek his
torian. who must have visited Crimea
about 1915 or 400 B. c.. describes the
peninsula In considerable detail. and tells
about the burial ceremonies OF Scythian
chieftains. The same customs were fol-
lowed by the Milesians in Ireland CEN
turtles afterward.
He relates that when a king died his
body was embalmed and laid IN tomb
surrounded by at least one of his wives
and several of his servants and his
horses. who were strangled for that pur-
pose. His weapons. golden cups and
other articles Of daily use were placed
beside him In the sepulcher. In order that
he might be properly equipped in the
next world. Earth was than piled upon
the toEab until 1t formed a miniature
mountain.
Several of these tumun have been
opened. One. in which Palisades I. who
was King Of Crimea in the fifth GEN.
tvry B. c.. was buried. contained the
skeletons of his queen. OF several at
tendants. a horse. with helmet and
greaves. various arms and utensils for
eating and drinking and the bones Of
sheep.
In the neishborhood OF Kertch are ex-
tensive catacombs similar to those built
by the early Christians in Rome. Exca-
vations conducted under the direction Of
the Russian authorities several years
ago disclosed rich ornaments OF gold and
silver. quaint arms and utensils Of ex-
quisite workmanship. which are now in
the Hermitage Museum Of St. Peters
burg. The walls Of the catacombs are
plastered over and covered with cryptic
graphs and paintings. containing the his
tory Of prominent people who are buried
nearby. They are similar to the inscrip-
lions on the Egyptian tombs and repre-
sent combats, hunting scenes, court cere-
monies and various other human activi-
ties. with accurate pictures Of horses,
oxen. dogs and other animals. The men
are usually represented in shirts of mail.
wearing trousers supported by belts and
comical caps similar to the Turkish fez.
These catacombs date back at least $500
years, and. in several cases. the occu-
pants can be identified as the early SOW
ereigns Of the Cimmerians and the Mile
slams.