Oath of the citizens of Chersonesos

The oath of citizens of Chersonesos is minted on a slab of white marble, decorated at the top with a cornice and pediment . This plate was found on the central square of Chersonese , near Vladimir Cathedral , the upper and lower parts - in 1890 in 1891 , and a small fragment - in 1899 . The inscription on the plate has been preserved almost completely (only part of the final phrase is missing). The monument was introduced into scientific circulation by V. Latyshev.

The text of the oath is given on the website of the Tauric Chersonesos Museum-Reserve ^[1]

I swear by Zeus, Gaia, Helios, Virgo, the gods and goddesses of Olympia and the heroes who own the city, region and fortifications of the Chersonesos:

I will be unanimous regarding the welfare of the city and citizens and I will not betray Chersonesos, nor Kerkinitida, nor the Beautiful Harbor, nor other fortifications, nor from the rest of the region, which the Chersonesites own or owned, nothing to anyone — neither Hellenes nor barbarians, but I will protect for the people Chersonesites;

I will not violate democracy and want to betray or violate, I will not permit and will not hide with it, but I will declare to the demiurges ruling in the city;

I will be the enemy, malicious and betraying, or incapacitating Chersonesos, or Kerkinitida, or Beautiful Harbor, or fortifications and the region of Chersonesites;

I will serve as a demiurge, and as a member of the council as best and as fair as possible for the city and citizens

and ΣАΣТНРА I will protect the people and I will not pass on in words to Hellenes or barbarians anything secret that could harm the city;

I will not give and will not accept the gift to the detriment of the city and fellow citizens;

I will not plot any unrighteous act against any of the citizens who have not fallen away and will not conceal anyone who is malicious and will not hide with him, but I will declare and in court I will vote in accordance with the laws;

I will not enter into a conspiracy either against the community of Khersonesites, or against any of the fellow citizens who are not declared an enemy to the people;

if, however, I entered into a conspiracy with someone or is bound by some oath or vow, then it will be better for those who break it, both for me and mine, and for those who stay — the opposite;

and if I find out any conspiracy, existing or being made up, I will declare to the demiurges;

and I will not sell exported bread from the plain and export it from the plain to another place, but only to Chersonesos.

Zeus, Gaia, Helios, Virgo and the Olympian gods, to him who abides in this, it will be good for himself and his family and mine, and not for those who abide - evil for himself and his family and mine; May neither the earth nor the sea bring fruit to me, women may not give birth to beautiful children, and may not ...

V. Latyshev believed that the oath was taken by every Kherson on entering the city’s communities. But S. Zhebelev expressed the opinion that the oath is a reaction of the authorities to a planned but unrealized or suppressed rebellion, in connection with which the citizens of the city were required to confirm their loyalty. Close to Jebel's version was also put forward by E.I. Solomonik . ^[2]

From the Oath, you can get an idea of ​​the boundaries of the possessions of Khersones , which was not just a colony, but an influential power that also controlled Kerkinitida (now Evpatoria ), the Beautiful Harbor (now the town of Chernomorskoe ), a number of fortifications and lands on the western coast of Crimea and the nearest agricultural territory (choir) on the Heracles Peninsula. From an economic point of view, the oath indicates the presence of a bread monopoly and the trade of Chersonesites with Scythians. You can also learn about the state system in the city-state of Chersonesos; so the main organs of the city were the Council and the National Assembly. Leaders of the city are called sworn demiurges.

In the oath, which had the character of an oath, in addition to the main triad of Greek gods - Zeus , Gaia and Helios - Khersonesses asked for the guardianship of the goddess Virgo, who was the main patroness of the city. Virgo is the deity of the aborigines of the Crimea of Taurus , borrowed by the Greeks of Chersonesos. Later, Virgo began to be identified with Artemis ^[3] .

The meaning of the word ΣАΣТНРА ("saster") remains not fully understood. According to V. S. Krisachenko, the word "saster" refers to the original sanctuary of the Virgin, which, according to S. Zhebelev, was located at a distance of 100 stages (17.7 km) from Chersonese, at Cape Parfeny (Fiolent) ^[4] .

• Epigraphy of Chersonesos
• Tauric Chersonesos

• Krisachenko V.S., Ukraine on the pages of the Holy Letter and excerpts from the source ..., - Kiev : Scientific Thought , 2000, p. 57-58.

• The oath of citizens of Khersones on the site of the museum-reserve