События второй половины IV в. до Р.Х. в устьевой области реки Танаис. Письменные источники и археологическая данность

Исторические Исследования. Журнал Исторического факультета МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова. 2017. № 8. С. 261–286.

Shelov-Kovedyaev F. V., Копылов В. П.

The paper considers the sources about the events took place during the second half of the 4th century BC
in the mouth of river Tanais. This territory was the center of the Eastern area of Scythia. All data indicate
complicated relations between the Bosporan Kingdom and the Don river delta area beginning from the middle 40s of
the 4th century BC. Archaeological data prove that at the time at question Elizavetovskoe settlement, the center of
one of the three largest regions of Scythia, survived a military action; at the end of the 4th century BC Scythians,
pressed by the Bosporan Kingdom, left their Don capital. At the place of former Scythian settlement Bosporan kings
founded the Elder Tanais, which in turn was completely destroyed in 70s of the 3rd century BC. The paper gives
complex analysis of all data considering Maeotians; these data make it possible to claim that Maeotians were among
nomadic Scythian population of the mouth of river Tanais, and consider that “all Maeotians”, mentioned in the
inscriptions made during the rule of Pairisades I, are the inhabitants of the Eastern coast of Lake Maeotis.

Keywords: скифы, Боспорское государство, закрытые комплексы, меоты, Елизаветовское городище, античные авторы, эпиграфические памятники, Большая греческая колония, два Танаиса, все маиты, Синдика