When we say the word “Naples,” our imagination immediately conjures up beautiful panoramic views of Italy. But in our region, many centuries ago, there was also a city of Naples, and today many tourists pass by in the summer, unaware of its glorious history. The city was located in a region no less fertile than Italy—Taurida, on the site of today's Simferopol in Crimea.
Most tourists visiting Crimea come to Simferopol, as it has a train station and airport. But no one stays long; everyone heads to the sea. However, sometimes you have to wait for a train for several hours, and to avoid being bored at the station, you can go see the site of the ancient city. The archaeological reserve is located on Arkheologichnaya Street, on Petrovsky Plateau. You can get there from the train station by minibus. Unfortunately, it's not a popular excursion destination, so you won't find any infrastructure there.
The city was founded in the 3rd century BC, when the more warlike Sarmatian tribes drove the Scythians into Taurida (modern-day Crimea). The name comes from the Greek word Neapolis, meaning “New City.” However, historians suggest that the Greeks used this name, adapting the obscure Scythian name to something more resonant.
For six centuries, the city served as the capital of the late Scythian state. The site was well chosen, with natural cliffs on one side and a ravine on the other. The city was built as a powerful fortified fortress, as it was constantly at war, including with the Greek city of Chersonesos (which stood on the site of Sevastopol).
Scythian Neapolis was a large and bustling city. Many merchants flocked here, and the royal palace and houses of noble citizens were located there. The fortress was repeatedly destroyed and plundered, but was rebuilt each time. It is believed that it was finally destroyed by the Huns in the 4th century AD. After this, its existence was forgotten for many centuries. Many centuries later, other settlements were established in its place.
The remains of the old city were discovered by chance in 1827. Coins, slabs depicting horsemen, and inscriptions were found. Extensive archaeological excavations were conducted at the site in the 1940s and 1950s under the direction of Pavel Shultz. Among the finds were slabs with paintings, burials, and even the mausoleum of a Scythian king. It turned out that the mausoleum was almost completely preserved and had not previously been looted.
Scientists have suggested that this could be the tomb of King Skilurus, whose skull was used to create the sculpted portrait by anthropologist Gerasimov. The ancient Greek historian and geographer Strabo mentioned this king in his works. During his reign (second century BC), Scythia reached its peak and occupied vast territories from the Crimean steppe to the Dnieper and Southern Bug. He succeeded in subjugating Olbia and formed an alliance with the Bosporan Kingdom. After some time, he even attempted to capture Chersonesos, but the Greek army was stronger, and the Pontic ruler Mithridates VI Eupator routed the Scythians. Skilurus himself may have died in one of these battles.
After the excavations, scientists proposed creating a historical and cultural reserve, but funding was lacking, so many finds were buried again, and the most valuable were sent to museums. In the 1990s, a replica of the Gate Tower was built. In 2011, a historical and cultural reserve was established on the site of Scythian Neapolis, and it may become a popular tourist destination in the future.
Having visited this place, one can now only imagine the former power of the Scythian capital.
