Tmutarakan

Tmutarakan, originally the Greek colony of Hermonassa, was a significant medieval trading town and a principality of Kievan Rus. Located strategically on the Taman Peninsula, it controlled trade routes between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The site has a rich history spanning several periods, starting as a Greek colony in the mid-6th century BCE and later becoming a Khazar fortress in the 7th century CE. By the late 10th century, it came under Kievan Rus control, and its multi-ethnic populace, including Greeks, Armenians, and Jews, thrived on trade. Archaeological evidence points to extensive construction over various periods, with notable structures like fortresses and a church built by Byzantine craftsmen. Its decline began in the 14th century, and the site was later rediscovered in the 18th century.