ZMEINYJ ISLAND: THE PROBLEMS OF RESEARCH AND PROTECTION
Serghej Okhotnikov, Anatoly Ostroverkhov
Zmeinyj island-Snake island- situated in the north-western part of the Black Sea, despite its small size (around 17 hectares), attracts rapt attention of researchers because of a number of reasons.
Serghej Okhotnikov, Anatoly Ostroverkhov
Zmeinyj island-Snake island- situated in the north-western part of the Black Sea, despite its small size (around 17 hectares), attracts rapt attention of researchers because of a number of reasons.Firstly, it is the only island of tectonic origin in the Black Sea. Because of its natural features the island has been included in the Ukrainian Register of Geological Monuments [3, p 96-97, No 473]. From the ecological and biological aspects, the island is a most important nesting site of migrant birds in Europe [7, p 268].
However most of all Zmeinyj is interesting as a historical and cultural site. During the antique epoch its name was Leuke, ie 'White’; here was a sanctuary of god-hero Achilles, well known from Homer’s Iliad. About this temple the prominent ancient scientists and poets wrote – Arctinus, Aristotle, Arrian, Euripides, Pausanias, Pliniy, Strabo, Philostratos and many others. The Roman Empire kept some units of its legions and sea squadrons on the island [5].
With the dissemination of the Christianity the sanctuary had lost its significance. Zmeinyj turned into a convenient anchorage place for ships. Byzantine ships pulled up to the island; Slavic ceramics of the IX – XII centuries was found there. The thing is that the island laid on the route ‘from the Varangians to the Greeks’. It is quite possible that during campaigns of the Kievan princes against Tzargrad (Constantinople) it served a station for the Russian boats.
In the written medieval sources the island is mentioned for the first time in the mid XIII century under the name of Filoksia. Later, in the XIV – XVI centuries, on maps by P Vesconte, A Bianco, on so called ‘C Columbus’ map’ and in many portolans of that period it is designated under the name of Fidonisi, Fudnis, Fudonis, Fidoniksi and at last Fidonisi. The last name had been in use in Europe during many centuries and when the Ottoman Empire dominated in the Black Sea region the island was called Ilan-Ada that means ‘Cerpents’ island’ (the same meaning has all the above names of the island) [6, p 54-57].
In the written medieval sources the island is mentioned for the first time in the mid XIII century under the name of Filoksia. Later, in the XIV – XVI centuries, on maps by P Vesconte, A Bianco, on so called ‘C Columbus’ map’ and in many portolans of that period it is designated under the name of Fidonisi, Fudnis, Fudonis, Fidoniksi and at last Fidonisi. The last name had been in use in Europe during many centuries and when the Ottoman Empire dominated in the Black Sea region the island was called Ilan-Ada that means ‘Cerpents’ island’ (the same meaning has all the above names of the island) [6, p 54-57].
A brief description of the island was made by famous traveller of the XVII century G L de Boplan [2, p 49]. Glazed ceramics found on Zmeinyj island dates back to the same time. Over there a stone vault with the buried in chain mail was discovered and an iron galley anchor dated back to the XVIII century was lifted from the water. Two headstones of Cossacks dated back to the XVII-XVIII centuries and emplaced probably during raids of the Zaporozhian Sech to Turkey were discovered on the island [1].
In 1788, the Russian fleet defeated the Turkish squadron at Fidonisi. One of the ships was in command of F F Ushakov who later on became a Russian admiral [4, p 36, 166]. During the Crimean War of 1853-1856 the island hosted a meeting of allies which preceded the siege of Sevastopol.
Upon decision of the Congress of Paris which took place after this war, the right bank territory of the lower Danube and Zmeinyj which had belonged to Russia from 1828 till 1856 were restored to Turkey and from 1879 the island became the Romanian territory. In World War I (1914-1918) Russia and Romania acted as allies and this place accommodated a joint garrison later on attacked by German cruiser Breslau. Torpedo-boat destroyer Lieutenant Zatsarennyi got blown up and sunk because of the mines laid by the cruiser. Russian ships Militina and Petr Darsy were destroyed in this locality. To commemorate them, an obelisk (Fig 2.1) and memorial boards were emplaced on the Island. A similar board was emplaced to commemorate the crew of submarine Maliutka, which sank during the Great Patriotic War in 1941.
Finally one more object of note on Zmeinyj – a lighthouse designed by architect Akroid and built in 1843. This is an extraordinary architectural edifice of octagonal form with a glass lantern on the top (Fig 1.1; 2.1).
Hence Zmeinyj island is a unique site where the ancient and modern history, ecology, geology and geography of the Black Sea have tightly interlaced.
Hence Zmeinyj island is a unique site where the ancient and modern history, ecology, geology and geography of the Black Sea have tightly interlaced.
However the state of this cultural and historical heritage is far from being satisfactory.
The archaeological layer got damaged due to modern unregulated construction efforts. Lately scientific research on Zmeinyj has had irregular character because of the lack of funds required to arrange supplies and for archaeological work itself.
Underwater investigations have gained an especially great importance there; during these investigations a collection of ancient antique anchors (around 50) being the biggest in the Black Sea region, numerous ceramic articles and other items were discovered within the Island water area.
In 1998, the authors supported by the Cultural Heritage Protection Department within Odessa Regional State Administration and jointly with Navarex archaeological club made an investigation of the Northern Bay of Zmeinyj. During This investigation resulted in the discovery of some more lead anchors the earliest of which dates back to VI-V centuries BC.
Findings of antique amphorae in this locality are under way. The last year three articles found on the seabed were delivered to the museum. All of them date back to the IV – III centuries BC. Several graffiti on amphora fragments and the black lacquered ware (Fig 3) were found on the land territory.
The said above urges not only to proceed with scientific research. It is necessary to bring all the activities being under way on the island and in its sea area, especially started lately, under strict control of the state, to give possibility to all organizations concerned - and to archaeological ones in the first place - to freely carry out necessary research there. The solution is seen in getting a special status (besides military) for Zmeinyj – the status of reserve or national park or any other which would allow saving a remarkable monument of our country’s history from ultimate destruction that is, in fact, is required by the Ukraine’s Protection and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments Act (Articles 34 – 37).
References:
1. Архив ОАМ. - № 59182.
(Odessa Archaeological Museum's Archives – No 59182.)
2. Боплан де Г.Л. Опис України. – К.: Либідь, 1990. – 129 с.
(G L de Boplan. The Description of Ukraine. – Kiev: Lybid, 1990. - 129 p.)
(G L de Boplan. The Description of Ukraine. – Kiev: Lybid, 1990. - 129 p.)
3. Геологические памятники Украины. Справочник-путеводитель. – К.: Наук. думка, 1985. – 222 с.
(Geological Memorials of Ukraine. Reference and guide book. – Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 1985. – 222 p.)
4. Золотарев В.А., Козлов И.Д. Российский военный флот на Черном море и Восточном Средиземноморье. – М.: Наука, 1988. – 287 с.
(V A Zolotarev, I D Kozlov. The Russian Navy at the Black Sea and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. - Moscow: Nauka, 1988. - 287 p.)
5. Охотников С.Б., Островерхов А.С. Святилище Ахилла на острове Левке (Змеином). – К.: Наук. Думка, 1993. – 139 с.
(S B Okhotnikov, A S Ostroverkhov. The Achilles’ Sanctuary on Leuke (Zmeinyj) Island. – Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 1993 – 139 p)
6. Охотников С.Б. Остров Змеиный в античное время и средние века. // Записки исторического факультета ОГУ им. И.И. Мечникова. Вып. 3. – Одесса, 1996. – С. 46—59.
(S B Okhotnikov. Zmeinyj Island in the Antiquity and in the Middle Ages // Odessa National University. Notes of the Faculty of History. – Issue 3. – Odessa, 1996. – P 46-59)
7. Черное море. Сборник. – Л.: Судостроение, 1983. – 286 с.(The Black Sea. Collection. – Leningrad: Sudostroienie, 1983 – 286 p)
(Geological Memorials of Ukraine. Reference and guide book. – Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 1985. – 222 p.)
4. Золотарев В.А., Козлов И.Д. Российский военный флот на Черном море и Восточном Средиземноморье. – М.: Наука, 1988. – 287 с.
(V A Zolotarev, I D Kozlov. The Russian Navy at the Black Sea and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. - Moscow: Nauka, 1988. - 287 p.)
5. Охотников С.Б., Островерхов А.С. Святилище Ахилла на острове Левке (Змеином). – К.: Наук. Думка, 1993. – 139 с.
(S B Okhotnikov, A S Ostroverkhov. The Achilles’ Sanctuary on Leuke (Zmeinyj) Island. – Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 1993 – 139 p)
6. Охотников С.Б. Остров Змеиный в античное время и средние века. // Записки исторического факультета ОГУ им. И.И. Мечникова. Вып. 3. – Одесса, 1996. – С. 46—59.
(S B Okhotnikov. Zmeinyj Island in the Antiquity and in the Middle Ages // Odessa National University. Notes of the Faculty of History. – Issue 3. – Odessa, 1996. – P 46-59)
7. Черное море. Сборник. – Л.: Судостроение, 1983. – 286 с.(The Black Sea. Collection. – Leningrad: Sudostroienie, 1983 – 286 p)
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