[gothic-l] Jewish Community of Mangoup
Serge Chernush
authari at MAIL.RU
Fri May 6 12:27:58 UTC 2005
A,G. Gertsen Ukraine. Crimea.
Simferopol State University
Jewish Community of Mangoup According to Archaeological Data
Until the creation of external fortification belt in Genoese Kafa (Feodosia) at the end of XIV
century Mangoup was the largest in area (about 1 km2) fortified settlement in Crimea. It was situated on
the top of the plateau at the height of about 600 m above sea level. Inaccessible steep slopes (height up
to 70 m) form the most part of its contour. Natural defense and water sources existence attract people
here since ancient times. Building of fortification constructions started at the early Medieval time. Prime
of the settlement was in XIV-XV centuries, when it became the capital of Feodoro Principality, which
occupied the most part of the South-western Crimea and had boundaries with the Genoeses and Tatars.
Government of the Principality probably consisted of members of provincial aristocratic dynasty, which
had ties of relationship with Paleologues, what confirmed by portrayal of double head eagles on the four
of known epigraphic monuments (20th -50th, XV cent.). In 1475 the Principality was occupied by Turks-
Osmans, the capital was captured after six month siege.
Following history of Mangoup (XVI-XVITI centuries) is bound up with Jewish community,
inhabited this territory. In literature, usually, this community is determined as Karaites one.
Written sources on the Karaites community of Mangoup could be symbolically divided into two
groups: the first one consists of travellers notes and juridical documents, dated to XVI-XVII1 centuries;
the second - chronographic additions on the margins of hand-written books, which are basically
included into collection of A.S. Firkovich (stored at the State Public Library of Russia in Saint-
Petersburg) and epigraphic monuments of Jewish cemetery at the Tabana-dere Canyon at Mangoup.
Selection of these two groups is explained by considerable contrast in texts chronology and its
content.
Written sources of the first group give a view on development of community in XVI-XVIII
centuries. The author of the first description of Crimea - Polish ambassador Martin Bronevskiy, who
visited Mangoup in 1578, says about population of the town: "only one Greek and some Jews and Turks
live there; everything else is in terrible oblivion".
According to data of Turkish Defters (published by Jule Wainshtein), Jewish Community
amounted 48 families in 1520, what was 28% of all population (approximately 670 persons, Christian
and Muslim Communities); in 1542 - 35 families - 36% of all population (about 500 persons). In 1638
(according to A. Fisher) there were 76 houses of Jews, 41 Greek houses, and in 1649 - 68 Jewish houses
and no Greek ones.
In the middle of XVII century, G- Boplan wrote about 60 Jewish houses.
It is specially underlined in comprehensive description of Mangoup, composed by Turkish
traveler Eviia Chellebi (1666), that Jews here are of Karaites religion, not familiar with koshrut and
Jewish language, speak Tartar. Other Jews don't like them. It is interesting, that he don't say about
Karaites in relation to Chufut-Kale Jews. The basic occupation of Mangoup community was currying
(skin processing), beginning from Eviia Chellebi all further traveler's inform that. Probably remaining of
stone tuns at the upper part of Tabana-dere canyon is connected with that manufacture. Soon after
including Crimea into Russia, Jews left Mangoup, settling down at Chufut-Kale, Bakhchisaray and
Evpatoria. At the end of XVIII century settlers built the second synagogue at Chufut Kale, which
decoration, according to the legend, was exported from Mangoup.
Before publication of preliminary results of A.S. Firkovich and D.A. Hvolson researches, there
were opinion in scientific sphere and Crimean Karaits themselves that they appeared in the Crimea
approximately at the same time that Tatars, came here from Persia and other oriental countries.
Publication of epigraphic finds at Mangoup and Chufut Kale by Firkovich (Avne Zikkaron. Vilno,
1872), statements of D.A. Hvolson were targeted the considerable shift back of Karaites stay in Crimea,
what caused stormy discussion, which have not finished yet.
Dealing with Mangoup, the following scheme appears according to Firkovich materials-In 805
khazars captured fortress Dori (later Mangoup) from Goths, who oppressed local Jews-About 840,
khazars founded Mangoup, where khazars themselves and Jews from Tamatarka (Tmutarakan) settled
down.
There are 72 epitaphs since 866 till 1777 shown in "Avne Zikkaron". Special report by Natalia
Kashovskaya is dedicated to this group of monuments.
The beginning of the direct study of Jewish monuments of Mangoup is usually connected with
the name of Peter Keppen, who inspected the cemetery in 1833 and examined gravestone with date 5034
(1274 A.D.). It is important to mention, that Keppen in footnote 43 (page 29), says that information was
provided by Karaites gaham Mordehay Sultanskiy, who specially came to see monuments at Mangoup.
During the full swing of polemics between supporters and antagonists of A.S. Firkovich, F.A.
Brown specialist m Scandinavian Studies started excavations at Mangoup, looking for the Goths traces.
In 1890 he met here teachers from Feodosia Karaites School, excavating the Tabana-dere cemetery by
order of Tauric and Odessa gaham Nangulov. By request of Nangulov, Brown examined some
inscriptions by magnifier and witnessed that he didn't see a sign of falsification. He made paper prints
from 7 inscriptions dated since 875 to 983 A.D., but he didn't guarantee their authenticity. That
materials were transferred to Asian Museum in Saint-Petersburg, and unfortunately not found till
present.
Specialist in Byzantine studies Roman Leper held excavations at Mangoup in 1912-1914. He
excavated some burials at the Jewish necropolis and found skeletons with deformed skulls and coins of
V century. Unfortunately we are unable to determine the location of those excavations. By the way.
Leper himself connected those burials not with Jews but with Goths or Alans. Characterising necropolis
in general he mentioned that inscriptions on the gravestones "mostly of XV-XVII centuries, number of
more older are low".
In that period stormy discussion on belonging the cemetery to Karaites or Rabbinates developed
in press Leper took part of Rabbinates. One of his arguments was results of synagogue excavations at
the upper parts of canyon. Here Leper found a stone gutter, which he connected with the existence of
Mikva. Unfortunately, excavations of synagogue were not finished because of the broken World War.
Archaeological excavations of Jewish monuments started again only in 1985 by expedition of
Simferopol State University. At that time marking-out of necropolis territory for the future
topographical survey was carried out- Since 1990 excavations were held systematically. Group from
Jewish studies institute from Saint-Petersburg under leadership of N. Kashovskaya took part in it, they
held epigraphic surveys. Archaeological excavations at its territory were held in 1985-86, and than
resumed in 1991 with participation of 0. Beliy, scientist from Bakhchisaray museum. This work
continues at present time. Now we can make only some preliminary conclusions.
It is necessary to describe periodic history of Mangoup first of all, based on the many years of
excavations and written sources-
1. Prefortress period: (middle III - middle VI centuries), upper parts of canyons were mostly
explored. Population - mostly Goths and Alans, among whom Christianity was spreading.
2. Early-Byzantine fortress period (VI - VIII centuries). Creation of powerful defensive system,
building of big Basilica.
3. Khazar period (end ofVIII - first half of IX century). Short capture of the fortress by khazars,
which didn''t reflect much material culture of population.
4. Thema period (middle IX - X centuries). Fortress was back under Byzantine power.
5. Desolation period (XI-XHI centuries).
6. Earlier Feodoro period (XIV century). City buildings appeared on the plateau, citadel was
built on Teshkli-burun cape; at the end of the century city is devastated by Tamerlan's
(Timur) army.
7. Later Feodoro period (1st - 3rd quarter of XV century). Renaissance of the Feodoro
Principality capital, construction of the palace and the second defensive line, reconstruction
of Basilica and citadel.
8. Turkish period- (end XV - 70th years of XVIII century). After the capture by Turks, the city
gradually falls into neglect and fully left by residents at the beginning of the 90th years of
XVIII century.
I mentioned in my report at the previous XIth congress, that according to results of excavations
by Ural archaeologists, Jewish blocks, occupied territory around the ruins of Big Basilica, functioned in
XVI - XVIII centuries. As to necropolis, the mostly earlier gravestones, not arising doubts on
authenticity of their dates, dated back to the end of XTV-middle XV centuries (gravestone of
Evfrosinya) near the defensive wall, built across the canyon in Turkish period in 1503-
Archaeological profile of the western slope in the central part of the canyon is examined by the
excavations of 80-90th. Near the excavation site there were gravestones with dates 1026, with the name
Mordehy son of Jacob, 1008, 998, 1632, the last is missing in "Avne Zikkaron" (reading of the
inscriptions and date determination by Alexander Hosroev, scientist from Leningrad Department of
Oriental Studies Institute). The low edge of site reached thalweg, soil here is much swamped because of
the spring, which begins at the upper part of the canyon. Long stone rows among which ran-wild fruit-
trees grow are easily noticeable.
The upper layer - humus of black colour, formed from the alluvium of the spring after the
cemetery was neglected.
The second layer - dark-grey loam, width 0,2-0,4 m. From its surface level cemetery graves
were dug . Stone ruins of terrace, traced at all the area of excavations, are connected with this layer.
Material of XIV-XV centuries, i.e. Feodoro Principality period, dominates in this layer.
The third layer with width 0,2-0,9 m - loam of yellow colour. Cemetery graves are located in
this layer, inculcated the lower part of terrace ruins. Material in the layer is similar to the previous. Up
to 3 local layers (layers 5-6) traced at separate sections of excavations site, containing very fragmented
material dated to IX-X centuries and earlier period.
At the examined burials corpse lay on back, arms usually lay on a pelvis bones or under it. Legs
are stretched, sometimes brought together in shins and feet. Deceased were buried in a wooden coffins,
what is shown by finding of forged iron nails-Funeral inventory connected with the clothes, deceased
were buried in, and also with the jewellery used when alive- These are: golden threads from belt
embroidery, bronze finger-rings, colored glass beads, bone-made buttons. The inventory in general is
rather poor.
Situation at the excavation site could be interpreted the next way. On the slopes of the canyon,
probably, already in IX-X centuries works on terrace building started. In XIV-XV centuries new terrace
horizon was created, using stones from the constructions of earlier periods. Most likely, territory of
gardens of principality capital residents was organised with that terraces. There is indication on that in
low used source - description of Mangoup in lyrics, created by monk Matthew about 1395. It says about
beautiful gardens within the city boundaries, which irrigated by the water running downwards. This
picture is mostly correspondent to the situation traced by the excavations in Tabana-dere.
Only after terrace functioning termination and beginning of their destruction process, burials
appeared here, its graves were mostly made taking in accountaifially formed landscape, i.e. using the
ground sections limited by stone mins ancfm th^^^^ Thus, period of functioning of cemetery section
containing gravestones with- epitaphs from X till XVII centuries is determined as the end of XV - XVin
centuries according to the archaeological data-
The second archaeological topic, connected with the history of Jewish community of Mangoup
is the issue on Mikva near the synagogue.
Excavations of current 1997 year recovered sections excavated by Leper and stone gutter found
mentioned in his notes. However, its purpose was rain water collection from the synagogue yard.
We have much more foundation to identify as Mikva artificial cave construction 25 m South-
west from synagogue, which presents chamber in rock with a basin in the bottom, with an trap-entrance
(a corner view in plan) and stairs. There is no analogue for this construction among big number of
monuments of rock architecture in Crimea.
But niche in front of the entrance with steppes in the cornier is similar, to the: one I saw in
Sephoris. And in general, there is analogue to Mangoup complex in Worms (Germany) -Mikva, but
deeper one, near synagogue of XI century.
Preliminary results of study, held in July of this year give foundation to guess, that synagogue
has at least two function periods: XIV-XV centuries, i.e. Feodoro Principality period and later - XVI-
XVI3I centuries. Probably, appearance of Mikva could be synchronized with the first period.
Of course, our study is now only in beginning phase. We cannot exclude probability of
detection of earlier traces of synagogue construction remaining and corresponding burials at necropolis,
which total square reaches 4 hectors. Issue on confession differentiation of Mangoup Jewish community
is still opened. However, solution of this and other issues is hardly possible only by archaeological
means- Only coordinated forces of scientists of different specialties will solve the problem, which
historian S. Dubnov in the title of his article, dedicated to the monuments of Mangoup, published in
1914 in magazine "Jewish Antiquity)), determined as "Historical Mystery of Crimea)).
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