Alexander Butyagin

А large number of fragments of frescos from walls and а ceiling of open rooms, was found in Stabiae, which was lost in the eructation of Vesuvius in 79 AD, were discovered during excavations of expedition of the State Hermitage on Ariadna's villa. Тhе technique of fragments classification depending on the remained image on them was developed for the purpose of their mass studying. It is facilitated bу the standard organization of villas' wall painting compositions. Тhе PANТONE system was used for unification of color definition. Statistical processing of the received results allowed to divide fragments from different rooms moved during destruction of buildings and last excavations. Paintings from the lost parts of walls and the ceiling are taken to а correct restoration also.

В ходе работ экспедиции Государственного Эрмитажа на вилле Ариадны в Стабиях, погибшей в ходе извержения Везувия в 79 г. н. э., было найдено большое количество фрагментов фресок от стен и потолка открытых помещений. С целью их массового изучения была разработана методика классификации фрагментов в зависимости от сохранившихся на них изображений. Этому способствует стандартная организация композиций настенных росписей виллы. Для унификации определения цвета использовалась система PANТONE. В результате статистической обработки по­лученных результатов удается разделить фрагменты из разных помещений, перемещенные в ходе разрушения зданий и прошлых раскопок. Также поддаются уверенному восстановлению росписи потолков и утерянной части стен.

The article summarises the available data on the development of the Greek settlement of Myrmekion
in the latter half of the 6th and early 5th century BC. As of today, the early cultural layer has only been
discovered in the western part of the sector (the area adjacent to the bay and the acropolis). The layer
contains fragments of vessels in the recognisable Wild Goat style as well as early amphorae from Chios
and Miletus. The early settlement is unlikely to have measured more than 1.5 ha. The layer is fairly
modest in thickness, reaching 20–30 cm at the maximum.
As of today, no structures have been found which may be con dently dated to the period before the
6th century BC, including excavation sectors. Fragments of early East Greek pottery recovered from the
sectors may have got there as a result of a re dating back to the mid-6th century BC; the discovered
sectors with burnt soil also originated at this time point. The re that destroyed the settlement became
yet another important piece of evidence about the early architecture of the settlement as res of this
scale only occur in the presence of wooden structures.
The limited data suggest that Myrmekion was used as a mooring place and rock shelter over the rst
decades of its existence. In all probability the sector had some temporary dwellings which may have
included half-dugouts and wooden structures.

The authors publish an inscription found in 2015 in the territory of Myrmekion
(A. Bekhter – epigraphical part, A. Butyagin – context). Most probably, it is a list of thiasitai;
the paleographical features point towards the end of the 1st cent. BC – beginning of the 1st cent.
AD. Several personal names (Adrastos, Polynikos, Kollas) are attested for the frst time in the
Bosporan kingdom. The unique name Chosas attested elsewhere only in the epitaph CIRB 880
(Myrmekion, Ist cent. AD) allows to suggest that the persons mentioned in CIRB 880 were Chosas’
son and granddaughter.
The stele was found re-used in the masonry of a farmhouse of the Roman period. This fnd
makes it possible to give a more detailed chronology of the site and to clarify the succession of the
construction phases.

In the year 2003, when excavating the cellar in the manor of the 2nd - 3rd century A.D. near the Myrmekion acropolis, which is situated on the northern coast of the Kerch bау, а compact complex of 71 ceramic pyramidal weights was discovered. Analysis of this set of finds shows that there were weights manufactured at different times, in different forms, and of different degree of burning. Those ones that bear а mark, mostly imprinted before the burning, are of special interest. There are prints of keys, crosses made with а wand, letters «о» и «kV)>. Most part of the weights are marked with prints of а comb, evidently from а weaving loom. Undoubtedly, the pieces of this set were selected bу the owners according to their size and weight, and were used to manufacture rough fabrics on the vertical weaving loom. Perhaps the whole set was used in one weaving loom. Easy to make, the weights had been left behind in the cellar bу the inhabitants of manor when they left it around 300 A.D.