taurica

Taurica, also known as Taurica Chersonese, is the ancient name for the Crimean Peninsula in the northern Black Sea. The term appears in Greek and Roman geography to designate the region inhabited by the Taurians, an ancient people described in classical sources. Taurica Chersonesus refers more specifically to the Crimean peninsula and its southern coastal plain around the ancient Greek city of Chersonesus (Chersonesos Taurica).

Geography and origins: The Crimean Peninsula extends into the northern Black Sea, forming a land bridge between Europe and Asia. In antiquity it lay at the eastern edge of the Greek world and later became a frontier zone under Roman and Byzantine influence. The name Taurica emphasizes the connection with the Taurians, who were among the peninsula’s early inhabitants.

History and archaeology: The southwestern Crimean coast was home to Greek colonists who established Chersonesus Taurica and other settlements in the 6th–5th centuries BCE. The city flourished in the Hellenistic and Roman periods and yields extensive ruins today, including city walls, a theatre, and religious structures. The broader Tauric region saw successive controls by various powers, including Byzantium, the Goths, Khazars, and, in the modern era, the Crimean Khanate, the Russian Empire, and the present-day political status of Crimea.

Modern usage: In scholarly and historical contexts the term Taurica remains in use as a historical designation for the Crimean region. Today the peninsula is more commonly referred to as Crimea; since 2014 it has been administered by Russia, though its status is disputed by many states and international organizations.