To the history of Chersonessos of Tauric in the 1st half of the 3rd century

In the first half of the 3rd century Chersonessos of Tauric had been experiencing economic and political decline: from that time such legislatures as Council and Assembly were never mentioned in city epigraphic documents. Chersonessos stopped minting coins at the time of Alexander Sever ruling (222 - 235 AD). Interruption continued until the beginning of the 5th century. The series of archaeological complexes of the first half of the 3rd century, excavated on the city, showed traces of fire and destruction of that time. But the next inscriptions dated after the first quarter of the 3rd century evidenced about beginning of the restoration works in the city. One of them dated 245 AD informs us about tower restoration, and the second inscription from citadel dated 250 AD, evidenced about restoration of garrison shola of principals. The layers of destruction in citadel of Chersonessos are dated more precisely - by the end of first quarter of the 3rd century or a little later. The studying of historical context in North Black sea region shows that in 220s AD the reason of destruction could be external factor in a form of sarmat-alan’s movement from the East. The Roman fortifications in South-Western Crimea were destroyed, the chora of Chersonessos was abandoned, so-called late Scythian state in Taurica declined, Olbia and Tyra stopped minting coins after nomad’s defeat. It should be noted about so-called Goth’s attack on the cities of North Black sea region in 238 AD. Today this event is no more than historiographical myth due to the established tradition. Many researchers wrote about possible destruction of Olbia and Tyra, but the coins after 220s AD haven’t been discovered in layers of fire in the cities. Although it was believed that Goths reached Bosporus. In the end of 330s AD some fighting happened there, but according archaeological data it took place in the South-Eastern part of state. Therefore, involvement of Goths in that evens seems doubtful. Without new data it is impossible to say definitely that the barbarians who have attacked North Black sea region, refers to destructions of Chersonessos. We can’t exclude the earthquake factor, because life in the city didn’t interrupt. Further work with archaeological complexes of the city of the first half of the 3rd century should complete those lacks in history of Chersonessos.