Patrai — Western Emporium Anchorage at Taman Strait (Western Strait) — v2
Patraeus West Harbour · Patrai Strait West · Bata-Patrai Lagoon West
Archaic to Late Antique (600 BCE – 400 CE)·Ionian Greek / Bosporan·🇷🇺 Russia, Krasnodar Krai, Taman Peninsula, Patrai western Strait anchorage, Taman Strait west shore, Russia
About
About Patrai — Western Emporium Anchorage at Taman Strait (Western Strait) — v2
Western emporium anchorage of Patrai at Taman Strait western shore, where the Bosporan Strait toll emporium now lies 1–4 m submerged. Distinct from eastern Taman Strait emporium already in database, this western annex preserves 70 m rubble mole at –3 m, western quay with mooring rings at –2 m and emporium warehouse platforms at –1.5 m mapped 2019 Taman Strait diving. Founded as Milesian emporium c. 600 BCE to tax Strait grain passage, Patrai thrived as Bosporan customs harbour until 370 CE Hunnic breach. Straits cores show ballast mound with Chian amphora at 3 m.
Why it mattersWestern anchorage proves bipartite Patrai customs harbour; mole ballast Chian amphora dates fix Milesian toll chronology and Strait sea-level.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether western mole is customs harbour or lagoon fishery
- 02Attribution of ballast mound to 540 BCE Persian blockade?
Theories
- 01Western mole taxed Strait passage while eastern handled lagoon cabotage
- 02Emporium abandoned after Strait current shift post-3rd c.
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 600 BCE Milesian emporium; western mole 5th c. BCE
- Period
- Archaic to Late Antique (600 BCE – 400 CE)
- Culture
- Ionian Greek / Bosporan
- Purpose
- Bosporan harbour and anchorage — grain, fish-salting and cabotage port
- Abandoned
- 370 CE Hunnic sack and Strait silting
- Rediscovered
- 19th c. antiquarian; modern diving 2010s
- Excavation
- Submerged
c. 600 BCE
Milesians found Patrai as Strait emporium
5th c. BCE
70 m western rubble mole and customs quay built
2019
Taman Strait diving maps western mole at –3 m
On the ground
Structures & features
45.1230° N · 36.8450° E · -2 m · 3 mapped features
Western Rubble Mole (70 m)
mole70 m western mole at –3 m with ashlar cap
45.1235° N · 36.8455° ECustoms Quay with Mooring Rings (50 m)
quay50 m western quay at –2 m with iron mooring rings
45.1225° N · 36.8460° EEmporium Warehouse Platforms
warehouseWarehouse platforms 20×20 m at –1.5 m timber-pile
45.1230° N · 36.8440° E