108 
FROM THE CIMMERIAN BOSPORUS, 
chap. In the short distance from Yenikole to Kertchy, 
■ little more than eleven versts, or seven English 
Kll,ns ' miles, we observed, upon the cliffs above the 
belongs to the series of the first and second dynasty, in which the succes- 
sion — whether of the ArchcEanaclidtc , beginning with the year of Rome 
207, and ending 309, or with the more immediate predecessors of Mithra - 
dotes , from Sjmrtocus (so written in inscriptions) to Pcerisades— is not 
to be determined. Mithradates began his reign in Bosporus by the cession 
of Pccrisades , in the year of Home 63 9 ; viz. one hundred and fifteen 
years before Christ. The Bosporian sera begins with the year of Rome 
457 (viz. two hundred and ninety-seven years before Christ), and ends 
in the time of Constantine the Great ; so that the monarchy continued at 
least eight hundred years. It is proper to pay particular attention to this 
circumstance, as many of the Botporian medals have their dates upon the 
obverse side. Thracian medals have the same peculiarity : but there is an 
easy method of distinguishing a Thracian from a Bosporian medal. Upon 
the Thracian medals the Omega is written Cl, and the Sigma 'l. Upon 
the Bosporian, the Omega h written OJ, and the Sigma C. By due atten- 
tion to this very evident criterion, much confusion may be avoided. 
Polemo the First succeeded to the throne of Bosporus thirteen or twelve 
years before Christ. The medals of this king are extremely rare. The 
head of Marc Antony, or of Augustus, generally appears upon tlie 
obverse side, to whom he was indebted for the kingdom. He was priest 
of a temple in Rome consecrated to Augustus , as appears by a curious 
inscription preserved by Cary. ( Hist, dcs Rois du Bosphore , p. 4J.) 
Immediately after Polemo, succeeded Sauromates the First ; upon whose 
medals we see the interesting representation of the regalia sent from Rome 
for his coronation. The letters Mil, in a wreath or crown of laurel, 
have not hitherto been explained. The medals of this king, whether in 
silver or bronze, are so rare as to be considered almost unique. (See 
JEckhel , JDoct. Num. Vet. vol. II. p. 370.) Sauro mutts, as well as his 
successor, Rhescuporis the First, took the names of Tiberius Julius , to 
which an inscription at Taman refers. Pellcrin has preserved the 
legend on this medal, entire. T. IOTAIOT BACIAE&/C CATPOMATOT. 
Sauromates and Rhescuporis were kings of Bosporus only. Rhescuporis 
reigned in the time of Tiberius , and had this legend on a medal de* 
scribed by Cary , and by Eckhel ( Doct . Num. Vet. vol . II. p. 375) : 
TIBEPIOC IOTAIOC BACIAETC PHCKOTITOPIC. Polemo the Second' 
succeeded Rhescuporis , in the 38th year of our feraj after whom, A. D. 42, 
came Mithradates the Second . 
