7 Arhiepiscopiei Street, Ovidiu Square, Constanța
Museum Complex Histria
Istros/Histria, the oldest Greek colony on the western shore of the Black Sea, was founded by the Milesians in 657–656 BC. Although the fortress was identified on the ground since the second half of the 19th century, the first systematic research was initiated in 1914 by Vasile Pârvan.
"The Danube, after crossing the whole of Europe, flows into the sea, namely into the Euxine Pontus, near Histria, a city inhabited by Milesian colonists." (Herodotus, Histories, 2.33).
Historical monument: CT-I-s-A-02681 in LMI
Once located in a marine bay, today Lake Sinoe, not far from the mouths of the Danube, a river to which it linked its existence, the Histrian fortress contributed decisively for 14 centuries to defining a space of interculturality in the northwest of the Euxine Pontus.
History and ancient importance
Histria was one of the oldest and most important Greek colonies in what is now Romania, founded in the 7th century BC. Over time, it became an important commercial and cultural center, influential in the Black Sea area. The monument reflects a fascinating mosaic of Greek, Roman and local influences.
Well-preserved ancient ruins
The museum complex includes important remains of the ancient city of Histria, including temples, baths, fortifications, as well as the remains of dwellings and shops. These ruins are essential for understanding the evolution of the city and the civilizations that inhabited it.
History Museum
The nearby museum houses a valuable collection of artifacts discovered at the archaeological site, including ceramics, coins, statuettes, and inscriptions that illustrate the daily life and religious practices of the inhabitants of Histria.
Geographic positioning
Histria is located in a strategic location on the shores of Lake Sinoe, close to the Black Sea, which offers an impressive panorama of the region and a better understanding of the city's commercial and naval context in antiquity.
Rich archaeological material
Archaeological excavations at Histria have revealed a diverse range of objects reflecting daily life in antiquity, including cult objects, some of them unique, which provide precious details about the religion and beliefs of the people of that period.
Educational and touristic importance
The museum complex and ruins of Histria are a major tourist destination, but also a key site for archaeological research and education. Visitors can learn about the region's ancient history, and researchers can continue to explore the multiple layers of civilizations that have influenced the area over the centuries.
Istros/Histria, the oldest Greek colony on the western shore of the Black Sea, was founded by the Milesians in 657–656 BC. Although the fortress was identified on the ground since the second half of the 19th century, the first systematic research was initiated in 1914 by Vasile Pârvan. The site was managed by Scarlat Lambrino, Emil Condurachi, Dionisie M. Pippidi, Petre Alexandrescu, Alexandru Suceveanu. Over time, the research was attended by Grigore Florescu, Emilian Popescu, Nubar Hamparțumian, Suzana Dimitriu, Maria Coja, Aurelian Petre, Maria Alexandrescu Vianu, Catrinel Domăneanțu, arch. Dinu Theodorescu.
The archaeological research is organized under the coordination of the "Vasile Pârvan" Institute of Archaeology in Bucharest. The current research team includes: archaeologists Alexandru Avram and Mircea Victor Angelescu (coordinators), Irina Achim, Iulian Bîrzescu, Mircea Dabîca, Florina Panait Bîrzescu, architects Monica Mărgineanu Cârstoiu and Virgil Apostol.
Partner institutions: University of Rostock (Konrad Zimmermann), Maison de l’Orient, Lyon (Pierre Dupont), Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanța (Virgil Lungu, Constantin Băjenaru, Irina Sodoleanu, Gabriel Talmațchi, Laurențiu Cliante), National Museum of History of Romania (Crișan Mușeteanu, Paul Damian, Adela Bâltâc, Eugen Paraschiv-Grigore, Alexandru Bădescu), “Al. I. Cuza” University of Iași (Octavian Bounegru), University of Bucharest (Valentin Bottez, Alexandra Țârlea, Alexandra Lițu, Alexandra Bivolaru, Iulia Iliescu), National Museum of History of Transylvania (Viorica Rusu-Bolindeț), Institute of Archaeology Belgrade (architect Gordana Milošević), University of Texas (Adam Rabinowitz).
Historical monument: CT-I-s-A-02681 in LMI
Once located in a marine bay, today Lake Sinoe, not far from the mouths of the Danube, a river to which it linked its existence, the Histrian fortress contributed decisively for 14 centuries to defining a space of interculturality in the northwest of the Euxine Pontus.
In over 100 years of systematic archaeological research, numerous and important discoveries have been made, such as: enclosure walls from all ancient periods, from the Archaic to the Late Roman, the tumulus necropolis from the Greek era, where about 1000 tumuli were identified, the Greek sacred area, with some of the cult monuments that composed it, namely four temples (for example the temple of Zeus, the temple of Aphrodite), numerous altars and votive bases; various civil districts, either with modest dwellings, such as those from the Archaic period, discovered on the so-called "Platou", in the western part of the fortress, or with streets and sumptuous houses, starting with the end of the classical period and reaching a well-preserved residential district (Domus), located on the acropolis of the fortress; two thermal buildings; six paleochristian basilicas, located both inside (episcopal, with crypt or "Florescu", "Pârvan") and outside the late Roman fortress, Christian religious buildings, of which the episcopal basilica stands out, through its plan with transept and architectural sculpture made of imported marble; the flat necropolis from the late Roman era in the area of the Basilica extra muros; settlements and necropolises located in the Histrian territory, belonging to different eras (Istria Pod, Istria Bent, Nuntași, Tariverde, Fântânele, Sinoe). In addition to the monuments mentioned, small discoveries (inscriptions, sculptures, architectural fragments, ceramics, coins) outline the image of one of the most prosperous Greco-Roman fortresses in Pontus. Both the 15 monographic volumes published in the last 50 years, as well as the countless studies published in prestigious magazines and volumes, provide testimony in this regard. All of this has made Histria considered a pilot site in the study of Antiquity in the Black Sea area and also an important school site for classical Romanian archaeology.
The general issues and major objectives of archaeological research at Histria are directly reflected in the nine work sectors active in recent times:
Sacred area
specifying the general stratigraphy of the sector and identifying new Greek cult monuments;
Sector X
research of an island from the Hellenistic period;
"Parvan" Basilica
specifying the chronology, researching Greek monuments and the various phases of the enclosure walls;
The Great Gate – The Great Tower
obtaining data on the early Roman period and identifying complexes from the Greek and Hellenistic eras;
Basilica extra muros
specifying the chronology, researching the stratigraphy of the early Roman era;
Basilica with crypt, also called "Florescu" Basilica
specifying the chronology;
South Sector
identification of a possible port facility, west of Tower K, obtaining new data on the early Roman enclosure wall and researching an imposing edifice from the 3rd century AD;
Acropolis Sector Center South
research and establishing the chronology of an insulae from the late Roman city;
"Metaxa" sector
resumption of research in the northern quarter of the late Roman fortress;
Early Roman Sector South
redefining the stratigraphy in the area of the early Roman enclosure wall.
