The Tanais Tablets are two tablets from the city of Tanais near modern

Rostov-on-Don Rostov-on-Don is a port city and the administrative centre of Rostov Oblast and the Southern Federal District of Russia. It lies in the southeastern part of the East European Plain on the Don River, from the Sea of Azov, directly north of t ...

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. They are written in

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

and are dated to the late 2nd–3rd century AD. At the time, Tanais had a mixed

, Gothic and

Sarmatian The Sarmatians (; ; Latin: ) were a large confederation of Ancient Iranian peoples, ancient Iranian Eurasian nomads, equestrian nomadic peoples who dominated the Pontic–Caspian steppe, Pontic steppe from about the 5th century BCE to the 4t ...

population. The tablets are public inscriptions which commemorate renovation works in the city. One of the tablets, Tanais Tablet A, is damaged and not fully reconstructed. The other, Tanais Tablet B, is fully preserved and is dated to 220 AD. The tablets were discovered by Russian archaeologist in 1853. Today, they are kept in the

lapidary Lapidary () is the practice of shaping rock (geology), stone, minerals, or gemstones into decorative items such as cabochons, engraved gems (including cameo (carving), cameos), and faceted designs. A person who practices lapidary techniques of ...

of the

Hermitage Museum The State Hermitage Museum ( rus, Государственный Эрмитаж, r=Gosudarstvennyj Ermitaž, p=ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪn(ː)ɨj ɪrmʲɪˈtaʂ, links=no) is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and holds the large ...

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

. The tablets are considered important in early Croatian history.

Significance

Two male names are mentioned on the tablets: Horoúathos and Horóathos (Χορούαθ �ς Χορόαθος). These names have been interpreted by scholars as anthroponyms of the Croatian

ethnonym An ethnonym () is a name applied to a given ethnic group. Ethnonyms can be divided into two categories: exonyms (whose name of the ethnic group has been created by another group of people) and autonyms, or endonyms (whose name is created and used ...

''Hrvat''. This ethonym is generally considered to be of Iranian origin, and can be traced to the Tanais Tablets. Tanais Tablet B mentions Horoathos as the son of (or from) Sandarz who was (or had been) the

archon ''Archon'' (, plural: , ''árchontes'') is a Greek word that means "ruler", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem , meaning "to be first, to rule", derived from the same ...

of the Tanaisians (one of theory Sandakšatru

gens In ancient Rome, a gens ( or , ; : gentes ) was a family consisting of individuals who shared the same ''nomen gentilicium'' and who claimed descent from a common ancestor. A branch of a gens, sometimes identified by a distinct cognomen, was cal ...

), which is a Scytho-Sarmatian name. Scholars use this to indicate that early Croatians may have, at the time, been

Sarmatians The Sarmatians (; ; Latin: ) were a large confederation of Ancient Iranian peoples, ancient Iranian Eurasian nomads, equestrian nomadic peoples who dominated the Pontic–Caspian steppe, Pontic steppe from about the 5th century BCE to the 4t ...

or a mixed tribe of

Alans The Alans () were an ancient and medieval Iranian peoples, Iranic Eurasian nomads, nomadic pastoral people who migrated to what is today North Caucasus – while some continued on to Europe and later North Africa. They are generally regarded ...

and

Crimean Goths The Crimean Goths were either a Greuthungi- Gothic tribe or a Western Germanic tribe that bore the name '' Gothi'', a title applied to various Germanic tribes that remained in the lands around the Black Sea, especially in Crimea. They were the ...

who became

Slavicized Slavicisation American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), or Slavicization, is the acculturation of something non-Slavic into a Slavs, Slavic culture, cuisine, region, or nation. The process can either be v ...

in the ensuing centuries.

Research history

The tablets were discovered by the Russian archeologist in September 1853. Croatian scholars Stjepan Krizin Sakač, Dominik Mandić and Radoslav Katičić have written significantly about the tablets. When Croatia was part of

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

, Yugoslav scholars avoided discussing them, or in the case of scholars such as Ferdo Šišić, Trpimir Macan, Josip Horvat, Bogo Grafenauer, Jaroslav Šidak, Gordan Ravančić, Ivan Biondić, and Stjepan Pantelić, discussed the tablets in a superficial way and misinterpreted their content. Croatian writer Miroslav Krleža saw the connection as "historical lunacy", while Nada Klaić used them in her criticism of the Iranian-Caucasian theory of the Croatian

ethnogenesis Ethnogenesis (; ) is the formation and development of an ethnic group. This can originate by group self-identification or by outside identification. The term ''ethnogenesis'' was originally a mid-19th-century neologism that was later introduce ...

. Open debate only followed after Croatian independence in 1991. In 1902, A. L. Pogodin was the first scholar to connect the tablets' personal names with Croatian ethonyms. In 1911, Konstantin Josef Jireček was the first to consider these ethonyms to be of Iranian origin. Some scholars use these tablets only to explain the etymology, and not necessarily the ethnogenesis. Theories that early Croats were Slavs who had adopted a name of Iranian origin or were ruled by a Sarmatian elite caste, or theories that early Croats were Slavicized Sarmatians cannot dismiss the remote Irano-Sarmatian elements or influence on the Croatian ethnogenesis. Still, the secure connection of those three personal names with the Croatian ethnonym, or ethnic identity, is rather difficult without more evidence.

Tanais Tablet A

Tablet A is the larger and older inscription, dated to 175–211 AD, and which originates from the time when the king

Tiberius Julius Sauromates II Tiberius Julius Sauromates II Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes, also known as Sauromates II (, ''Philocaesar Philoromaios Eusebes'', the epithets meaning "''friend of Caesar, friend of Rome, pious one''") was a Roman Empire, Roman client king of ...

(175–211 AD) ruled the

Bosporan Kingdom The Bosporan Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Cimmerian Bosporus (; ), was an ancient Greco-Scythians, Scythian state located in eastern Crimea and the Taman Peninsula on the shores of the Cimmerian Bosporus, centered in the present-day ...

. The marble tablet, measuring , probably sustained heavy damage even before the excavation. Thirty-two lines from thirty fragments were saved from the inscription. The public inscription mentions the king, the synod, or devotional assembly, the leadership of the devotional assembly, and its regular members, which were slightly less than forty. The fourth line ends by mentioning the father of the devotional assembly, Horoúathos (Χορούαθος), who is referred to by name in the fifth line, and amongst others, an unknown male who is said to be the son of Horoáthos (Χοροάθου) is also cited. The inscription ends with the date, from which is saved only the appellation of the Greek-Macedonian month, which corresponds to either July or August. Greek original: ΘΕΩι ΥΨΙΣΤΩι. ΆΓΑΘΗι ΤΥΧΗι. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΟΝΤΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΤΙΒ(ΕΡΙΟΥ) ΙΟΥΛ(ΙΟΥ) ΣΑΥΡΟΜΑΤΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΚΑΙΣΑΡ �Σ ΚΑ� ΦΙΛΟ ��ΜΑΙΟΥ, ΕΥΣΕΒΟΥΣ, Η ΣΥΝΟΔΟΣ Η ΠΕΡΙ Ι �ΡΕΑ ΙΟΥ)ΛΙΟΝ ΡΑΛΧΑΔΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ Σ �">�ΡΕΑ ΙΟΥ)ΛΙΟΝ ΡΑΛΧΑΔΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ Σ[Υ�ΟΔΟΥ ΧΟΡΟΥΑΘ[ΟΝ----Ο — ΚΑΙ ΣΥΝΑΓΩΓΩΝ ΆΡΔΑ[ΡΑ">��ΟΔΟΥ ΧΟΡΟΥΑΘ[ΟΝ">�">�ΡΕΑ ΙΟΥ)ΛΙΟΝ ΡΑΛΧΑΔΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ Σ[Υ�ΟΔΟΥ ΧΟΡΟΥΑΘ[ΟΝ----Ο — ΚΑΙ ΣΥΝΑΓΩΓΩΝ ΆΡΔΑ[ΡΑΚΟΝ [Σ]ΥΝΕΓΔΗΜ[ΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛ]ΑΓ[ΑΘ]ΟΝ ΔΙΑΙ �� ΚΕΡΔΩΝΑΚΟΥ (?) ΚΑΙ [Π]ΑΡΑΦΙΛΑΓΑΘΟ[Ν]------ΙΟΝ ΦΟΡΓΑΒΑΚ[ΟΥ] ΚΑΙ [ΝΕΑ]ΝΙΣ- [Κ]ΑΡΧΗΝ ΔΗΜΗΤ �ΙΟΝ ΑΠΟ�ΛΩΝΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΓΥΜ(Ν]ΑΣΙΑ �ΧΗΝΒΑ - �Ι�ΕΙΔΗΝ ΘΕΟΝ �ΙΚ� � ΚΑΙ Α�ΤΑΝ ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΔΟΥ ΦΙΛΟ � ΤΗΣ �Υ�ΟΔΟΥ �ΑΙΟΙ ΛΟ �ΠΟ� �ΙΑ�ΪΤΑΙ· ΆΡΔΑΡΑΚΟΣ ΖΙΑ---ΟΥ, ΔΗ �ΗΤ�ΙΟΣ------ΟΥ, ΛΕΙΜΑΝΟΣ ΦΙΔΑ, �Ι�ΑΧΟΣ?-------ΑΝΟΥ, Ά �Κ�ΗΠΙΑΔΗΣ ΟΥΑΛΕ ��ΟΥ . .Γ?ΟΔΑΝ �� ΗΜΗΤ?�ΙΟΥ, ��ΝΕΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ ΛΥΚΙΣ �Ο� --------ΙΚΑΧΟ � ΔΙΟΦΑΝΤ �Σ ΔΕΙΟΥ, ΠΟΠΛ �Ο� 15-----------ΔΑ, ΗΡΑΚΛΕΙΔ �ΣΕΠΙΓΟΝΟΥ, ΊΑΡΔΟ--------------- �ΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ, Α ��ΟΔΕΙΣΙΟΣ ΧΡΥΣΕ- �ΩΤΟΣ, ΦΑΛ�Α �Α�ΟΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΥ, ΦΙΛΙΠ- �ΟΣ-----------ΝΟ � ΚΑΛΟΫΣ ΑΘΗΝΙΟΥ, ΚΟΦΑΡΝΟΣ -------------------------------- ��ΥΦΩΝ ΑΝΔΡΟΜ �Ν�ΥΣ,20 Ο-------------------------ΧΟΡΟΑΘΟΥ, ΘΕΟΤΕΙΜΟΣ ΨΥΧΑ- ΡΙΩΝ �Σ---------ΔΙΒΑΛΟΣ ΦΑΡ �ΑΚΟΥ ΕΫΙΟΣ 'ΡΟ- ΔΩΝ �Σ, ΗΡΑ�ΛΕΙΔΗΣ "ΑΤΤ �----------------'ΑΡΙΣ ΤΟΔ �ΜΟΥ, Σ�ΜΜΑΧΟΣ ΣΑ--------------- ΚΟΣ---------------------------- 25 ΦΙΛΟ------------------------------ ΟΡΑΝΣ - - - �ΩΡΘΪ? �ΟΣ ΒΕ ΛΛΙΚΟΥ?----- 'ΡΑΔΑΜ �ΙΣΤΟΣ?)------ΦΑΔΙΝΑ �ΟΥ">�ΙΣΤΟΣ?)------ΦΑΔΙΝΑ[ΜΟΥ----- ΜΥΡ[ΩΝ? ---------ΜΑΣΤΟΫ------------ ΠΟ------------ΟΣ ΆΡΔΑ[ΡΑΚΟΥ?">�ΟΥ----- ΜΥΡ[ΩΝ? ">�ΟΥ">�ΙΣΤΟΣ?)------ΦΑΔΙΝΑ[ΜΟΥ----- ΜΥΡ[ΩΝ? ---------ΜΑΣΤΟΫ------------ ΠΟ------------ΟΣ ΆΡΔΑ[ΡΑΚΟΥ?----- 50 ΦΙΔ[Α]----------ΝΟΣ ΧΑΡΙ[ΤΩΝ--------:Α]- ΡΑΘΙ-------------------------- ΈΝ Τ[Ωι-----ΕΤΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΜΗ]ΝΙ ΛΩ[Ωι]----- English translation: God the Supreme. May it be with fortune! In the time of the reign of king Tiberius Julius Sauromates, Friend of

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war. He ...

and of the people of Rome, Pious. The devotional assembly with the priest Julius, the son of Rhalchades, at the head, and the father of the devotional assembly Horuat , the son of --- -- and the gathered devotional assembly, with Ardarak, the son of negdemus, and the noble Diaion, the son of Kerdonak (?) and the very noble --on, the son of Forgabak, and the leader of the youth Demetrius, the son of Apollonius, and the gymnasium instructor Basilides, the son of Theonicus, and Atta, the son of Heraclius, a friend of the devotional assembly. And the remaining members: Ardarakos, the son of Zia- --n, Demetrius, the son of --n, Leimanus, the son of Phidas iach?, the son of --n, Asklepiades the son of Valerius. -g?dan, the son of Demetrius, Menestratus, the son of Lyciscus, he son of -----kachus, Diophantus, the son of Deius, Poplius he son of -----in, Heraclius, the son of Epigon, Iardo -------- the son of Demetrius, Aphrodisius, the son of Chryserotus, hala aos, the son of Apollonius, Philip he son of –------, Kaloys, the son of Athenius, Kopharnos he son of ------------- yphon, the son of Andromenes, o ------------- the son of Horoath, Theotimus, the son of Psycharion, ----ibal, the son of Far ak Euios, the son of Rodon, eralius, the son of At , --------- the son of Aristod mus, Smmachus, the son of Sa -------- kos ---------------philo --------------orano -- Zorthi?, the son of Be ik? Radam stus? the son of -- the son of Phadina osMyr n? the son of ---- the son of Mastoy ------po ------s, the son of Ardarak, ---Fid , the son of -------, Chari on, the son of ----- rathi ---, the son of -----------in he year and monthLo --

Tanais Tablet B

Tablet B is the smaller inscription, measuring and dated to 220 AD (517 according to the Bosporan calculation of time). This inscription is younger, which is apparent as it mentions Tiberius Julius Rhescuporis III, the son of Sauromates II. This inscription sustained less damage, having broken into four parts and being relatively readable. On it are engraved twenty lines in Greek monumental capitals. Cited in the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth lines, along with the names of their fathers, are the four leaders of the city of Tanais at the time when this monument was erected (Hofarno, Babos, Niblobor, and Horoathos). The monument was erected because of the renovation of the central square in the city of Tanais. Greek original: ΑΓΑΘΗΙ ΤΥΧΗΙ. ΕΠΙ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙ ΡΗΣΚΟΥΠΟΡΙΔΙ, ΥΙΩ ΜΕΓΑΛΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΣΑΥΡΟΜΑΤΟΥ, ΚΑ �ΖΗΝΩΝ ΦΑΝΝΕΩΣ ΠΡΕΣΒΕΥΤΗ ΒΑ- ΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΡΗΣΚΟΥΠΟΡΙΔΟΣ, ΚΑΙ ΧΟ- ΦΑΡΝΟΥ ΣΑΝΔΑΡΖΙΟΥ, ΒΑΒΟΣ ΒΑΙΟ- ΡΑΣΠΟΥ, ΝΙΒΛΟΒΩΡΟΣ ΔΟΣΥΜΟΞΑΡ– ΘΟΥ, ΧΟΡΟΑΘΟΣ ΣΑΝΔΑΡΖΙΟΥ ΑΡΧΟΝ– ΤΕΣ ΤΑΝΑΕΙΤΩΝ, ΧΟΦΡΑΖΜΟΣ ΦΟΡΓΑ- ΒΑΚΟΥ, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΔΗΣ ΘΕΟΝΕΙΚΟΥ ΕΛ- ΛΗΝΑΡΧΗΣ ΕΞΑΡΤΙΣΑΣ ΤΗΝ ΑΓΟΡΑΝ ΕΚ ΤΩΝ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΑΝΑΛΩΜΑΤΩΝ ΑΠΕΚΑ– ΤΕΣΤΗΣΑ ΤΗ ΠΟΛΕΙ ΚΑΙ ΤΟΙΣ ΕΜΠΟ- ΡΟΙΣ ΔΙΑ ΕΠΙΜΕΛΗΤΩΝ ΖΗΝΩΝΟΣ ΦΑ �- Ν�ΩΣ, ΦΑΡΝΟΞΑΡΘΟΥ ΤΑΥΡΕΟΥ, ΦΑΛΔΑΡΑΝΟΥ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ �Ρ�ΙΤΕΚΤΟΝΩΝ ΔΙΟΦΑΝΤΟΥ ΝΕ- ΟΠΟΛΟΥ ΚΑ �ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΕ � ΝΟΥ, ΝΑΥΑΚΟΣ ΜΕΥΑΚΟΥ. EΝ ΤΩ ΖΙΦ'. English translation: May it be with fortune! In the time of king Rhescuporis, the son of the great king Sauromates, and Zenon, the son of Phannes, emissary of king Rhescuporis, and n the time ofHopharnas, the son of Sandarzios, Babos, the son of Baioraspes, Nibloboros, the son of Dosymoxarthos, Horoathos, the son of Sandarz, the archons of the Tanaisians, Hophrazmos, the son of Phorgabakos, Basilides, the son of Theoneicus, the hellenarch. Prepared by the council at their own expense once again renovate he squarefor the city and the merchants, through the supervision of Zenon, the son of Phannes, Pharnoxarthos, the son of Taureus, Phaldaranos, the son of Apollonius, and the architect Diophantus, the son of Neopolus and Aurelius, the son of Antoninus, Nauakos, the son of Meuakos. The year 517.

References

Sources