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Modern Description: Nikonion was colonised in C6l directly by Miletos or, more probably, by Istros (no. 685); cf. the numismatic evidence and the role of Istros in refounding Nikonion (Y. G. Vinogradov (1999)). Nikonion was under the protectorate of the Skythian king Skyles (C5m) and then joined the Delian League; at least, it was assessed for tribute in 425/4 (IG i³ 71.iv.167: Ca.331 it was destroyed by Zopyrion (Y.G.Vinogradov (1997) 323) and then refounded (C3f) by Tyras (no. 694) with the support of Istros (Y. G.Vinogradov (1999)). Nikonion is located at modern Roksolanskoye gorodishche (Ukraine), on the left bank of the estuary of the Dniester. The site had a defensive wall, uncovered in the north-western part of the upper terrace (c.475–450). No inscriptions on stone have been found, while ceramic material (including graffiti) suggests the floruit of the site in C6l–C5 (Sekerskaya (1989); Zaginajlo and Sekerskaya (1997)). Some of the minor settlements identified in the lower Dniester River region (Okhotnikov (1990)) may belong to the territory of Nikonion. In C5f–m Nikonion cast bronze coins imitating the Olbian and Istrian coins. Obv. owl; legend: ΣΚ, ΣΚΥ or ΣΚΥΛ; rev. wheel with four spokes. These coins were formerly attributed to Olbia (no. 690), but their concentration in the area at Roksolanskoye gorodishche suggests that they were issues of Nikonion (Zaginajlo and Karyshkovskij (1990);Y. G.Vinogradov (1997) 35, 209). On the other hand, their legend indicates that the Skythian king Skyles exercised a protectorate over Nikonion. In addition to its own issues, Nikonion regularly used Istrian silver and bronze coins.
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikonion
Wikidata ID: Q2075617
Trismegistos Geo: 38296

Info: Hansen, Inv. 2004

Sample descriptions, a test fraction of the monumental Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis (Oxford 2004) of M. Hansen et al., for mobile use only.

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