Sebastopol.

Title

Sebastopol.

Description

General view of the city of Sevastopol on the Black Sea on the Crimean peninsula.

ca. 1850

Artist

Butler

Historical Description

Sevastopol is the largest city on the  Crimean Peninsula and a major Black Sea port. In the 6th century BC a Greek colony was established in the area of the modern-day city. In the 13th and 14th centuries it was sacked by the Golden Horde several times and was finally totally abandoned. The modern day city of Sevastopol has no connection to the ancient and medieval Greek city, but the ruins are a popular tourist attraction located on the outskirts of the city. Sevastopol was founded in June 1783 as a base for a naval squadron under the name Akhtiar. One of the most notable events involving the city is the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55) carried. out by the British, French, Sardinian, and Turkish troops during the Crimean War. The Russians chose to sink their entire fleet to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy and at the same time to block the entrance of the Western ships into the inlet. When the enemy troops entered Sevastopol, they were faced with the ruins of a formerly glorious city.