Ancient Greek kingdom, in modern southern Ukraine.
It was first settled by Milesians (6th century BC) at Panticapaeum, which later became the capital. Gradually the kingdom grew to include all of the Crimea . It maintained close ties with Athens in 5th–3rd century BC, reaching the peak of its power in the 4th century BC. It came under the rule of Mithradates VI of Pontus с 100 BC. For 300 years it belonged to the Roman empire, and after AD 342 it was alternately under barbarian and Byzantine control.