More then 2500 years have passed since on the place of today's Constanta there was a settlement founded by the Greek navigators and merchands who have come from Milet. In their voyages on see the Greek navigators have been attired by the selter offered by the bay and peninsula from the Black See shore, as well as by the good trade opportunities offered by the natives, Getaes. The most florishing period of this city fortress, named Tomis, is the middle of the 1st century A.C. Roman domination on the territories between Istros (Danube) and the Black See, which became Roman province, raised the city at the rank of capital. In this time many temples were built, big buildings, public squares and bath, marble shops, streets and new districts. But the florishing fortress is devastated by the Avars in 601. Some centuries after, on the ruin of Tomis, starts to develop a little fishermen settlement, which, gradualy, in the following centuries became Constanta. Vestiges of the old civilisations is found today almost everywhere in the city.

In Tomis the great poet Latine Ovidiu has spent his last years of his life. He recorded in his works ("Tristele" si "Ponticele") precious information about the life and customs of the native Getaes. In Constanta one can see today the ruins of the Roman wall which closed the North-western part of the fortress and the ruins of the gates from West and North, on which was the exit from the fortress.

The Roman edifice, the most precious architectural complex decovered, is from 3-4 centuries; the floor of this edifice with thick and high walls is formed by coloures mosaic pieces, the drawing represernting geometrical and floral figures. Considering the artistical conceptions and its dimensions, the mosaic from Constanta isone of the first of the kind in the world. It seams that the building served for trade, being also a place for delivery and deposit (at the middle and underground levels were storehouses for goods and a little market place).

Many vestiges of the Tomis fortress are found in the city museum, among them being some special pieces like: the marble statue of the Godess Fortuna, the city protectress, with Pontos, the Black See God; a statue, also from marble, of the serpant Glycon (assian divinity).

Last update: 2005, March 9
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