Vestnik drevney istorii
The Vestnik drevnei istorii (VDI, Journal of Ancient History, Revue d’Histoire Ancienne) is a leading Russian academic journal in the field of ancient history and related disciplines. Founded in 1937, the VDI is Russia’s oldest scholarly history journal that continues to be published. From the autumn of 1937 till March of 1941, it also accepted papers on the history of the Slavs, Byzantium, and Ancient Russia. After a break during the World War, it has been appearing quarterly since 1946.
Since 1938, the journal has been edited in the Institute of History (since 1968, Institute of World History) of the Soviet (since 1991, Russian) Academy of Sciences. It was published by the United State Publishing House [OGIZ] (1937–1941) and the Publishing House of the Soviet/Russian Academy of Sciences [“Nauka”] (1946 – present).
The editors-in-chief were Alexander Svanidze (1937), Alexander Mishulin (1938-1948), Sergey Kiselyov (1949-1962), Vassily Struve (1962-1965), Sergey Utchenko (1965-1976), Zinaida Udaltsova (1976-1987), Gregory Bongard-Levin (1988-2008), Askold Ivantchik (2009 – present).
In 1937-1947, the VDI had the French subtitle Revue d’histoire ancienne and summaries in French. Since 1967 it has the English subtitle Journal of Ancient History and summaries in English.
Media registration certificate: № 0110170 от 04.02.1993
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Том 85, № 2 (2025)
MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR THOSE ENTERING INTO MARRIAGE IN EGYPT IN THE FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD AND MIDDLE KINGDOM
Аннотация
The author studies the information about material support for Egyptians entering into marriage, contained in 1) the documents on P. University College 32058; 2) the stela of Hetepi from El-Kab, the translation and understanding of the last three lines of which are significantly clarified here; 3) the tomb autobiography of the nomarch Ankhtifi; 4) the inscription on the architrave of Hornakht from Dendera. In tomb autobiographies material support for those entering into marriage is not a separate independent topic and is mentioned there only to prove Hetepi’s extraordinary active longevity and Ankhtifi and Hornakht’s great generosity and paternal care for their subjects. Hornacht’s ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ (h̲rdwt, h̲rdw) were personally dependent on him, and his inscription is the oldest of the very few reports of masters arranging marriages for their serfs. The valuable assets allocated to the ‘newlyweds’ apparently often remained the property of their parents or masters.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):277–292
277–292
THE STORY OF THE KING AKTISANES (DIOD. I. 60) AND THE IMAGE OF NUBIAN CONQUERORS IN THE CLASSICAL RECEPTION OF THE EGYPTIAN VISION OF THE PAST
Аннотация
The article considers a plot in Diodorus’ Book One, which tells about an unfair king named Amasis who reigned in Egypt nearly at the start of the historical New Kingdom and about an ‘Ethiopian’ (Nubian) ruler Aktisanes who defeated Amasis and replaced him as a beneficent king of Egypt. Probably, this Amasis corresponds to the historical Ahmose I, who ousted the Hyksos from Egypt; as for Aktisanes, his figure seems to be created with the help of Herodotus’ and Diodorus’ passages about another Nubian conqueror of Egypt, Sabacon (the historical Shabaka; Hdt. II. 137, 139; Diod. I. 65). The name-form Aktisanes was probably borrowed from the Nubian king Gatisen, who ruled at the time when Hecataeus of Abdera was writing his treatise on Egypt, which was later used by Diodorus’ for his Book One. The reason for this plot to replace the real reminiscences of Hyksos domination and expulsion was probably the evidence about Nubian attacks during the late Second Intermediate Period and negative attitude to Ahmose I in the Memphite tradition, triggered by his transfer of the capital of Egypt to Thebes. The latter motif was strong enough to manifest itself in the medieval Arab tradition.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):293–313
293–313
SOLINUS AND PLINY THE ELDER ON INDIA
Аннотация
Collectanea rerum memorabilium of Solinus does not contain any new information in comparison with Pliny the Elder. Its significance for the textual criticism of the Naturalis Historia is also not great – differences with Pliny’s description of India can usually be explained simply by the negligence of the compiler. Solinus compresses Pliny’s text by means of cutting the specific geographical and ethnographic information. At the same time, he preserves everything that could be considered ‘wonderful things’ – and in this respect his work anticipates the further development of Latin geographical literature. The paper offers a number of new interpretations of Solinus’ text in the context of a discussion of the information of Latin scholars concerning the history and geography of India.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):314–319
314–319
TROJAN HAMMER-AXES FROM THE ‘TREASURE L’. TOWARDS A RECONSTRUCTION OF THEIR INITIAL APPEARANCE
Аннотация
This article deals with four prestigious objects – stone hammer-axes from the so-called Trojan ‘Treasure L’. The hypothesis that the surface of these objects was gilded, first suggested in The Gold of Troy exhibition catalogue (1996), is proved here through the methods of natural science. Based on these results, we propose reconstructions of the possible original appearance of the hammer-axes. In addition, we present some further observations on their archaeological context. All of this is intended to reveal possible connections between the hammer-axes and other objects from the ‘Treasure L’, and provide a clue of the place of the former in the material culture of Maritime Troy (Troy I–III).
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):320–340
320–340
THE CHORUS AND THEIR GARDEN IN THE SECOND PARABASIS OF ARISTOPHANES’ ACHARNIANS
Аннотация
The article offers a new interpretation of the antistrophe of the second parabasis in Aristophanes’ Acharnians. The antistrophe refers to the chorus’ desired union with Diallage (Peace) and their dreams of planting a garden. According to the common view, the chorus emphasizes the ability to plant grapes, figs and olives and thus convinces the Diallage of its masculine power. By understanding the meaning of the chorus’ words about the garden in this way, commentators see here a sexual subtext. The paper argues that such an interpretation is absurd and that basis for it is provided only by the verse 997. Since verse 997 itself contains several problems and since it is omitted in the earliest source of the text, Aelianus’ paraphrase, it is suggested that it should be athetised. Now, the antistrophe sounds different: the chorus speaks here of the opportunity to grow a garden, which they will have when peace comes. The reason for the insertion of v. 997 may have been a desire of an ancient editor to have an equal number of verses in the strophe and antistrophe, although a strict correspondence of verse numbers was not necessary in comedy.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):341–352
341–352
THE TRIAL OF THE VICTORIOUS GENERALS AND ‘ALCIBIADES’ SHADOW’ (Part 1)
Аннотация
The trial of the generals who won the sea battle of Arginusae in 406 BC was one of the most scandalous episodes of the history of Classical Athens. The event has been more than once treated in scholarly literature, but a number of its aspects still need clearing up. The first part of the article begins with a historiographical excursus; in particular, D. Gish’s recent large study, which is entirely devoted to the process, is critiqued in most detail and its serious shortcomings are pointed out. There follows an analysis of the prosopographical data concerning members of the board of generals in 407–406 BC. It is emphasized, inter alia, that the military leaders subjected to the trial were elected to replace Alcibiades who had been removed from the position of strategos autokrator in large part under the influence of emotions.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):353–377
353–377
ANIMAL SACRIFICES IN THE NORTH PONTIC REGION IN THE SARMATIAN ERA
Аннотация
A comparative analysis of the remains of sacrificial animals found in the North Pontic region makes it possible to identify different local patterns in the cultic sphere, which can be preliminarily identified as representing ‘nomadic’ and ‘agricultural’ ideologies. In some cases, we observe the emergence of the ‘nomadic’ pattern on the new territories (e.g., the Right Bank of the Kuban in the third century BC, and the Lower Dnieper in the first century AD). In other cases, the ‘nomadic’ pattern disappeared (the Right Bank of the Kuban in the first century AD) or has been replaced by the ‘agricultural’ one (e.g. Crimea in the third century BC, the Don Delta in the first century AD). These changes could occur both under the influence of climatic factors and as a result of political events, for example, due to the new political actors, involvement of local elites in new alliances and new economic activities.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):378–411
378–411
TERMINI PUBLICI OF THE FIRST AND SECOND CENTURIES AD FROM ROMAN SPAIN
Аннотация
Public boundary stones (termini publici) are a special type of epigraphic sources that allow us to get an idea on boundaries demarcation between cities (civitates). Termini publici from the age of the Prinicipate were found on the territory of the Iberian Peninsula and are known also as termini augustales and termini pratorum. They help us to clarify the details of the organization and administration of communal territories in three Spanish provinces – Hispania Tarraconensis, Lusitania and Baetica. Termini publici also show the degree of involvement of imperial and provincial authorities in the work on land demarcation, from the Augustan era until the reign of Hadrian.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):412–440
412–440
TOWARDS THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE ADDRESSEE OF THE CARMEN AD QUENDAM SENATOREM
Аннотация
The article deals with the problem of the identification of the addressee of the anonymous poem Carmen ad quendam senatorem – a senator and former consul who had converted from Christianity to paganism. A detailed analysis of the opinions on this issue is presented and arguments are given in favour of the view that the most probable candidate for this role was the consul of 382 Flavius Syagrius.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):441–457
441–457
ON THE ORIGINS AND POLITICAL MEANING OF ANIMAL METAPHORS IN DRACONTIUS’ SATISFACTIO: THE INFLUENCE OF OVID
Аннотация
The paper deals with two passages from the Satisfactio by the fifth-century poet Dracontius, where the poet uses images of various animals, in particular that of a lion, as metaphors. The interpretation of the whole poem and its political subtext depends on how one understands the meaning of these comparisons: the predator serves as a model of mercy for the Vandal king Gunthamund, the poem’s main addressee. The origins of Dracontius’ metaphor are found in Ovid, whose Tristia can be considered the genre prototype for Satisfactio. However, it can be suggested that Dracontius was much more influenced ideologically and substantively by Ovid’s other work, the Metamorphoses, with its Pythagorean rhetoric, including criticism of any ‘carnivorous’ behavior.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):458–465
458–465
A NEW INSCRIPTION FROM THE SMINTHEION: THE ELEVENTH HONOUR TO GAIUS DECIMIUS CLASSICUS, THE PROPHETES OF APOLLO SMINTHEUS
Аннотация
This article introduces an honorary inscription in Greek dedicated to Gaius Decimius Classicus, the prophetes of Apollo Smintheus, by the populus Coloniae Augustae Troadensis. The two-line epigram engraved on the front of a large statue base indicates that this is the eleventh honour bestowed on Gaius Decimius Classicus. The inscription on the right side of the base provides further details of the honour. The inscription reveals that Gaius Decimius Classicus served as a prophetes of Apollo Smintheus and was also a benefactor who excelled in many fields for the benefit of his fatherland, Alexandreia Troas/Colonia Augusta Troadensis. This inscribed statue base belongs to the honouring process that was held at the sanctuary, as one of the two stages of bestowing the eleventh honour. The other stage was carried out in the city of Alexandreia Troas and involved a series of honours given by each phyle/tribus. This inscription is significant in that it suggests the replacement of the vicus system, which is known from inscriptions to have existed in the colony, by the tribus system sometime in the first four decades of the second century AD, likely during the reign of Hadrian.
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):466–479
466–479
Critical and bibliographical surveys
E. VOLTAN. Picta Nilotica Romana: L’elaborazione e la diffusione del paesaggio nilotico nella pittura romana. Oxford: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd, 2024. 324 p. ISBN: 978-1-803-27638-0
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):480–488
480–488
The Memoirs of A.L. Kats as a Source on Soviet Historiography of the Ancient World
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):489–495
489–495
News and events
The 9th All-Russian Conference with International Participation ‘Word and Artefact: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Study of Ancient History’ (Saratov, 18–21 September 2024)
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):496–506
496–506
Academic Conference ‘The Legacy of Nikodim Pavlovich Kondakov (1844–1925)’, Dedicated to the 180th Anniversary of His Birthday (Saint Petersburg, 12–14 November 2024)
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):507–516
507–516
All-Russian Academic Conference ‘Soviet Antiquity – X: Results and Perspectives’ (Moscow, 20–21 November 2024)
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):517–520
517–520
Personalia
K YuBILEYu ASKOL'DA IGOREVIChA IVANChIKA
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):521–522
521–522
Supplement
Car men ad quendam senatorem. Translation from Latin and Commentary by T.L. Aleksandrova and M.A. Vedeshkin (Moscow)
Vestnik drevney istorii. 2025;85(2):523–528
523–528