If you are still here after so much head aching dusty info, here is something on the city of Histria itself. According to historian Eusebius (that lived between 260 and 340 A.D.) Histria was founded in the second half of the seventh century B.C. by Ionian colonists come from Miletus, more exactly in 657 B.C.. Ionia, the region of Miletus, lies on the shores of Asia Minor near the islands Samos and Chios.

The Milesians colonists built their fortress city on an island close to the shore, inside a bay of the Black Sea (maybe not far from a branch of Danube that meanwhile disappeared). The name of the Danube in ancient times was Danubius (thought to be of Celt origin), but also Ister. Istria then is likely to be, and most probably is, The City on Ister.

Web English references call the ancient city Istros - but this is just the Greek denomination of river Danube.

I was planning on putting down a few words on this disturbing and confusing alternance of denominations, Istria and Histria, but since the subject came out here I shan't postpone it. As writen on the coins issued by the city (see the images atop) the Greek is ISTRIE in full Latin letters (IΣTPIH in Greek). Now, the Romanian comune that still lives next to the ancient ruins has also the logical name of Istria, as seen on any recent map. On the other hand, all Romanian scientic books and papers are unisonously using Histria whenever the ancient site is recalled. Whereas we feel maybe Istria should prevail, we submit our judgement to the more academic opinions, at least until undertaking further investigations. It is very likely, as supposition only, that Romans used Histria and thus the whole riddle would clarify.

Back again, the alluvia dragged along by the Danube must have locked in time the bay, nowadays the vestiges of the fortress of Histria lying on the banks of the Sinoe lake, next to the forementioned comune of Istria. The city was built after the ideas of architect Hippodamos of Miletus - also the author of the Piraeus city plans - regarding the ideal city. In all Hippodamic cities the streets crossed each other in right angles only.

Aftermath of the 72-71 B.C. campain, the Roman Empire annexed Histria. The city got, around 50 B.C., under the influence of the greatest Dacian king, Burebista. Licinius Crassus, in 29-28 B.C., seized eventually and for good the city inside Roman borders.

Histria was member of the Pontic city community, federation known as Hexapolis. The other five member cities were Tomis, Callatis, Dionysopolis, Odessos and Mesambria. The declared purpose of the community was celebrating the cult of the emperor, but likely there was more to it. Capital city was Tomis and the federation president was called pontarch.

Histria struck during the fifth century B.C. the first coins on Romanian territory: silver drachmae. Continuous coin striking lasted until some point during the first century B.C. when temporarily the local coin striking ceased. Starting with Antoninus Pius (138-161 A.D.) Histria strikes coin again, coin striking continuing up to Gordianus the third when local monetary issues stopped for ever.

Histria suffered a lot from the barbarian invasions. In 248 A.D. the city fell to the Goths. Afterwards the city was rebuilt, even though much smaller than the previous.

The city is abandoned during the seventh century A.D. due to the sanding of the harbour. Anyway, the city did not die away before becoming a strong citadel of Christianity. In fact, Christianity in Dobrogea is considered to be the earliest on the Romanian territory, being preached by apostle Andrew himself. Below you can see an early basilica (church) at Histria.

The pictures above were submitted to Romanian coins by Mr. Ion Şerban.