The name of the Black Sea comes from. Why is the Black Sea called the Black Sea? The ancient name of the Black Sea, the origin of the new name

The Black Sea has had many different names. Each new people that came to its shores called it differently.

At the beginning of our era, the Scythians called the Black Sea - Tana (dark), in Iran - Ashkhaena (dark). Also the Black Sea in different times was called Khazar, Surozh, Russian, Scythian, Temarun, Saint, Tauride, Ocean, Blue.

There is such a fascinating science - toponymy, which studies the origin geographical names(toponyms). According to this science, there are at least two main versions of the origin of the name of the Black Sea.

Version one. It was put forward by the ancient Greek geographer and historian Strabo, who lived in the 1st century BC. In his opinion, the sea was named Black by Greek colonists, who were once unpleasantly struck by storms, fogs, and unknown wild shores inhabited by hostile Scythians and Taurians. They gave the stern stranger the appropriate name - Pontos Akseinos - “inhospitable sea”, or “black”. Then, having settled on the shores, becoming related to the sea of ​​good and bright fairy tales, the Greeks began to call it Pontos Evxeinos - “hospitable sea.” But the first name was not forgotten, like the first love...

Version two. In the 1st millennium BC, long before the arrival of careless Greek colonists, on the eastern and northern shores Sea of ​​Azov Indian tribes lived - Meotians, Sindians and others, who gave the name to the neighboring sea - Temarun, which literally means “black sea”. This was the result of a purely visual comparison of the surface color of the two seas, now called the Azov and Black seas. From the mountainous shores of the Caucasus, the latter appears darker to the observer, as can be seen even now. And if it’s dark, it means black. The Meotians on the shores of the mentioned seas were replaced by the Scythians, who fully agreed with this characterization of the Black Sea. And they called him in their own way - Akhshaena, that is, “dark, black.”

There are other versions

From the point of view of sailors, the sea is called “Black” because there are very strong storms, during which the water in the sea darkens. However, it must be said that strong storms are very rare on the Black Sea. Strong excitement(more than 6 points) is here no more than 17 days a year. As for the change in water color, this phenomenon is typical for any sea, not only the Black Sea.

Was it always called that way?

No, not always.

It has changed several names throughout history. The ancients called it Pont Euxine - “hospitable sea”. The Russians who came to its shores called the sea Pontic, or Russian.

And throughout history it was called Temarun, Cimmerian, Akhshaena, Scythian, Blue, Tauride, Ocean, Inhospitable, Surozh, Holy.

The modern name of the sea is explained by several hypotheses. Historical hypothesis suggests that the name “Black Sea” was given to it by the Turks and other conquerors who came to its shores to conquer the local population.

They met such fierce resistance from the Circassians, Shapsugs, and Adygs that even the sea was nicknamed Karaden-giz - Black, inhospitable.

From the point of view of sailors, the sea is called “Black” because there are very strong storms, during which the water in the sea darkens.

It must be said that strong storms are very rare on the Black Sea. Strong waves (more than 6 points) occur here no more than 17 days a year.

As for the change in water color, this phenomenon is typical for any sea, not only the Black Sea. There are also suggestions that the sea could be called the Black Sea because, after a storm, black silt often remains on its shores. Indeed, during a storm, the sea throws silt ashore, but it is gray rather than black.

The third hypothesis, which hydrologists adhere to, is based on the fact that metal objects lowered to great depths rise to the surface blackened. Moreover, this happens with almost any metal. Even with gold. The reason for this effect is hydrogen sulfide, which is saturated in the Black Sea water at a certain depth.

How did the Black Sea arise? How did seas and oceans appear on Earth? Why is the water in rivers fresh and the water in seas salty? Where did the water on the planet come from?

The answers to these simple questions The life of oceanographers, geologists, paleontologists, and chemists is dedicated. Nobody knows the exact answers. Man lives on the planet for only a short time, so we can only guess.

It is possible that the history of the Black Sea looked like this. Tens of millions of years ago, in the area of ​​the modern seas of the Mediterranean, Marmara, Black, Azov, Caspian and Aral Sea, the bay of the ancient huge Tethys Sea stretched. So this sea is called by the name of the goddess of the sea, the daughter of Neptune Thetis (Tethis).

The bay consisted of two parts: the western - the modern Mediterranean Sea and the eastern - the rest. Western part was salty, and the eastern one was desalinated, since many rivers flowed into it.

About 13 million years ago, during the formation of the Alpine Mountains, the connection between the two parts of the Tethys Sea was interrupted.

In place of the eastern part of the bay, the desalinated Sarmatian Sea arose.

Later 3 million years evolutionary changes its water area has decreased significantly, and its salinity has increased. Each change in salinity was naturally accompanied mass extinction inhabitants of this reservoir.

8 million years ago the Pontic Sea was formed. It included modern Black and Caspian Sea.

The modern peaks of the Caucasus mountains were then its islands. The Pontic Sea was practically fresh. More fresh than the modern Caspian.

The land continued to rise and a million years ago separated the Black and Caspian seas forever. The Caspian Sea remains desalinated.

Then the Black Sea connected with the Mediterranean several times. Each such unification made the Black Sea more and more salty.

Last connection occurred 8 thousands of years ago and was catastrophic. A powerful earthquake split the land. The modern Bosphorus Strait emerged.

Huge masses of salty Mediterranean sea ​​water rushed into the Black Sea basin, causing the death of a huge number of freshwater inhabitants.

So many of them died that the decomposition of the remains of their organisms in the depths of the sea, deprived of oxygen, created that initial supply of hydrogen sulfide, which continues to exist to this day. The Black Sea became the “Sea of ​​Dead Depths.”

Historians believe that this entire cataclysm took place before the eyes of the people who lived here. Are these events not global flood? After all, as you know, Noah moored his ark to Caucasian mountain Ararat, which then could well have looked like an island in the raging flow of the confluence of two seas.

Now nature has taken a time out.

There is only a very slow rise of the mountains surrounding the sea - a few centimeters per century. The mountains are growing, but the sea is also advancing. Moreover, it comes faster than the mountains rise - 20-25 centimeters per century. It might not seem like much, but the ancient cities of Taman have already disappeared to the bottom of the sea.

In sea water, in addition to salt, gases are also dissolved: oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide. The source of hydrogen sulfide is the decomposition of residues aquatic organisms. Hydrogen sulfide in the Black Sea is of biochemical origin. Scientists have shown that those living in large quantities in the depths of the sea, special bacteria living in an oxygen-free environment decompose the corpses of animals and plants. As a result of their activity, hydrogen sulfide is released. In the Black Sea, the water does not mix well. Therefore, hydrogen sulfide accumulates at the bottom. Almost starting from a depth of 150 - 200 meters, only hydrogen sulfide bacteria live in the sea. There is no other life. Over millions of years, bacteria have accumulated more than a billion tons of hydrogen sulfide in the sea. Hydrogen sulfide is a poisonous gas and can burn and explode.

What color is the Black Sea? Blue? Blue? Green? We can safely say that the Black Sea is not “the bluest in the world.” The color of the water in the Red Sea is much bluer than in the Black Sea, and the bluest is the Sargasso Sea. What determines the color of sea water? Some people think it depends on the color of the sky. This is not entirely true. The color of water depends on how seawater and its impurities disperse sunlight. The more impurities, sand and other suspended particles in the water, the greener the water. The saltier and purer the water, the bluer it is. A lot flows into the Black Sea large rivers, which desalinate the water and carry with them many different suspensions, so the water in it is rather greenish-blue, and near the coast it is rather green.

Who lives in the sea? The Black Sea is one of the most sparsely inhabited seas on earth. For one cubic kilometer Black Sea water accounts for only thirty-seven kilograms of biological mass. This happens because life in the Black Sea is concentrated only in a narrow coastal strip in the area of ​​shallow depths. There is no life below two hundred meters.

But despite the comparative poverty of marine flora and fauna, there are more than 250 species of algae alone in the Black Sea. There are algae that live near the shore - coraline, cystosera, sea ​​salad, Laurencia, there are those that need depth - phyllophora, or sea grapes, and there are those that simply float in the water, for example peridenea. Interestingly, it is she who creates the autumn glow of the sea. Along with the peridenea, luminous tiny predators, noctilucas, or nocturnals, also live in the water. If you filter them from water and dry them, they will still glow with cold light. The glow is caused by a substance that scientists call “luciferin”, in honor of the lord of hell, Lucifer.

At night, some species of jellyfish and ctenophores also glow. Most often in the sea there are jellyfish with the names Aurelia and Cornerot. Cornerot is the largest Black Sea jellyfish, and Aurelia is the smallest. If aurelia is rarely more than 30 cm in diameter, then the size of the dome of the cornerot can reach half a meter. Aurelia is not poisonous, but cornet can cause a burn similar to a nettle burn. The burn may cause a slight burning sensation, redness, and sometimes blistering. In order not to experience the effects of the poison of this beautiful jellyfish with a slightly purple dome, when meeting her, it is enough to move her away from you with your hand, holding top part dome without tentacles.

Although there are vacationers who deliberately seek encounters with stinging jellyfish. They believe in healing power Cornerot poison. It is believed that if you rub a person’s body with jellyfish, you can be cured of radiculitis. This is a misconception. Such therapy does not bring relief, but causes suffering to both the jellyfish and the patient.

The most common shellfish in the Black Sea are, of course, mussels, brine, oysters and scallops. All of them are edible. Oysters and mussels are specially bred. Oysters live up to 30 years. They are very tenacious: they can survive without the sea for more than two weeks. Maybe that's why they are eaten alive. Oysters on Black Sea coast Kuban are relatively rare. However, all the coastal stones and port piers are covered with mussels. Mussels live for 7 - 10 years and do not taste as refined as oysters. They need to be boiled or fried before eating. Sometimes you can find a small pearl in a large mussel.; Usually it happens pink color And irregular shape. Mussels are real living filters. They pass through themselves a huge amount of sea water. At the same time, everything that was contained in this water accumulates in their bodies. Therefore, it is not recommended to feast on mussels caught in the port or near sewage treatment plant effluents.

Scallops are also interesting in their own way. This mollusk can move like missile. With force, the scallop slams the doors of its shell, and the stream of water carries it a meter or two forward. Scallops have many eyes. There are about a hundred of them. Why he needs them is unclear. This mollusk is blind. If an eye is removed, a new one will grow in its place.

WITH Far East Together with the ships, the rapana mollusk arrived in the Black Sea. Now it has filled the entire coast of the Caucasus. Rapana is edible. You can cook from it delicious soup, and its meat resembles sturgeon. Rapana is a predator, and the objects of its hunt are mussels and oysters. Young rapana drill into the shell of the victim and drink the contents, and adult individuals secrete mucus, which paralyzes the valves of the mollusk and allows the rapana to eat the host. It is believed that rapana is the closest relative of those same extinct mollusks from whose shells the ancient Phoenicians obtained their famous purple dye. The discovery of purple is attributed to the Phoenician god Melqart. One day he and his beloved dog were walking along the seashore. The dog was rummaging through the coastal algae. Suddenly Melkart noticed that a trickle of blood was flowing from the dog’s mouth. He called his pet and tried to wipe away the blood. It turned out that there was no wound. The dog just chewed the shell, from which purple-bloody paint leaked out. Melkart passed on the secret of mining to the Phoenicians, who, during the existence of their people, were able to completely process all relatives of rapana into paint.

Crabs are also found in the Black Sea. “Spider”, marbled, stone, grassy, ​​xantho, redbark. There are 18 species in total. Here they do not reach large sizes. The largest is the red-barked one. But even it rarely reaches a size of more than 20 cm in diameter.

There are approximately 180 species of fish that live in the Black Sea. Beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, herring, anchovy (Black Sea anchovy), sprat, sprat, mullet, red mullet, horse mackerel, mackerel, flounder, bonito, tuna. It is extremely rare for a swordfish to swim into the Black Sea. There are also eels in the sea - river and sea. Among the fish that are not of great commercial importance, we can note the goby, sea ​​ruffe, sea ​​needle, seahorse, stickleback, sea ​​dragon, greenfinch - a small bright fish capable of crunching shellfish shells with its teeth, sea ​​cock(triglu), monkfish.

Previously, as many as 3 species of mullet lived in the Black Sea, but due to fishing and sea pollution, the number of the mullet herd began to decline catastrophically. To improve the situation, from Sea of ​​Japan a bearing was brought. This is also a mullet, but more unpretentious. It acclimatized perfectly, multiplied and now became an object of fishing for fishermen. Fortunately, the population of Black Sea mullet in recent years is gradually recovering.

The Stargazer, sometimes called sea ​​cow, burrows deep into the mud, exposing to the surface only one antennae, reminiscent of a worm. With this antennae it attracts small fish and swallows them.

The pipefish and seahorse differ from other fish in that their females spawn eggs not into the water, but into special folds of skin on the back of the males, and the males carry the eggs until the fry hatch. It is also interesting that the skates' eyes and needles can rotate autonomously and look in different directions.

There are two types of sharks in the Black Sea: Katran ( spiny shark, dogfish) and the small spotted shark scyllium (cat shark). The Katran can sometimes reach 2 meters, and the catshark more than a meter never grows up. Both katran and scyllium are not dangerous for humans, although in relation to fish they behave like real evil and cruel predators. They eat everything that moves, even if they themselves are full. Katran meat is quite tasty. Fins, liver and balyk are especially good. Katran's liver contains a substance that helps patients with certain forms of cancer. There is even a drug called “katrex”, which is made from the liver of a Black Sea shark.

In the Black Sea there are not only fish, but also sea ​​animals. Over the past 80 years, whales have entered the sea twice. Three species of dolphins live permanently: the harbor porpoise (Azov-ka), the bottlenose dolphin and the white sided dolphin. Moreover, the azovka and the white-sided duck have been living on our planet for 10 million years. Bottlenose dolphin is younger. She has been roaming the seas for about 5 million years. Real old-timers of the ocean. For comparison: man appeared on Earth about 350 thousand years ago. So it is quite possible that dolphins are our older brothers in mind. At least dolphins score 190 points in intelligence tests, humans are only 25 points higher. But these are human tests. I wonder how many points we would score in a dolphin test?

For the last 30 years, scientists have been concerned with the question: do dolphins have their own language? It seems that the search for the dolphin alphabet was not crowned with success. People have never learned to distinguish between individual “letters” and “words” in dolphin whistles. Or maybe their language doesn’t consist of “words.” It is known that dolphins “see” in the water using an ultrasonic locator. They send a signal, it is reflected from the obstacle and comes back. Then in the dolphin’s brain it is transformed into an image, a picture. So why use words in this case? I just took it and sent it to my friend not a telegram, but a photograph. Maybe this is what is happening? There is no answer to this question yet. But dolphins are constantly studied in special dolphinariums, one of which is located in Maly Utrish.

Dolphins often come close to the shore and allow people to play with them. Games are games, but dolphins have impressive teeth, and the beast weighs about 250 kg. In the ocean, dolphins are not afraid even of sharks. They accelerate in the water and ram their noses into dangerous fish. Of course, when you see a dolphin near the shore, you want to make friends with it, but it’s better to think about what if it’s hungry and comes to hunt for mullet. You would like it if someone deprived you of your lunch, and even demanded that you play with him. Let those who mastered the depths long before people appeared on land rule the sea.

Sometimes sick animals are thrown ashore, as if asking for protection from the inhabitants of the land. In 1994, a real epidemic raged at sea. A virus similar to the causative agent of measles destroyed many of these cheerful and playful servants of Neptune. For quite a long time, dolphins have been the object of fishing. For example, in 1952, 300 thousand bottlenose dolphins were caught. Since 1966, dolphin fishing has been prohibited, although many of them die, suffocating in fishing nets.

There are many theories (all of them plausible) about the origin of the name of the Black Sea.

Scientific and mysterious, historical and linguistic versions give this place a special charm.

Until now, scientists have not come to an agreement on which hypothesis is the most relevant, so you can prefer any one to your taste.

The French call it “Mer Noir”, the Bulgarians – “Black Sea”, the Turks – “Kara-Deniz”, and all these names have “dark” roots.

But, arriving at the resort, tourists see only calm azure-turquoise waters and are actively surprised by such a gloomy name.

After all, there is no trace of blackness - neither in the depths of the waters, nor in the vegetation, nor on the surface! And especially strong storms that could give the sea a tragic image have not happened here for a long time.

So, why is the Black Sea called black?

Version 1: The sea was harsh and inhospitable to sailors from Greece

The Greeks, who conquered the seas, feared these waters like fire - storms often raged here, waves rose and ships were wrecked.

It was difficult to overcome the elements, so the “black place” was given a symbolic name - Pontos Akseinos (which literally means “inhospitable sea”, “unkind”).

Then, however, careless sailors nevertheless conquered the elements, and the sea was given another, friendly and hospitable name - Euxeinos.

However, the first one took root better and left its mark in the coming centuries.

Version 2. Due to the shade of the water

The Black Sea has quite plain water, which turns brown in February due to the influx of algae, and in spring and summer changes shades from gray-blue to greenish-blue.

However, from above Caucasus mountains Two whole seas are visible - the Azov and the Black. People watching from there saw a difference in the color of their waters.

Azov looked light, and Black looked dark, so the Indian tribes began to call it Temarun.

The Scythians, who replaced them, also noticed the difference and called the sea Akhshaen (which translates as “dark, gloomy”).

Even now, flying by plane, you will see that the Black Sea looks many times darker than the Mediterranean or Azov.

Version 3: Black silt is the reason for everything

In former times, there were storms on the Black Sea strong storms, the waters at this time darkened and frightened the sailors.

But the shock was even stronger the next morning - the entire coast was painted in black and gray tones due to the silt thrown onto the pebbles.

Version 4: Scientific, “hydrogen sulfide”

Modern scientists know: in the depths of the Black Sea there is a real kingdom of hydrogen sulfide.

There is less than 10% pure water here, only a thin upper layer. The remaining 90% is so saturated with hydrogen sulfide that it cannot become a habitat for any flora and fauna. There are two conclusions from this fact.

Firstly, if you dive 150 meters down into the Black Sea, you will not find any life: these places are completely unsuitable for fish, algae and other inhabitants of water bodies.

Its depths are truly dark, empty and lifeless.

Secondly, any metal immersed in the abyss turns black - as the process of sulfur oxidation occurs. The sailors could not help but notice that their iron anchors took on a gloomy hue in these waters.

Version 5: Mystical about the gates of Hell

The Black Sea has always been surrounded by fairy tales and legends. Either the princess threw herself into it out of grief and drowned, and the waters, having received her, darkened with sadness.

Either the great prince hid a golden arrow in it, which had the power to destroy the entire world - having absorbed such power, any sea would turn black.

But the most mysterious theory is that at the depths there are hellish gates that hide the forces of evil.

It was born for a reason: more than once the ancient peoples had to observe the strange, fiery glow of these waters.

Today, scientists can clearly explain that there is only one thing connected with Lucifer - the substance luciferin.

It helps thousands of algae, poisonous jellyfish and microorganisms glow in the dark. And these are assorted aurelias, cornerotes, peridenes and noctilucas, inhabiting the local expanses in countless numbers.

Version 6: Translation error

Perhaps in Ancient Rus' the sea was called “red”, that is, beautiful: its blue waters delighted the inexperienced eye.

Over time, the original meaning was lost, and the sea became simply “black”, mournful - after all, many ships sank in it.

Every corner of our planet has its own secret. And even such a familiar and seemingly understandable Black Sea is no exception. More than a dozen centuries ago, together with the Caspian, it formed a single body of water, then they were separated by rising land layers.

During its history, this sea can count more than 50 names. At different times, different nationalities called it Scythian, Pontus Euxine, Pontus Aksinsky, Cimmerian, Tauride, Akhshaena, Kara-Deniz, Temarun, Surozh, Saint and even Blue.

The current name dates back to around the 13th century AD. Why do we still call it that? It turns out that there are about a dozen hypotheses about the origin of the name of the Black Sea.

Legends of the ancient Indians and Scythians

According to one version, Indian tribes gave this name to the sea. They called it “Temarun” (“black”) simply because it looked much darker than the nearby, shallower Azov with a light sandy bottom.

The ancient Scythians continued this tradition and called it “Ashkhaen”, which means “opaque”, “dark”.

Turkic name

Their first acquaintance began with a winter storm, so the inhabitants of these southern and sunny regions dubbed it “Kara-Deniz”, which means “northern”, “dark”. The word was also meant to denote the complete opposite of their “native” Mediterranean Sea, who bore the name “Ak-Deniz” (“southern”, “light”).

Ancient Greek version

Initially, relations with the Black Sea did not work out for the Greek colonists either. Unfriendly weather dangerous shores and the warlike coastal tribes aroused fear among the ancient Hellenes, and they called it “Pontos Axinos” (“inhospitable, hostile sea” or “black”). This version was put forward by the ancient Greek geographer Strabo and dates back to the 1st century BC.

However, modern historians consider these facts unconfirmed. In their opinion, the Greeks simply incorrectly translated the Scythian name into their native language - “dark blue”, which in ancient Greek was consonant with the word “unfriendly”. Later, having settled in these parts, they changed their name to “Pontos Euxinos” - “favorable sea”.

"Sea of ​​Dead Depths"

Some researchers believe that the sea was called “black” by sailors who noticed that anchors lowered into it turned black. Hydrologists explain the effect by the huge amount of hydrogen sulfide found at the bottom. Hydrogen sulfide is present in dissolved form in any body of water; it is a waste product of bacteria living at the bottom.

But in the waters of the Black Sea, at a depth of 150-200 meters, it is present in the greatest concentration, because in its own way geographical location it is “closed” by the banks and has limited “washability”.

When metal objects enter water, hydrogen sulfide molecules trigger a chemical process on their surface, as a result of which metal sulfides are formed and color the objects black.

On the other hand, experts understand that anchors usually do not sink to such great depths, so it is unlikely that authorship can be attributed to the sailors who noticed this phenomenon.

For the same reason that the sea is “closed”, its waters have a low concentration of salts and are unsuitable for life for most traditional marine inhabitants. Just because of the lack of salt and the abundance of hydrogen sulfide, it has a rather meager fauna, which is why scientists call it the “Sea of ​​Dead Depths.”

Tale of the Slavic sun worshipers

There is also a somewhat confused version about the ancient Slavs, who called “black” everything that was on the right side of the center. In the center, the sun-worshipping Slavs, naturally, had the east - the birthplace of the sun. That is, everything that was to the right of the east (in the modern sense - in the south) was considered black.

Why was it called black? It is believed that the ancient Vedas considered the left side human body“female” and depicted it in white, while the right side was “male” and was depicted in black. Black in this context was not a definition of evil, but simply emphasized the contrast, the opposite of the white side.

Linguistic error version

There is also an opinion that the sea acquired its current name due to a banal error when rewriting ancient texts. Allegedly, in fact, in ancient times it was considered and called beautiful, “red”. In Church Slavonic it sounded like “chermnoye” and the letter “m” simply disappeared during numerous rewrites.

The waters are darkening due to the storm

Some are sure that the sea is called “Black” because of its depth. Allegedly for this reason, during a storm, the water in it becomes very dark, and after the storm, the remains of black silt are noticeable on the land.

This version seems to be the least plausible, because it storms extremely rarely, no more than 20 days a year (with a power above 6 points), and the water becomes dark in any sea during a storm. And the silt brought ashore has, rather, a grayish tint.

Which version of the origin of the name can be called the most plausible?

Why is the Black Sea actually called “Black”? It's funny that different researchers seem completely plausible different options answer to this question.

To us, for example, as to many modern historians and researchers of toponymy of the Black Sea region, the simplest version seems to be the most realistic: the sea was named with the light hand of its Asian neighbors.

In these countries, since ancient times, it has been customary to designate the cardinal directions with colors. The north was designated black and, accordingly, the sea located north of these countries was called “Black” (“northern”).

Video: where did the name of the Black Sea come from?

Why was the Black Sea called black? Is it black? It is sometimes sky blue, sometimes greenish, sometimes purple, sometimes pink. But the Bulgarians call it - Black Sea, the Italians - Marais Nero, the French - Mer Noir, the British - Black Sea, the Germans - Schwarze Meer, the Turks - "Kara-Deniz" - and all this means "Black Sea". So why is the Black Sea called black? It turns out that there are several versions about the origin of the name of our Black Sea, and two are considered the main ones. The first was put forward by the ancient Greek geographer and historian Strabo, who lived in the 1st century BC. In his opinion, the sea was called Black by Greek colonists, who were once unpleasantly struck by storms, fogs, unknown wild shores inhabited by hostile Scythians and Taurians... And they gave the stern stranger the appropriate name - Pontos Akseinos - “inhospitable sea”, or “black”. Then, having settled on the shores, becoming related to the sea of ​​good and bright fairy tales, the Greeks began to call it Pontos Evxeinos - “hospitable sea.” But the first name was not forgotten, like the first love... Version two. In the 1st millennium BC, long before the appearance of careless Greek colonists here, Indian tribes lived on the eastern and northern shores of the Sea of ​​Azov - Meotians, Sindians and others, who gave the name to the neighboring sea - Temarun, which literally means “black sea". This was the result of a purely visual comparison of the surface color of the two seas, now called the Azov and Black seas. From the mountainous shores of the Caucasus, the latter appears darker to the observer, as can be seen even now. And if it’s dark, it means black. The Meotians on the shores of the mentioned seas were replaced by the Scythians, who fully agreed with this characterization of the Black Sea. And they called him in their own way - Akhshaena, that is, “dark, black.” There are other versions. For example, one of them says that the sea was so named because after a storm black silt remains on its shores. But this is not entirely true, the silt is actually gray, not black. Although... who knows how all this was seen in ancient times... In addition, there is another hypothesis about the origin of the name “Black Sea”, put forward by modern hydrologists. The fact is that any metal objects, the same anchors of ships, lowered to a certain depth in the Black Sea, rise to the surface blackened under the influence of hydrogen sulfide located in the depths of the sea. This property was probably noticed since ancient times and, undoubtedly, could have served to assign such a strange name to the sea. In general, the sea is capable of taking on a wide variety of colors and shades. Let's say, in February-March you can find that the water off the Black Sea coast is not blue, as usual, but brown. This color metamorphosis is a phenomenon of a biological nature, and it is caused by mass reproduction the smallest single-celled algae. The water begins to bloom, as people say. Such an amazing sea.