Situated approximately in the middle of the west coast of the Black Sea, Constantza, the antiqueTomis, developed itself as a seaport territory of Romanian life in this part of Europe,in spite of numerous historical vicissitudes. The age of this settlement and its specific function, intense marked by time, all the dramatic moments it passed through, give it a special position among of our country towns. In 1991, Constantza was celebrated for its age and continuity, and on the west coast in ancient times, Tomis-Constantza will develop along the centuries in an indissoluble link with the Romanians history, with their commercial interests, spiritual features, like a place of civilisations confluence, important junction for communications between East and West.
The earliest traces of human life, from the long period of carved stone, Palaeolithic have been discovered in the northern districts of the town, at Mamaia-Village and also in the Peninsula.Tousands years ago in a very rich in resources geographical landscape, primitive people life could develop due to their main occupations, hunting and fishing. The carved tools were changed into polished tools, these ones superior in efficiency and variety, and they were certified especially in the area of Hamangia Culture (4200-3700 B.C.). The Eneolithic can be identified in the objects characteristic for Gumelnita Culture, discovered on the bank of Tabacarie lake(near actual district Tomis IV) and on the bank of Siutghiol lake. The human skeletons with the "red ochre" discovered at Anadolchioi can be associated to the age of great ethnical changes, Indo-European, which means the decisive passage to the metal tools:copper, bronze, iron. Between 2400-1200 B.C. in a large area including the Carpathians and the Bakans, the ethnic group of Thracians appeared; their northern branch, much more numerousand vigorous was represented by the Geto-Dacians. A deposit containing 38 bronze objects, agricultural tools, discovered in an excavation in Constantza industrial district, can be dated in the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Agriculture, as main activity means a sedentary life, the development of stable settlements, inclusively a superior level of socio - economic organisation. Between the 8th-6th century B.C., the Thracians-Getians on the West coast of Black Sea had their own culture with specific occupations, being real partners in the commercial changes with the Greek navigators and merchants. These ones, keen on earning money and searching for good places got into contact with the indigen aristocracy which proved very eager to trade. After sounding and rewarding contacts with the native population, the Greek merchants set the well-known apoikiai (colonies) at Histria, in the year of the 31st Olympiad (657 B.C.), at Callatis (today Mangalia), in the 6th Century, at Tomis (the 6th century) and also on the coast places very favourable for them.The archaeological researches proved that before the setting-up of these colonies there were Thracians-Getianssettlements in Histria's area, the previous existence at Callatis of a Getic settlement known by Plinius the Oldest, named Acervatis or Acebatis. At Tomis, the archaeological excavations, between 1971-1974 noticed the discovery of huts or semihuts linked to the beginning of settlements history and which can be attributed to the indigen Getians, but also to the new-comer Greeks. Such kind of houses can be found in the colony of Histria as well as at Berezan, Olbia, Panikapaion and, in the territory, at Tariverde, Sarinasuf and in the Bug inferior area.
There have been a lot of discoveries at Tomis near Cathedral park, so very
close to the frequented navigators and merchants places. Other discoveries
in the Peninsula - a great number of arrowheads having truck functions
and wrap amphoras of Chiod and Lesbos - underline the idea that the first
colonist coming from Milet set here an important emporion. If Histria
and Callatis flourished rapidly, Tomis had a slower evolution. The documents
in the 6th-4th century B.C. don't mention Tomis so
its affiliation to the Delian League (486 B.C.) hasn't been certified for
us yet. We don't know the reasons of this slow development, but we can
take into account its cultural and economic fluorishement in the Hellenistic
epoch, when the town became more and more a polis.When Histria passed
to a crisis, Tomis was a safe place for ships, more favourable for trade.
On the other side, its economic power was larger as it wasn't based only
upon the villages in its area(chora), as there was Tariverde, for
example, for Histria or Albesti for Callatis. Near the Danube was set Axiopolis
(Cernavoda) from where cereals coming from the Daco-Getians Plain
were sent to Tomis. An event in 260 B.C. described by the historian Memnon
from Pontic Heracleea, emphasised Tomis importance, as it was
disputed on one hand by the confederation of Histria and Callatis and,
on the other hand, by Bizantyum, the well-known town on the Hellespontic
coast, which wanted to affirm its hegemony here, too. Or, as Memnon himself
said, the Bizantyunians started a war "against the people in Callatis -
these were colonists of Heracleea - and in the same time against the peolple
in Histria ," trying to monopolize Tomis (Fontes Historiae Romaniae,
1, 511).This conflict proved to be favourable to Tomis, providing it a
necessary opening for the independent and full-sized port activities. Indeed,
all the dates show a real evolution in complex aspects. Tomis had numerous
commercial changes with important centres - and their mention, based on
archaeological proves can be relevant: Messambria, Apollonia, Bizantyum,
Athens, Sinope, Thasos, Rhodos, Cos, Cnidos, Olbia, Chersonesos and so
on. The supplies for this ample trade was extent from the suitable relations
with the local aristocracy to fruitful contacts with the chiefs and merchants
in the North of Danube.On the other side, on the way Tomis-Axiopolis and,
from here, to the interior of Dacia, the Greek goods could penetrate. All
these bring an important payment to the town as we can ascertain, in this
period, a lot of public and private buildings, paved streets, aqueducts
and so on. Tomis certain prosperity is also testified by its currency.
Though the Getians coexisted with the Greek, in adequate way of life, Tomis
imitated the Greek traditional polis, the leaders being the council
and the people assembly (boule kai
demos ); the ordinary activity was supervised by special clercks:
archonts, agoranomes, strategei, oikonomes.Like at Histria, Apollo
was the protective divinity. Besides, there were also venerated:
Poseidon, Hermes, the Dioscures, Demetra, Dionysos. The Thracian-Dacian
cults interwove with the Greek cults and these interferences gave
birth to specific divinities like The Great God at Histria, the
Thracian Derzelas having a multitude of qualities in the
area, or the Thracian Cavalry. As much as the archaeological research
permitted, some elements testify, for this period, the existence of some
cultural institutions and schools at Tomis.
The Roman expansion in the Balkan Peninsula, finalised by transforming
Greece and Macedonia into Roman provinces will put the towns on the west
coast of the Black Sea into danger. In spite of the fierce opposition of
Mitridates the 6th, the king of the Pontus, leading an anti-Roman
coalition during the third confrontation, between 72 / 71 B.C., the governor
of Macedonia, Marcus Terentius Verro Lucullus, made an expedition
on the west coast, setting here Roman garrisons. It is possible that, following
Callatis' example, which entered into a pact with the Romans (the
well-known Callatis foedus), the other towns, inclusively Tomis
set such kind of agreement with Rome. The severe taxes, the obligation
of keeping up the garrisons, the offends and probably a certain control
upon trade, determined the Greeks to rise in arms. They allied with the
Getians in the province and with the Bastarns. In 62 / 61 B.C., they confronted
with the Romans at Histria. Here the Macedonian proconsul, C. Antonius
Hybrida had maybe the most shameful defeat a Roman general ever had.
The great historian Vasile Parvan, wondered, referring to the proportion
and the firmness of those anti-Roman fighters, if the person who lead the
anti-Roman coalition and defeated Hybrida couldn't be Burebista
the great king, who was decided by that time to set up and enlarge the
Getic-Dacian state. In short time after this battle, between 55-44 B.C.
Burebista managed to integrate into his state all the west coast
towns, from Olbia in the North (near Bug), to Apollonia (Sozopol)
in the South (in Bulgaria). But Burebista's death, killed in a conjuration
in 44 B.C., took to the disintegration of his state, even if its nucleus
with the capital at Sarmizegetusa will maintain. Very soon, the Roman offensive
at Ripa Traciae (name give to Dobrudja) is resumed. A Dacian and
Bastarn invasion in the South of Danube is rejected by the Macedonian proconsul,
Marcus Licinius Crassus, in 29 / 28 B.C. Taking into consideration
the adage "divide et impera," Crassus obtained to cooperate with the Getian-Dacian
basileus Roles, from the South - West of Dobrudja. Being helped
by this socius et amicus populi Romani, Crassus will defeat
other two leaders, Dapyx, who governed the centre of the province,
and Zyraxes from the north. In the last ten years of Augustus'
rule (between 27th B.C.-14 A.D.) Dobrudja will enter under the military
supervision of the Roman Empire. Micra Scythia, as Dobrudja was named then,
will remain for seven centuries under Roman Domination.
The trade
centres on west Black Sea coast experienced the Roman domination. A rich
citizen in Histria, Papas, Theopompos' son , dedicated a temple
to Augustus. Even from the beginning of the 1st century A.D., five west
Pontic towns made a cultural union: Histria, Tomis, Callatis, Dionysopolis
(Balcic) and Odessos (Varna).Pentapolis will be enlarged very soon
as Messambria adhered too and became Hexapolis. After a short period,
when Odessos was the most important in this union, the Pontarch's
residence (its leader) will be set for almost two centuries at Tomis. At
Tomis will be settled down the praefectus orae maritimae, the town
became the headquarters of the military commander of the Left Pont. Valuable
information about the life at Tomis at the beginning of the Christian era
are to be found from Tristia. Tristia and from Epistolae ex Ponto,
masterpieces of the great Latin poet Publius Ovidius Naso,
exiled at Tomis by the order of the emperor Augustus. Even If the pretext
of his exile was the love poetry, or a part of it, considered to be bawdy,
the poet of gentle love was aware of the fact that a mistake (error)
and a friend's betrayal were the reasons of his banishment in the northern
part of the Empire. Far away from the Eternal City, in a place which
seemed to be hostile, cold and full of dangers, Ovid wrote his elegies
like writings asking for excuse. In spite of the exaggerated, gloomy scenario
of his complains, he didn't obtain the anticipated mercy, the real cause
of his exile being Livia, Augustus' wife and her son, the future
emperor Tiberius. Sulmona son, Ovid will find a second country at
Tomis. He who enjoyed the pomp in Rome and had deserved honours will live
his last few years, between 9th and the 17th A.D. Among the narrow walls
of the west Pontic town, besides the Greeks and Getians who will appreciate
him. The citizens of the town will elect him agonothet, a president
of the games in honour of the gods, showing this way how much they
liked his remarkable qualities, his talent, his culture. In his exile writings
and also he reffered to the Getians in the town who liked his poetry written
in their language: Ovid also mentioned other people, Bessi, the "harsh
Iazigs," "the Sarmantians lances," the "Scyantian bow" and so on. If the
Getians and their allies are a real danger because of their repeated attacks,
the behaviour of the people in the town is not the same. In a letter, Ovid
confirmed the Getians preponderence in town:
"Turba tomitane quae sit regionis et inter
quos habitem mores discere cura tibi est?
Mixta sit haec quamvis inter Graecosque Getasque
a male pacatis plus trahit ora Getis
Sarmaticae major geticaeque frequentia gentis
per medias in equis itque redique vias"
(Tristia,
V, 7, v. 9-14)
In other lines he described the native people portrait who were compelled
to be good farmers and good warriors in the same time and how they wore
fleecy shipingcoats and crunched the frozen wine. Here is the fragment
in which he presents Getians cheering for his poetry written in their language:
"Nec te mirari, si sunt vitiosa decebit
carmina, quae faciam paene poeta Getes.
A pudet, et Getico scripsi sermone libellum
sttrutaque sunt nostris barbara verba modis,
et placui-ratare mihi coepique poetae
inter inhumanos nomen habere Getas
Materiam quaeris? laudes de Caesare dixi
Haec ubi non patria perlegi scripta carmena,
Venit et ad digitos ultima charta meos,
et caput et plenas omnes movere pharetras,
et longum Cetico murmur in ore fuit"
( Pontica, IV, 13, v. 13-18, 33-36)
Ovid is for us an eternal symbol of the Latin spirituallity in this part
of the world. His grave remains still a mystery for us and his sarcophagus,
his tombestone or his funerary urn are to be discovered in future. There
have been investigations and there will be certainly be, but the superposition
of the modern town on the antique one doesn't permit large working. There
are two signs in Late literary sources from Renaissance: one says that
the people in tomis buried the poet at the entrance in the town- ante
opidi portam. The other one is Dante's Life by Giovanni Boccacio:
"Ovid's grave is on island from Pont..."
Following our historical itinerary, we must stress that on the west Pontic
coast, in towns as in the country, the Roman way of life penetrated impetuously,
the colonists, the veterans, the merchants, all the people coming from
different parts of the Empire interwove with the native Getian-Thracian-Dacians.
Tomis supported some administration measures which had their climax in
86 A.D. when Moesia Inferior(generally corresponding to actual Dobrudja)was
set up. After Dacia was conquered by Traian's legions,(between 101-102and105-106
A.D.),the process of Roman expansion in the north of Danube intensified.
In the west-Pontic towns there is a strong economic, cultural, religious
development. Tomis important position in Moesia Inferior strenghthened.
Under Hadrian ( 117 - 137 ) the town had the condition of a free
town, and under Antonius Pius (138-161) he appeared in documents
and on the coins as Left Pont Metropola. That pax Romana
of the Antonins brings the deserved prospeity to the town. The architectural
fragments discovered today certify very clear the important building of
the time: public and private buildings, handicraft worksops (glass, ceramics,
marble), there were built underground aqueducts digging in soil on in limestone
(actual town Ovidiu area) to assure drinking water to the citizens. The
merchants and the shipowners from Tomis develop their activity. The historical
sources show a great number of ports which assure intense economical relations
to Tomis. Byzantion, Alexandria, Cyzic, Palmira, Smirna, Athena, Anycra...
The merchants and the shipowners in other ports open there offices,
like that known in Alexandria (Egypt). The certain signs of Tomis prosperity,
arts and religion flourish. Sculpture becomes remarkable: statues, bas-reliefs,
architectural adornment, Terracota statuettes, all assimilating the indigen
motifs. Marble is brought by ships and processed in workshops (like that
at "Serpentina" near the port, discovered in 1958). Capitels, friezes,
funerary stela, that statue of "the Tomis citizen," transmit the distinguished
feelings of Tomis people, their love for beauty and the idea of lasting
things. The 24 statues and bas-reliefs, discovered in 1962 under the embankment
of the railway proceed from that time. Being very beautiful, having a great
historical value (documentary, artistical ,aesthetic) they are symbols
of the antique civilisation, coat of arms of Constantza age. Romanian and
foreign guests, coming from the whole world admire today at the ground
floor of the Museum of National History and Archaeology in Constantza,
situated in Ovidiu Square the portrait-bust of goddess Isis, in
white marble ( or of one of her priestess?), Fortuna and Pontos (protector
gods of the town), the unique represantion, in grey marble of the Glycon
Serpent (favourable divinity, having not only Orient connotations,
but indigen too), Aedicula with the double image of Nemesis (goddess
of order and world equilibrium), some images of the Thracian Cavalryman,
medicine's god, Asklepios and so on. From the same time when these
creeds became manifest at Tomis, there is also a dedication on stone to
the empresses Iulia Mameea put by "the assembly and the people of
the glamorous metropola and capitel of the Left Pont." In the town, as
in the whole province, there were very honoured the classical divinities
Jupiter, Minerva, Apollo, Bacchus, the most important hero of the
antique Greek mythology, Hercule: the divinities of the Thracian-Getians
are assimilated to the Roman ones: Sabazios, to Dionysos,
Kottito and Bendis to Artemis-Diana, the Thracian
Cavalryman also had new names Hero-Domnus or Invictus a.s.o.
The Roman peace will be diturbed by the Costobocians' attacks (in 170 A.D.)
and in the middle of the next century, by the war intentions of the Getians,
allied with Carps, as we can find in Zosimos (The Contemporary
History, I, 42). After 270 A.D. efforts were made to rebuilt the defence
wall. In town life there was a new period of development in Diocletian's
time (284-305), when Tomis becomes the residence of the Roman province
Scythia Minor and intensifies especially in Constantin the
Great's time (306-337) and his succesors time. From 330, when Constantin
the Great moves the capital of the Roman Empire on Hellespont coast,making
from the old Byzantion a famous Roman-Byzantine capital Constantinopolis;
Constantinopolis will have a strong favourable upon the west Pontic
towns and, of course, upon Tomis. This one, as well as the same province
whose capital it was will be under direct Empire protection, as a strategic
base and aupply base, like an important area of the Constantinopolis domination.
As consequence of the good relations with the new capital, Tomis will flourish
impetuously, from all points opf view: port, trade, urban, cultural. The
antique vestiges are relevant: coins, inscriptions, ceramics, anchors and
so on... The intense activity here can be stressed especially by the great
buildings and improvements of this time. First, we mention the Roman
Mosaic, impressive building, which served as a maritime station and
club for skipowners and merchants, from the end of the 3rd century up to
the beginning of the 7th. Discovered in 1959, the vast complex built in
three superposed terraces, it was studied very carrefully and protected
in a museum building. Even if we have only a part of the walls and the
Roman bows of the building from the objects found in its deposits or from
the polychrome mosaic floor (700 square metres from 2,000 square metres
as is had in the beginning), the visitors have the opportunity to admire
in situ a unique building in this part of Europe, in all its stateliness
and authetic aspects and details. In the Roman-Byzantine Epoch, the town
leaders, the shipowners, the merchants met in the pompous hall of the building,
on the superior terrace, which had 100 metres lenght and 20 width: here
they negotiated good business and had parties. The mosaic floor, having
geomatrical and flower motifs, in the middle of squares and circles, set
around a central field, separated through registers or strips (ivy, Etruscean
waves, the classic pattern pelta, specific to the Romans), imposes
by variety, elegance and artistic taste. The technique is, indeed, a classical
one, named opus vermiculatum, but patterns symbols and of the registers
repeat at random, uncluding other elements (twisted hopes, fish scales,
a kantharos, weapons and even a pigeon drinking water from a leaf)
deserve to be studied in future. The second terrace of the building, 9
metres below, formed by 11 rooms-deposits, and the third terrace as well,
4 metres below that, one having other vaulted rooms show the trade-port
function of the building, inclusively by the discovered objects (amphoras
with oils, wine, iron, wax, resins and so on..). From the same epoch dates
the Thermes, on the south of the Romans Mosaic, near the principal
entrance of the contemporary port. The archaeological digging revealed
a large room, a public bath, floored with marble blocks, under which through
a hypocaustum the hot steam came up. Recently, the discovery of
the Painted Grave, near the Zorile restaurant, at the entrance in
Stefan cel Mare dtreet, on the place of a necropola from the 4th century
showed us a funerary building having an exceptionally artistical and documentary
value. It is a tomb with 2.80 metres width and 2 metres height, and which
has painted on its walls vegetal and animal frescoes preparing a typical
initiating scene: there are five young men, some of them rising the glasses,
other with their arms hold out to the objects on the round table they stay
around; there are near them, two servants who prompt them with amphoras,
maybe with wine. The scene has, of course, a thoughtful aspect, as if the
young men were discussing and thinking about religion or philosophy. The
represented animals (partridges, pigeons, hares, peacocks) and the vegetal
patterns underline a paradise-like life. The general chromatic aspect of
the grave-hypogeu at Tomis shows masterliness and artistical nicety.
The Painted Grave can be dated in the period of passing from paganism to
Christianity. In spite of the protections taken by the authorities, the
native traditional creeds decayed, and the Christian monotheism had more
and more adepts in the whole Empire, inclusively in the west Pontic towns.
The history of the Romanian Orthodox Church notices the missionary activity
of the Saint Apostle Andrew to the Scythians and amog our ancestors.
The Christianity expansion in the Empire determined the emperor Constantin
the Great to give a well-known edict from Milan, in 313, which validated
the free creed in Jesus. In Mynor Schytia, the inhabitants became Christian
considering this religion as a way of salvation and they built churches.
There are Known names of martyrs from Axiopolis (Cernavoda), Durostorum
(Silistra), in other parts where they suffered in persecutions time. The
bones of the sacrified people because of their Christian religion dicovered
in Tomis basilicas and to those evidences. Here, the archeological research
revealed six basilicas, two of them in the south-west of the antique town,
where they formed an episcopium, the residence of the leaders of
this eparhy. Among the bishops,we notice first Evangelicus Titus (or
Philus) and Marcu, then, the bishops mentioned in the sources
as: Betranion (Vetranion), who, being in conflict with the
Emperor Valens, in 369, defends very intense the Christianity, Cherontius
(or Terentius) attested in 381 at the second ecumenical Synod,
the great scholar Theotimus the 1st, then Timotei, present
at the Synod in Efes in 431, Ioan, Alexander, mentioned in
opposition with the nestorianism. Followed by Theotimus the 2nd,
mentioned in 458, Latin scholar and Christianity defender, Paternus,
who in 519 signs the church acts in Constantinopolis with the title "Episcopus
provinciae Acythiae metropolinatus," so being a metropolitan bishop (his
name appears also on a golden silver plate, discovered in 1912 at Malaia
Perescepina, in Ukrain and now in Museum Ermitaj collections in Sankt-Petersburg);
the last bisop known from the 6th century is Valentinian (550-589), writing
to the Pope Virgilius and signing "Episcopus de Tomis, provinciae Scythiae."
We also mention the scholars and writers in East Latin from Scythia Mynor
who affirmed in the European culture, Auxentius de Durostorum, Ioan
Maxentiu, Ioan Cassian or Dionysius Exiguus.Born in the rural territory
of Tomis, Ioan Cassian (360-430) was a tireless traveller and missionary
of Christianity. Another monk,originary from this part of Europe,Dionysius
Exiguus (Dionisie
the humble) lived in the 6th century, being monk in Rome about a half century,
known as an erudite person, the humanity have the Christian Era calculation
from him.
The flourishing life in Tomis will be intense and often troubled by Huns,
Avares, Protobulgarians, Slaves (Antes and Sclavins) invasions to whom
the Empire army sarcely coped with. The attacks of the Cutrigians and Avares
in 585 are following by the Slaves penetration on the earth and on the
sea. The attempts, sometimes victorious of the Emperor Mauriciu Tiberiu
(582-602) to stop them, doesn't solve the danger estate. Other migratory
peoples added to the anterior ones, so in 679
the Bulgarians
coming at the Danube from the Volga regions defeated the army of Constantin
the 4th Pogonatul (668-685) and, under the leader Asparuch or
Isperich set a state in today Bulgaria with the capital at Pliska.
Tomis will surpass this breaking off, continuing to be the residence of
theme Scythia Mynor and place for Byzantine ships to stop over. The literary
sources disappear for a while, and the archaeological evidence show us
a town reduced as importance. Constantin Porphirogenetus (913-920
and 944-959), in hios work De Thematibus (page 47, 58-60) refers, in theme
Scythia Mynor, among the towns Tomis when he mention older historical situations,
and when he notices contemporary situations he names the town Constantia.
This Metamorphosis from Tomis to Constantia (Constantza) appears
in the writing of the chronicler Ioan Skylites when he refers
to the messengers coming from Constantia and other west Pontic towns to
the emperor Ioan Tsimiskes (969-976). Under the rule of this powerful
emperor who eliminated the East Bulgarian and drives away the Kiev Russians,
Dobrudja enters in the new theme Paristrion or Paradunavon,
and, though Constanteia or Constantia is no more its residence
(the theme capital being Dorostolon), a good perspective will soon reveal
to our town.
It is now necessary to present some hypothesis and dates about the changing
the name of the town from Tomis into Constantza. One hypothesis says that
Constantza name comes from the emperor Constantin the Great (306-337).
The regretted professor Radu Vulpe, in an article dedicated to this subject,
gave some reasons for the name Constantza beginning with the emperor Constantiu
the 2nd (337-361). The third possibility might be linked with the name
of the above mentioned emperor, daughter Flavia Maxima Constantia,
sacrified by the church. But, indeed, in this period favourable to basilicas
and buildings also, appeared, in the south-west of the town a district,
named probably Constantiana or Constantia, with two basilicas,
one of them bishopric. The new name will maintain among the natives, parallel
with the traditional and official Tomis.
The writers of the
time-Zosimos, Theophilactos Simmokata or Theophanus Confesor
- name it Tomis further on. Procopius from Cesareea mentioned
the both names, but he made a distinction between Tomis and Constantiana,
and some chronicals considered them to be two different settlements. Of
course, there would have beeen more names coming from the Byzantine emperors,
but some of them, like Constantiniana (supposed to be at Capul Dolojman)
have nothing to do with Tomis.
Other researchers
consider the name Constantza being later name: maybe from Constantin
the 4th Pogonatul's time (668-685) or Constantin the 5th Kopronimos's
(730-735) time. A number of centuries the two names of the town coexisted
from Constantin Porphirogenetul and Kedrenos to the pictures
and sea maps in the transcription forms are different: Constantza,
in the Carta nautica pisana, in the 13th century Constansa,
in the Catalan atlas in 1375, Constantia in Valerand from
Wavrin's notices, in 1445, Constanca, in Grazioso Benincasa
carta, in 1471, and so on. The form Constantza, having the first n
absent is a linguistic reality.
A special interest at the beginning of the Middle Age in Constantza have
two lead seals discovered and identified recently, on which there are the
names of two bishops Tomis: Anicet (the 10th-the 11th century) and
Vasile (the 11th century), continuators of Paternus(from
519) at the leadership of the metropolitan eparhy until the revolt of the
brothers Peter and Asan,in 1186. Anyway, after 1204, when
in Constantinopolis set the East Latin Empire (the residence of the Byzantine
Empire moving to Niceea, for a while) in the north of Dobrudja set the
Vicina metropolitan. At Tomis-Constantza, in spite all the Migratory
peoples attacks, life continued, and the town is mentioned many times in
the navigation maps and documents of the time. The Genoeses penetrated
on the west coasts of the Black Sea, named now "Mare Majus" (the Great
Sea), as it will be later named in his documents Mircea cel Batran
(Mircea the 0lder). In the oldest navigation map known until now, that
of Petro Visconti, in 1318, Constantza is mentioned, too. It is
possible that the Genoeses set here and in Mangalia too (Pangalia, Manegalia,
in navigation maps) trade controls. The Venice, Genoa, Raguza merchants,
and, of course, the Byzantine ones came here with their ships in the ports
of the Black Sea and Danube. The little country named Cavarna Country
of Baltica spread under Dobrotici on other parts of Dobrudja.
Mentioned in 1374 in confrontation with the Genoa people, Dobrotici
considers himself the protector of the ports at the Black Sea and the
Danube. His succesor, Ivanco, by his messengers Coste and
Joplan (Cioplan?), will conclude a treaty with the Genoa people.
But the Genoa representants didn't represent a real danger for the province
between the Danube and the Black Sea, as much as skilful would have been
these "merchants and guerriers," who set colonies very prosper in Chilia,
Giurgiu or Calafat. The real great dangers were now the Tartars attacks
from the east, and especially, the Ottoman expansion, from the south.
There was the Romanian rulers merit to have looked Dobrudja and Danube
with responsibility, as old Romanian historic places, as legitimate parts
of ancient Dacia, fighting, often in unequal conditions, with the Tartars
and the Ottomans to defend the country. Even, Basarab the 1st, the
Wallachia founder, on the traces of Dromichaites, Burebista and Decebal,
kept the Danube Delta, and the north of Dobrudja in his state, stopping
for a while the Tartars attacks. His succesor, Nicolae Alexandru Basarab
(1352-1364) continued firmly the defend of the Dobrudja land and the
Danube from the Tartars attacks.
The Romanian rulers
tried to involve other forces against the Ottoman danger from the south,
Balica and Dobrotici and the Bulgarian tsar Sracimir.
In the confrontation in 1338-1390, Dobrotici succesor, Ivanco, and
the Vidin tsar, Sisman, died in the battle. Mircea cel Batran
(1386-1418), the Romanian capable ruler, had the mission to defeat
the Ottoman invaders, and then in bad conditions to impose them treaties.
Under Mircea's rule, the whole Dobrudja entered into Wallachia borders.
He named himself, rightly, "ruler on the both sides of the whole Danube
and to the Great Sea and in the towns of Darstor." His succesors, Mihail
(1418-1422) and Dan the 2nd (1422-1430?), faced the Ottoman
armies coming from Deliorman, after spoils, The Ottoman campaigns in Dobrudja
in 1417-1419, in spite of their brutal expansion aspect, didn't set the
Ottoman administration here. There are set garrisons in Mircea's fortresses
at Isaccea and Enisala -and that was all. The Romanian rulers, Iancu
de Hunedoara, between 1442-1444, Vlad Dracul, in 1445, Vlad
Tepes, in 1462 opposed the Ottoman forces, on their own, or helped
by the crusaders cavalrymen. In passage, the crusades couldn't face the
ottoman army, and the West cavalrymen left, leaving the difficulty of the
fights in the Romanian rulers hands. Thus, in a dramatic situation, in
1476, Mehmed the 2nd crossed Dobrudja "without any resistance,"
as the Ottoman sources say. The last resistance points, Stefan cel Mare
fortresses Chilia and Cetatea Alba are conquered by Baiazid the
2nd, in 1484.
Dobrudja conquest by the Ottoman Empire meant a supply base in this province
very rich in products (wheat, fish, ships, suet, honey, hay), to use it
as bridge where from they could attack The Romanian provinces (Wallachia,Moldavia,Transilvania)
and the European countries,
in general. It is understood that the Ottoman domination was exploiting
and all the evidences show the important stagnations or regresses in the
province settlements, in terms of a feudal, military, tyrant and oppressing
social order. Constantza becomes Kustendjeh and the Black
Sea is named with the Turkish name Kara-I-Deniz; the sea is traversed
mainly by the Stambul ships (former Constantinopolis was conquered by the
Ottomans in 1453). The foreign travellers saw at Constantza a"platform"
necessary to load the Turkish ships, as a village among the antique ruins
and monuments. The Italian monk Mancinelli describes it in 1585,
as a "Hamlet where years ago there was the nice town Constantza, from its
traces a certain rich Turkish was searching for treasures situated
under marble slabs." Franco Sivori shows that on Constantza platform
the ships are loaded with skins and wax from Wallachia to Constantinopolis,
Raguza or Ancona. In the 17th century, there are very interesting the narrations
of the well-known traveller Evlia Celebi, who says that Baiazid
Ildirim wanted Constantza to be demolished beacause it " opossed and
the stones were thrown into the sea. Even now one can see on a high hill
near the sea the ruins of the demolished walls." Evlia Celebi described
also the town: "Being set on the sea coast, Constantza isn't too rich or
too prosper, because many times it was attacked, ruined and burned by the
Cossaks... There are about 150 houses, covered with titles and shingle.
It has one district, and near the port platform there is a simple mosque,
but useful. There are also: an inn, 40-50 barns, which seemed to be inns
set near the platform and a few parishes."
At the beginning of the 18th century, a certain, French, passed through
Dobrudja in the Swedish king suite, Carol the 12th, La Motraye,
in their way to Instanbul. He writes: "This town which is older Constantza,
shows a little today: the houses are dumpy, more suitable for a village
than for a town, even not so important one, excepting some Turkish houses.
Its circumference it is not more than a mile, but the old ruins and walls
traces, which can be seen, here and there, prove that in older times it
had at least 4 miles." The town situation continued to be the same, in
a Oriental manner, which is proved by travel notes of Ch. Peyssonel,
the French consul at the Crimea khan court: "Kustendja was a large town.
Now it is ruled by a commander who has the task to transport wheat to Constantinopolis.
The port is uncertain." However, other narrations say that, beside the
platform at Karaharman (Vadu), on Constantza platform were
loaded important quantities of goods, that, beside the Turkish ships, there
are here "Greek and Bulgarian ships." The Russian-Turkish, wars transform
Dobrudja in a combat zone along this period. Hector de Bearn says
that the Turkish authorities built in the port area "three bulwarks surrounded
by ditches," reality he draw in 1828-1829. Ten years later, the future
Prussian marshal Helmuth von Moltke, called in Dobrudja as an instructor
for the Ottoman army says there were only "40 houses" and complains the
historical conditions unfavourable to the town. In the middle of the 19th
century a very important document about Dobrudja and its ports was given
by the economist Ion Ionescu de la Brad, sent by the sultan to make
a study about this province: Excursion agricole dans la pleine de la
Dobrudja. He ascertains with sadness the town decay showing that Kustendje
"must have been flourishing in older times, judging after the huge granite
and marble columns and the ornaments which form piles of ruined stones."
Both in this work and in his correspondence with Ion Ghica, Ion
Ionescu de la Brad underlines the Constantza importance as a maritime port,
suggesting his development and arrangement, appreciating its future important
role in commercial relations between East and West.
But Constantza will have to wait until its revival. After the Crimea war,
the French mission which built the commercial road Constantza-Rasova uses
as workers the Romanians and their wagons. The doctor of this mission,
C. Allard describes Constantza, named Kustendje, like a "little
village composed of huts, ruins and with a lot of dirt on its streets."
The French doctor advances his opinion that this port "could be one day
the centre of a civilisation that we saw in the past developing." Following
their commercial expansion, The English, interested by the cereals and
animals in the Romanian Principates, will build the railway Constantza-Cernavoda,
in 1859-1862, and on this occasion they arranged the port and build many
deposits in Constantza. It is obvious that the town begins to develop,
fact mentioned heartily by the pastor Emilien Bore, in a letter to Allard
doctor...
But the real Constantza rebirth will accomplish after the Independence
War and the settling down of the Romanian administration, at the 23th November
1878, in this very old province of Burebista and Mircea cel Batran. Powerful
personalities, having sense of responsability and favourable initiaqtives,
like the first Constantza county prefect, Remus Opreanu, the mayor
Ion Banescu and others contribute to spectaculous changes in town development.
Being aware of the importance of Constantza port, the Romanian officials
give a lot of money for the building of the railway Fetesti-Cernavoda-Constantza
and for the grandiose bridge over the Danube accomplished under the management
of the engineer Anghel Saligny and inaugurated in 8195. At that time, it
was the longest bridge in Europe. The same enterprising engineer, Anghel
Saligny will supervise the works in the modern Constantza port arrangements,
the silos and the oil tanks building and so on. There were achieved
kilometres of breakwaters, wharfs, interior roads, the port importance
was growing as comparing to other Pontic towns. If before 1878, after the
Greek consul in Varna, Papadopoulos Vreto's narration, Constantza
had only 3,000 inhabitants, in 1879, there were 5,430, in 1896 being 10,419
inhabitants in 1,378 houses (M. Ionescu-Dobrogianu, Tomi-Constantza,
page 81-94).
Constantza progresses are spectaculous. The port must be rebuilt adapted
to the new demands, much more, more complex, closer to heart and needs
of the independent Romania. There were initiated great works. In 1896 there
was founded the port, in the presence of the king Carol the 1st, and it
will be finished in 1909. The town had already been linked with the Capital,
through the bridge built in 1895 by the engineer Anghel Saligny. Kilometres
of piers were built, wharfs, with a basin of 60 hectares and platforms
of 137 hectares. The trade increased, reaching millions of tones every
year. The first repairing workshop appeared in 1892: an industry took shape,
the relations with other parts of the worlds fluorished. The town population
increased at about 35,000 inhabitants at the end of the previous century.
Dobrudja will benefit by the stipulations of the Romanian Constitution,
in 1909, to have representants in the Parliament. The political life meant
proliferation of the parties. So, there were powerful organisations of
the National Liberal Party, of the Conservatory Party - with
a club officially inaugurated in 1909; the Conservatory-Democrat Party
alsi activated. In 1896 it is founded the club of the Social-Democrat
Party with important consequences for the socialist movement.
Intellectuals asserted themselves and created some societies, the most
important was Literary Circle "Ovidius," which appeared even in
1897, with the participation of the journalist Petru Vulcan: the
Society of Letters, Art and Sport; in 1910 it was founded the Cultural
League - a branch.
There were organised artistical tours with the participation of great actors:
Matei Millo, I.D. Ionescu, C. Nottara, P. Liciu, N. Leonard, Aristizza
Romanescu, Gr. Manolescu and so on, which shows Elpis Hall and from
1910, at the Casino. On the 8th of February 1916, at George Enescu
begins his series of concerts.
The newspapers reflect with much more details life in province and in the
town, from all points of view: education,culture,
economy, politics...
The oldest newspaper is that of the Prefecture, Farul Constanta
(1880-1938). Further on, Gazeta Dobrogei (1880-1892), Constanta
(1891-1903), Santinela Dobrogei (1894-1896). The first literary
magazine appeared, Ovidiu (1898-1910), publishing the most important
cultural values of the Pontic area. The newspaper grew in number and diversified,
mainly because the parties newspapers appeared: Drapelul (1909-1912),
Liberalul Constantei (1913-1928), Liberalul (1915-1916),
Tribuna Dobrogei (1905-1907), Conservatorul Constantei (1908-1913),
Democratul (1914), and the longevival Dobrogea Juna (1904-1944),
many others.
Dobrudja prepares for the Great Union, too. But this accomplishment meant
unconceivable sacrifices, because of the First World War (1916-1918), in
which Romania was belligerent. The war was cruel, sanguinary - with the
presence of the enemies, German- Bulgarian troops which exceeded in crimes
and robbery. Constantza was occupied in October 1916. The Bulgarian language
is declared official language. There were made important changes favourable
to the Bulgarian Kingdom. German administration is accompanied by terror,
robberies, demolishment (the statue of great Ovidiu was taken off by the
Bulgarians: it had been built in 1887 by Constantza inhabitants, initiative
of the Prefect Remus Opreanu: the sculptor had been Ettore Ferari).
But the Romanian victories in the summer of 1917, with important contributions
of the 9th Division Constantza, announce the defeat of the enemy. On the
1st December 1918, the Great Union was made -giant archievement of the
Romanians secular ideals. On the occasion of the great holiday dedicated
to this act, in Iasi, on the 7th of December a student from Constantza
(Ciuperceanu) said: "We, the people from Dobrudja, feast our eyes
this moment we live now to see after many sacrifices. Romanians union in
the Great Romania." The event was sublime: a Dobrudja son -province returned,
natural to the country in 1877- express simple and sincerely, the national
solidarity feeling, defining the old area of ethnical affiliation, that
of Carpathians-Danube-Pontus Euxinus.
Constantza represents Romania at the Black Sea, where from open large horizons
to the whole world. It develops rapidly, superposed on the antique and
meaningful Tomis ruins. Port has an extraordinary dynamics, with a traffic
of 568,000 tones in 1921, 1,8 millions tones in 1926, 3,7 millions tones
in 1930, 6,5 millions tones in 1937. The shipyard developed, it was endowed
with a large halls, equipped, for that time, with advanced technical means;
there were a lot of workers.
Constantza industry diversified: larger workshops appeared; the older enterprises
modernized. The majority of the industrial unities were food industries.
In metellurgy and machine tools appeared workshops as Energia, Wolf,
Getta plant - this one important
for aeronautics because
here it was built the first Romanian hydroplane Getta, in 1925,
designed by the engineer R.A.Stoika, piloted by the pilot Romeo Popescu
and financed by the merchant George Georgescu.
The oils tanks, the machine workshops of the oil societies: Concordia,
Steaua Romana, Romano-Americana, Astra Romana, Unirea, Columbia, Radeventa
and so on-have a lot of workers-that meant a considerable increase of the
population of the town. To those, and to the diverse inhabitants as concerning
social, professional, cultural, religious, ethnical level addressed by
different political ideas, the political parties, adapted to the time,
like The National Liberal Party, The National Peasants Party, The Socialist
Party and their struggle to avert the danger of a harmful phenomenon:
fascism. The voices of important representants of some of the political
parties, and democratic organisations, Constantza inhabitants discouraged
firmly country division, they wanted their Bukovina, North Transylvania
and South Dobrudja were taken, consequence of the international anti-Romanian
obscure political mamoeuvres.
Emphasizingits economical mission, between the two wars, Constantza enlarged,
not taking into consideration the port traffic. Underlining the importance
of the town concerning trade-navigation, we mention the opening of many
consulates: English, Greek, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Turkish-international
dialogue partners for Romania at that time. The consulates bring forewign
clarks, with houses, as usually, near them. The process of town extension,
at the beginning of the century continues. Thewre were built a lot of modern
houses along traditional dtreets like: Mamaia boulevard (former
Queen Maria), which links the city with the beautiful resort in
the north, which appeared even in 1905-1906; Carol boulevard, today
Tomis, had a specific aspect for the years before 1940; the Peninsula
districts have even today the real historical character of the city; Ovidiu
Square is that which symbolizes the urban forum, dominated by imposing
and stately building of the former Townhall (built between 1911-1912),
today the Museum of National History and Archaeology Constanza,
and by the statue of the poet Ovid exiled by the emperor Augustus at Tomis:
the peripheral districts have the tendency to integrate to the old urban
area: Anadolchioi, Bratianu, Palas, Viile Noi, Coiciu and so on - there
are some realities in contemporary Constantza.
The churches grow in number, result of a historical past in which, Dobrudja
had an important part, the orthodox Christians, mainly Romanians, then
Bulgarians, Greeks, Russians; the Moslims Turks and Tartars have their
mosques with minarets break through horizon; synagogues, Armenian or Catholic
churches, everything reflect heterogenius character of the inhabitants,
willing for a job, money and property, in Constantza, city with international
and cosmopolite propensity.
The mosque King Carol, built on the place of an old one, Azizia,
dominates the Peninsula even from 1910. On the Tomis boulevard, Hunchiar
Mosque, from 1868, and some other few similar mosques are the spiritual
expression of the Moslims. The Catholic Church Saint Anthony brings
the Italian architecture specific; the synagogue on Petru Rares street,
as the demolished synagogue, built in Gothis style, on Mircea cel Batran
street, show the importance of the Jewish community, interested in the
old ethnic groups, settled here for business, trade...
The orthodox churches dominate firmly the whole city. The Romanian population
increases, immediately after 1898, superposing to the olders this natural
inhabitant build many churches: The Cathedral of theApostles Peter and
Paul, hallowed in 1895; The Church Virgin Dormition in Grivitei
Market, built between 1905-1911; The Church Saint George (1916-1928);
The Church of Saint Emperors Constantin and Helen (1934-1937);
The Church of The Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel (1938-1940)-
there are some of the most important churches - but not being for the number
of the Christians.
Among the intellectuals asserted some personalities in different literary,
scientific, artistical activities, linked with the sea landscape and the
"Oriental" aspect of the city. A branch of the cultural association Cantarea
Romaniei is founded (1922-1925);
the Trade
Academy (1924-1927); Popular Athenaeums (beginnig with 1923);
a branch of Astra from Sibiu, a branch of the Cultural Leagues,
The House for Reading Ion Creanga (1928), this one for workers "to
learn by their own means."
Beginning with 1931, the City Library was opened, and in 1933 was
inaugurated the activity "The Days of the Books." The local writers
were searching better ideas to organize the cultural life, and in 1931
appeared the "Literary Parlour," organized by the poet Al.Gherghel,
close to the editorial staff of the magazine "Romania de la Mare."
Finally, in 1937 was founded "The Society of the Dobrudja Writers."
Dobrudja antiquities, and especially those from Constantza, incitated numerous
archeology fans. Tomis comes to light, identifies itself. Even from the
end of the previous century Gr. Tocilescu, the author of the discoveries
at Tropaeum Traiani studied Constantza; in the first decades of
our century, V.Parvan implicates much into the study of the Dobrudja
past. The first prefect of Constantza, Remus Opreanu, organized
the first collections, and Vasile Parvan tried to create in Constantza
a branch of the National Museum of Antiquities in Bucharest, fact dissipated
by the first World War. The antiquities are bad administrated and the anonymous
antiquaries took them.
The anniversary of 50 years of Romanian administration in Dobrudja, event
celebrated in 1928, occsioned the City Library and the Museum to be housed
in the building of the Townhall-foreseeing probably that in future the
Museum will stay here.
The artists have many exhibitions: St. Tarasov, D.Florian, M.Lada, Gh.Lates,
Gh.Sarbu, M.Bunescu, Florian Botez, Dana Poenaru-Dusa... are very well
accepted by the public of the city.
There are a lot of conferences. There are invited on this purpose N.Iorga,
M.Sadoveanu, S.Mehedinti, C.Radulescu-Motru,
I.M.Sadoveanu, O.Tafrali,
Gh.Marinescu, M.Eliade... ; the newspaper mention their contribution to
education, initiated by the authorities having been helped by the intellectuals
in the city, much more refined.
The newspapers diversified and were solicitated by people, the period between
the World Wars being tensed both inside and outside the country. Dobrogea
Juna, then Dacia (1915-1944); Farul (1919-1922); Marea
Neagra(1923-1940);Dobrogea (1930-1932); Ziua(1931-1937)
continued to appear. The magazine Analele Dobrogei (1920-1938) imposed
by the value articles in: literature, science, history, archaeology, and
their animator, prof. universitary C.Bratescu lent to it a high
level with problems very well accepted by the readers.
One of the most important fields of activity for the Romanian society life
was education. This was always a preoccupation
for the local authorities,
who found the necessary summs to buildprestigious schools: Mircea cel
Batran High School (founded in 1911) based on the gymnasium built in
1896. This high school gave to the city and to the country thounsands
of valuable people. Then the high school for girls Domnita Ileana,
today Mihai Eminescu, organized even in 1919; the Teaching School-today
Constantin Bratescu-which brings series of schoolteachers and pedagogues
for chools in the city, in the county and in the country, with excellent
results in the educational process. The Commercial Highschools coach
the future economists, people working in finance or trade. The Vocational
Schools, some of them specific area activities bring different kind
of workers to the city. Middle schools, primary schools, kindergartens,
there are some of the possibilities to learn, consequence of needs of a
continuous increasing city.
But this normal development was stopped for the second time in this century
by the disastrous events of the Second World
War - and which in
the history of the venerable and troubled city of Romania?- and it has
always revived from ruins. The city participation in the war determined
many industries to become militarized in order to help the army:trade is
also affected and fights
with destruction;
the numerous air raids kill and mutilate city face; the ruins and demolishments
make the city unrecognizable; the military boots bring the arrogance of
the people temporary set here,but they were looked disdainfully by the
peace loving population
The terrible moments
were surpassed with difficulty and that with unbelievable sacrifices. The
way out from the East war and the nthe end of the war in West-this one
like sacrifice to recover the North part of Transilvania, all means the
beginning tendencies of the country, brutally placed under the Soviet Union
influence.
For almost fifty years, the totalitary communist regime, of foreign inspiration,
without response in people souls, has exerted its authority beared with
difficulty, in spite of some important achievements, consequence of work
and sacrifice of the whole nation.
Constantza has lived
"with work and by work," without stimulative satisfactions, the individuals
being equalized by the communist doctrine, the unique target being "the
party" and "the state"-supreme arguments of the community existence. The
oppresing dictatorship accepted only the materialist and atheist ideas.
There are to be noticed Pharaoh-like buildings, arising from megalomaniac
plans. But which is the price? Undoubtedly,these
are the efforts of
millions of people who hoped to see the promise future. Constantza inhabitants
have built factories, districts, cultural institutions, adpted the recent
needs, having forms and sizes unprecedented. The districts Tomis I,II,III,IV,
North, Inel I,II,; administration buildings, industries.
Constantza has almost 400,000 inhabitants and is, taking into consideration
the stable and floating people, on the second place in the country, after
the Capital. The city has a modern and diversified economy, adequated to
the port activity, with direct implications in the utilization of the Channel
Danube-Black Sea. The overcoming part of the Romanian exports passes through
Constantza Port. After the Romanian Revolution, December 1989, the port
activity was stopped for a while, but after a short time, there is to be
noticed a real increase of its activity, in the new conditions of freedom
and privatization, specific for the market economy, to which Romania aspires
after, too. "Due to its favourable geographic position, the complex
port of Constantza and the Channel Danube-Black Sea facilitate the relation
with the countries in the Central and West Europe. Constantza Port is situated
at the end of the communications thoroughfare of interior waters Rhin-Main-Danube
which traverse Europe from north-west to south-east and links the Black
Sea with the Northern Sea. By fishing the Channel Rhin-Main-Danube in 1992,
it has been created a 'passage' of navigation in Europe, Constantza Port
being at the south-east end of it that means real possibilities of development.
The navigation distance between Rotterdam and Constantza reduces approximately
at half, from 6,000 km on the older navigation way to approximately 3,000
on the Channel, that permits to cover the distance in only 3days and 8hours
compared with 11 hours on the classic route."(V. Ciorbea, Constantza
Port from antiquity to the third millenium, Constantza, 1994, page
233).
The statistics in the Revolution year 1989 show that through the port there
were passed about 62 millions tones of goods and its activity extended
on 730 hectares. It is known that it has begun the building of the new
Port Constantza-South-Agigea, with a surface of 2,500 hectares, which will
assure through its free port, a traffic of almost 200 millions tones every
year-the free port at the entrance in the Channel being the target for
many Romanian and foreign Companies.
The main industries in the city are concentrated on the traditional south-west
industrial platform, in a huge area, everything representing the productive
and trade functions of the city, the needs for the interior and exportation:
bread, salad oil, beer, furniture, wood processing, textile factories.
There is also a great agricultural potential, and tourism with hotels and
restaurants begins to developing at European level, by modernizing and
privatization. The coast arrangement, its splendid beaches rendered agreeable
and their utilization in the international touristic circuit, their watering
and climatic qualities, these are some of the perspectives, now, after
1989, in a private economy. From this point of view, Constantza has already
become an important place, a real national capital during the summer.
Culture and education are integrated in this new climate of free initiatives.
The religious life, as well. Besides new buildings for schools, after 1989,
we notice the division of the older Navigation into: The Navigation
Academy Mircea cel Batran and the Merchant Marine Institute.
Constantza University revives even in 1990, when, on the 7th of March,
based on a Government decision, University is founded and it is named Ovidius,
after the name of the Unhappy poet exiled at Tomis. Now it has various
sections; engineering, medicine, philology, science, sports..., being a
source of contentfor the young generations to study in their own city on
a high and modern level.
Hospitals, the art and cultural institutions have a patrimony admired by
millions of Romanian and foreign tourists: The Museum of National History
and Archaeology, The Art Museum, The Ethnographical Museum, The Complex
Of Natural Sciences, reflecting the biological aspects of the sea.
There are to be added The Military Museum, The Navy Museum, The division
Museum, with contribution in the Romanian wars.
The prose, opera, music hall, puppet theatres, the symphonic archestra,
contemporary and classic ballet, The City Library, radio and television
(founded after the Revolution), a lot of daily newspapers (Cuget Liber,
Telegraf, Tomis...) are marks of present life of the city-both for its
inhabitants and for the foreign tourists who are looking for the sunbathed
coast.
Due to its historical past of two millenaries and half, due to the force
of the arguments given by free economy and fluorishing trade after 1989,
to the dynamic activitty in private business, to the modern political ideas
of its inhabitants, to the pragmatism inherited from the older Tomis inhabitants,
Constantza appears today, in the beginning of a new historical era, free
of any dogmas and dictatorship , like a metropola , with trepidating life,much
more connected to the European rhythm of the contemporary time.