Bosporus, Kingdom of the

Bosporus, Kingdom of the

 or Cimmerian Bosporus

Ancient Greek kingdom, in modern southern Ukraine. It was first settled by Milesians (6th century BC) at Panticapaeum, which later became the capital. Gradually the kingdom grew to include all of the Crimea. It maintained close ties with Athens in the 5th–3rd century BC, reaching the peak of its power in the 4th century BC. It came under the rule of the kings of Pontus after 110 BC. For 300 years it belonged to the Roman Empire, and after AD 342 it was alternately under barbarian and Byzantine control.