Constanța

Constanța (UKkɒnˈstæntsə, USkənˈstɑːn(t)sə; konˈstantsa; Custantsa; Kyustendzha, or Konstantsa; Kōnstántza, or Kōnstántia; Köstence), historically known as Tomis or Tomi (Τόμις or Τόμοι), is a port city in the Dobruja historical region of Romania. As the country's fourth largest city and principal port on the Black Sea coast, Constanța is the capital of Constanța County. It is also the oldest continuously inhabited city in the region, founded around 600 BC, and among the oldest in Europe. As of the 2021 census, Constanța has a population of 263,688. The Constanța metropolitan area includes 14 localities within of the city. It is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Romania. Ethnic Romanians became a majority in the city in the early 20th century. The city still has small Tatar and Greek communities, which were substantial in previous centuries, as well as Turkish and Romani residents, among others. The Port of Constanța has an area of and a length of about . It is the largest port on the Black Sea, and one of the largest ports in Europe. Legend has it that Jason landed in Constanța with the Argonauts after finding the Golden Fleece. History of Dobruja According to Jordanes (after Cassiodorus), the foundation of the city was ascribed to Tomyris, the queen of the Massagetae (the origin and deeds of the Goths): After achieving this victory (against Cyrus the Great) and winning so much booty from her enemies, Queen Tomyris crossed over into that part of Moesia which is now called Lesser Scythia – a name borrowed from Great Scythia –, and built on the Moesian shore of the Black Sea the city of Tomi, named after herself. In 29 BC, the Romans captured the region from the Odrysian kingdom, and annexed it as far as the Danube, under the name of Limes Scythicus ("Scythian Frontier"). In AD 8, the Roman poet Ovid (43 BC–17AD) was banished here by Emperor Augustus for the last eight years of his life. He lamented his Tomisian exile in his poems Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto.