TAPHRAE
TAPHRAE or
TAPHROS (
Τάφραι,
Steph. B. sub voce p. 642; cf. Mela, 2.1;
Plin. Nat. 4.12. s. 26;
Τάφρος,
Ptol. 3.6.5), that part of the neck of the Chersonesus Taurica which was cut through by a dyke and fortified (
Hdt. 4.3). Pliny and Ptolemy (
ll. cc.) mention a town called Taphrae; and Strabo (7.308) also notices at this spot a people called
Τάφριοι. (Cf. D'Anville,
Mèm de l'Ac. d. Inscr. xxxvii. p. 581; Rennell,
Geogr. of Herod. p. 96; Mannert, iv. p. 291.)
Perecop, or
Prezecop, the modern name of the isthmus, also signifies in Russian a ditch or entrenchment. (Clarke,
Trav. ii. p. 316.)
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T.H.D]
