the site for the city, ruled by an archon, was at the eastern edge of the territory of the kings of bosporus. a major shift in social emphasis is represented in the archaeological site when the propylea gate that linked the port section with the agora was removed, and the open center of public life was occupied by a palatial dwelling in roman times for the kings of bosporus. for the first time there were client kings at tanais: sauromates (ad 175-211) and his son rescuporides (c. ad 220), who both left public inscriptions.