Olbia (Greek Óλβια - happy) is an ancient Greek colony founded by immigrants from Miletus in 647-646 BC. e. on the banks of the Dnieper-Bug estuary south of modern Nikolaev.

During its heyday, 20-25 thousand people lived in it. The ancient Greeks, who founded the city in the 6th century BC, replaced the Cimmerians and Scythians (however, the Greeks gradually assimilated with the local population: after a while they began to speak a mixture of Greek and Scythian and wear Scythian clothes). In 450 BC. e. Olbia was visited by Herodotus. He made the first description of the history, geography and customs of the peoples who at that time inhabited the territory of Ukraine. In 331 BC. e. Olbia unsuccessfully tried to conquer the commander of Alexander the Great Zopyrion. In the middle of the 1st century BC. e. The city was destroyed by the Getae under the leadership of King Burebista. In the first centuries A.D. e. life in Olbia was restored, and it became part of the Roman Empire. At the end of the 4th century, the Huns appeared, who finally destroyed Olbia. The ruins of fortifications, city blocks, a square, a sacred site, temples, workshops and burials have been preserved on the territory.