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Name |
Antique Amphitheatre |
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Localisation |
“Old Plovdiv” architectural reserve |
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Description
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The Antique Amphitheatre was built by Emperor Mark Avrelii during the II century A.D. The layout, the shape and the style of the theatre in Philippopolis correspond to the Hellenistic tradition. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Under the Romans the theatre was fully rebuild in marble, with a two-level stage and a rich architectural design. Theatrical and musical festivals were held here, as well as performances of classic dramas and comedies by popular local authors. The theatre in Philippopolis combines its architectural, acoustic and stage qualities with a superb location, cradled by the Three Hills, where the visitors, even nowadays, witness and experience the startling harmony, astonishing for its time. Theatre and opera performances are still staged here on warm summer nights. The capacity of the theatre was around 7 000 spectators. |
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Name |
Roman Stadium |
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Localisation |
Djumaiata square |
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Description |
The Roman Stadium is also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. It has a length of 232 m and is 32,50 meters wide. It was completely renewed by the Romans in marble and designed to seat 20 000 spectators. The stadium used to have an imposing entrance facade from its south side, a propylaeum with marble embossments, placed in niches or on edicules, and sculptures glorifying the gods Hermes and Hercules. The track and the marble tiers finished to the north with an oval curve with a gate leading to the exit for the athletes and the service quarters. At regular intervals sport games and races were held, named, depending on the occasion, Pythian, Alexandrian or Kendrian, where athletes and guests from other provinces and states took part. The contests held here were similar to the Greek Olympic Games and dated back to the rule of Emperor Septimus Severus (193 - 211 AD). On some Roman coins minted in Philippopolis scenes from the races and sport rituals are depicted and the names of the sport festivals written. The stadium was destroyed during emperor Theodosius's rule, when Christianity was adopted as an official doctrine, and the sport festivities gave way to the religious rituals. |
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Name |
Agora - Forum |
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Localisation |
Central square |
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Description |
An Ancient Forum was found next to today's Trimontium Hotel. Clearly visible here is the difference in the building structure of the Thracian agora made of sandstone and the Roman marble ruins. The agora of Philippopolis, which later became a Forum complex, an organic part of the town-plan grid, encompasses eight standard quarters—insulas, located in the south part of the town. The approximate measurements of the compound were 500 Roman feet or 150 metres. The compound unfolds around a common open square, called area, covered in marble slabs and adorned with monuments, altar-places and water-fountains. The square was encircled by vast porticos — colonnades matched with a large basilica, offices and about 60 shops and stalls. Five main entrances and four auxiliary ones facilitated the approach to the compound. The Forum, during the Roman epoch, built in marble and boasting a richly ornamented arcade, was a symbol of the economic and cultural status of the city and the might of the Roman Empire. The Forum had been the centre of the commercial and administrative life of the city. It is the largest ensemble of this type found in Ancient Tharce. |
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Name |
Fortifications |
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Localisation |
several places |
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Description |
The fortifications of Philippopolis had originally been built on the Three Hills and the first defense walls contemporary to those of Troy. There are no traces from fortress wall building from the Hellenistic period in the flat part of the city. It was during the Roman epoch that the outer fortification system was erected, which encompassed the greater part of the sprawling city on plane. Following the inroads of Goths and Huns a second outer wall was built around the destroyed city near the entrance to the stadium, in which marble stones from the ruined city were put. At the archaeological complex "Nebet Tepe" remains of a prehistoric settlement lie next to ruins of Roman and Hellenic fortresses. Best preserved is Hissar Kapiya, the gateway of the fortress, which was built during the reign of the Roman emperors Trajanus and Marcus Aurelius. Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside. |
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Name |
Thermae |
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Localisation |
Different places |
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Description |
So far two baths (thermae) from the Roman period have been published. The thermae north of the forum were built in the 2nd century and reconstructed with the change of the plan in the 4th century. The studied premises have a hypokaust and floor mosaics and were destroyed by fire in the 5th century. The other thermae, the so called eastern thermae were built in the 4th c. over the ruins of an earlier building. A new sector of this enormous building was found east of the school on TzarTertcr Str, No 1. The studied premises had a hypokaustus, floor mosaics and a rich marble face |
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Name |
Dwellings |
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Localisation |
Different places |
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Description |
A dwelling, known as "Narcissus" was found in the eastern part of the ancient town. Rooms, arranged in line appear north of the peristyle court, one of the rooms with a floor mosaic. In the emblema the image of a young man seated on a rock, looking at the water is depicted. The dwelling known as "Eirene" received its name after the women's image with an inscription in one of the representative rooms. The building has two parts - the part for household functions and that for representative functions, and occupies greater part of an insula, situated south of the Three hills; The dwellings in the representative part are situated around an inner courtyard and have floor mosaics. Inscriptions with words of welcome along towards the dwelling greet the visitor. The central place is occupied in the room with the women's image "Eirene". The building was used from the second half of the 3rd c. to the 6th c. |
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Name |
Cult buildings |
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Localisation |
Different places |
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Description |
The presence of a Jewish synagogue in Philippopilis was established, situated in one of the eastern quarters where migrants from the East lived. It consists of a large central chamber, flanked by two smaller rooms with the same dimensions. The central chamber - a prayer hall - has several decorative floor mosaics, one of which is a menora - the Hebrew symbol, dedicatory inscriptions in Greek, which give the name of the donor - Kosmian, i.e. Joseph. The original building was dated from the 3rd c. followed later, by a restructuring in the early 5th c. The large basilica, a seat of a bishopric, has been studied and published partially. The basilica has three isles, with one apse and an atrium. The presbytherium, the consecrated place for the bishop and the clergy has been preserved. The floor is covered by a polychrome mosaic. The basilica is dated from between the 5lh -6th c and another layer, with mosaic floor, which has not been studied. The small basilica was situated in the eastern outskirts of ancient Philippopolis, inside the wall from the 2nd-5lh c. This three aisle building has one apse and a narthex. Within the 5th -6th c two periods emerge. The first floor level covered by a mosaic; contains a donor's inscription which could be associated with Basiliskos. Floor mosaics have also been' found in the baptisterium, which falls in the second construction period. The basilica has been preserved in situ. |
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