Few people are aware that modern Plovdiv is one
of the oldest cities in Europe as its origins
go back some 6,000 years. It was conquered by King Philip II of Macedonia who changed the Thracian name of Eumolpia
into Philippopolis,
meaning “the city of Philip”, in 340 BC.
Very few remains from those days have been revealed
so far and what we see today is mostly Roman. In 46 AD Emperor Claudius made it “the largest and most beautiful of all
cities” as Lucian tells us. The most
important military road in the Balkans, the Via
Militaris, passed right through Philippopolis, the major communication
line between Belgrade
and Byzantium.
Roman times led to flourishing commerce and monumental constructions of which
so far the theatre is the best known example.
In recent years many new excavations have been carried out and slowly the Roman city is rising from its ashes as archaeologists have been able to locate and partly expose many public buildings like the Stadium, Treasury, Baths facilities, Odeon, and other structures around the central Forum. A defensive double city wall has been found and an excellent water and sewage system has been established.
Lately, the archaeologists’ attention has focused on the area around the Forum which was built at the time of Emperor Augustus, probably in part on top of an older Hellenistic Agora although this is not yet entirely certain. This Forum however covers a surface of 11 hectares, arguably one of the largest Roman Forums in the country. On the eastern and southern sides, we find the known Theatre and the Stadium, while the western and northern sides were occupied by a series of shops connected to the Forum by a ten-meter-wide Stoa. Meanwhile, the Propylaea, defining the entrance to the Forum have been located and need excavation.
Unfortunately, under the communist regime of
the 1970’s a concrete post-office was built smack in the middle of today’s
excavation site and this is not helping in reconstructing the city’s past. It
is in this area that the Odeon has been dug out next to a theater that is
smaller than the existing one. Plans are made to remove some modern buildings,
including the post office, in order to create an archaeological passage between
the different monuments – but the matter is evidently subject to a lot of red
tape.
For now, finds seem to be limited to smaller items like Roman and Medieval coins, tiles with theatrical masks, Roman bowls, cups, amphorae, and other pottery, some glassware, and vessels used in religious ceremonies.
No wonder that Plovdiv is running to become the European Capital of Culture in 2019.
In recent years many new excavations have been carried out and slowly the Roman city is rising from its ashes as archaeologists have been able to locate and partly expose many public buildings like the Stadium, Treasury, Baths facilities, Odeon, and other structures around the central Forum. A defensive double city wall has been found and an excellent water and sewage system has been established.
Lately, the archaeologists’ attention has focused on the area around the Forum which was built at the time of Emperor Augustus, probably in part on top of an older Hellenistic Agora although this is not yet entirely certain. This Forum however covers a surface of 11 hectares, arguably one of the largest Roman Forums in the country. On the eastern and southern sides, we find the known Theatre and the Stadium, while the western and northern sides were occupied by a series of shops connected to the Forum by a ten-meter-wide Stoa. Meanwhile, the Propylaea, defining the entrance to the Forum have been located and need excavation.
For now, finds seem to be limited to smaller items like Roman and Medieval coins, tiles with theatrical masks, Roman bowls, cups, amphorae, and other pottery, some glassware, and vessels used in religious ceremonies.
No wonder that Plovdiv is running to become the European Capital of Culture in 2019.
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