Ancient Plovdiv

The Roman Epoch (1st-6th C.) represents a peculiar golden age in the development of the antique Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Time when its ancient town structure took shape, including splendid public buildings, an enormous forum, an impressive stadium, a beautiful amphiteather, heathen temples, aqueducts, aristocratic houses, imposing fortress walls.

The Aqueduct of Philippopolis was built in order to supply the city with drinking water from the springs of the Rhodope Mountains. The total length of the construction is nearly 30 km. In the square of the west of Djumaya mosque the imposing remains of Philippopolis’s Ancient Stadium were discovered. The dimensions of this huge building are: length 1 000 Roman steps, width – 250 Roman steps. The Ancient Stadium accommodated about 30, 000 spectators and was one of the most significant architectural works in Philippopolis.

The Ancient Forum, the civic center of Philippopolis, covers an area of 20, 000 sq m in the heart of the ancient city. The Odeon is situated in the north-eastern corner of the ancient theatre building. This magnificent architectural specimen was built in the early second century AD during the reign of Emperor Trajan. As an element of the city square of the Roman period, the building served as the city council chamber of Philippopolis. Today, the theatre is an attractive cultural venue, where modern arts interact with the intransient values of the past.