Roman Stadium of Philipoppol 안내. 플로브디프(Plovdiv)

Roman Stadium of Philipoppol 안내.

플로브디프(Plovdiv). 불가리아(Bulgaria)

ancient-stadium-plovdiv.eu

Roman Stadium of Philipoppol

The stadium of Philipoppol was built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. It is located at the northern end of the fortified city, between two fortress walls, in the natural terrain between the western slope of Taksim Tepe and the eastern slope of Sahat Tepe.

The facility, approximately 240 meters long and 50 meters wide, could seat up to 30,000 spectators. on the racetrack of the Roman Stadium many different sports and other competitions were held.

Over the years the archaeological excavations, carried out at different stages, which started in the period 1907-1908, have revealed the monumental portal hull at the southern end and the curved part of the nothern end - sfendona. The amphitheatrically located 14 rows of seats made of monolithic marble blocks and decorated with a stylized lion paws are under the buildings on both sides of today's main street. Like the spectacular buildings throughout the Empire, some of the seats at the Stadium have Greek inscriptions desingating the honorable spectator seats,

At the Roman stadium Square is exhibited in situ the northern curved part of the Stadium (sfendona). Under the amphitheatrical rows of seats (cavea). a covered vaulted passage was found, which connects the track witha corridor - street dug in the natural terrain. A lodge was built above the vault. North of the corridor a section of the fortress wall of Philipoppol was found, which was built back in the 2nd century AD and was renovated in the 3rd-4th century AD. In the 4th century AD this area was crossed by an ancient aqueduct.

The main entrance of the Stadium is formed by masonry pillars decorated with marble pilasters and reliefs, which today can be seen in the Regional Archeological Museum in Plofdiv. on the pilasters there are busts of Hermes (hermai) with placed above them prize vases with palm sprays, accompanied by Heracles' attributes - lion skin, a mace and a quiver.

In 1995 the Stadium of Philipoppol was pronounced a landmark of national and cultural importance.

In the period 2009-2012, the archaeological complex was renovated under Project BG0041 "Ancient Stadium of Philipoppol - Conservation, Rehabilitation and Urban Renewal" with the support of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area.

Project BG0041

The Ancient stadium of Philippopolis -

preservation, rehabilitation & urban renewal

In the basement of this building in 2004 a part of the Ancient Stadium, seating 30000 spectators (2nd century AD) - one of the most notable facilities in Ancient Philippopolis, was found. The fragment consists of five rows of marble seats, a stair aisle, a sector of the track and the adjoining draining canal. During the contruction the natural slope of the hill Sahat Tepe was used.

 The progect BG0041 reveals the hidden treasures of the stadium through preservation and unfolding of the archaeological finds, exposure of its complex stratification, implementation of relations (real and virtual) with the invisible values as a part of the Underground Museum of Philippopolis. In the future under the Main Street at the archaeological level an underground street is to be built whichh will provide direct access to this part of the stadium.

1. Sfendona (the beginning of the 2nd century AD under Emperor Hadrian) - a curved part of the stadium with 14 rows of marble seats for spectators, divided by sectors of aisles with stairs, reaching the track. The vaulted entrance under the seats leads to an underground passage-street. Above the entrance a luxury box is built.

2. Fortification Wall, exactly dated according to a building inscription - 172 AD (under Emperor Marcus Aurelius), built by rectangular stone blocks, jointed by iron cramps. Although damaged by the Gothic invasion in 251, it continued to function in the 3rd and 4th centries AD.

3. Aqueduct (4th century AD) - pillars of one of the two aqueducts of Philippopolis (with a length of 25km) which transported clear drinking water from the Rodopi Mountain.

From here the water was distributed through the ancient town along masonry, clay or lead water-mains.

4. Vaulted passage-street, dug in the terrain under the seats. The pavement is made out of big syenite slabs, under which a cana is built (with a height of 1.50m) for the purpose of draining the stadium. Maybe the street led to a tower or a gate in the fortification wall.

5. Track, on which sports and other competitions took place. At the edges of the track, there were draining canals with brick shafts which led the water towards the canal under the ancient street.

6. Masonry canals, part of the plumbing system of ancient town.

7. Pre-Roman structures.

Project BG 0041

The Ancient stadium of Philippopolis

preservation, rehabilitation and urban renewal

The Ancient Stadium (2nd century AD_, with a length of 240m, seating 30000 spectators, is one of the most notable facilities in Ancient Philippopolis. At Dzhumaya Square its northern arched part (sfendona) is uncovered in a unique combination with some remains from an ancient street, a fortification wall and an aqueduct.

 The project BG 0041 transforms the crumbling ruins into a resource for development and quality of urban environment. In its bases is a Preliminary architectural project from 2008, which suggests preservation and unfolding of the archaeology within the town, exposure of its rich stratificationm, implementation of relations (real and virtual) with the invisible values as a first stage of the future Undergrond Museum of Philippopolis.

 Preliminary project (Association for cultural tourism, 2008): Prof. arch. T. Krestev DSc-team leader, arch. D. Georgieva, arch. M. Velkov, arch. V. Kolarova.

 Executive project ("Pliska Consulting - Archika", 2010): Prof. arch. T. Krestev DSc-methodological leader, arch. R. Projkova, arch. M. Velkov. arch. Zh. Tashkov, arch. D. ushtanova, N. Stoyanov, Assoc. Prof. arch. B. Georgiev PhD, arch. Zh. Dzhugalanova.

 Archaeological research: L. Botusharova (1973-1977), M. Martinova-Kjutova (2010)

 Execution (2011-2012): Consortium "Archaeology and Restoration"

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