Ruins of the ancient stadium (Plovdiv Roman Stadium) description and photos - Bulgaria: Plovdiv (Topic)

Ruins of the ancient stadium (Plovdiv Roman Stadium) description and photos - Bulgaria: Plovdiv. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Plovdiv Roman Stadium.

Photo and description

In the Bulgarian Plovdiv, in the north of the old town, there are the ruins of the ancient stadium of Filipopolis. It was erected during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian at the beginning of the second century. In 1923, the stadium was excavated. The visible part of the sports facility - the sphedona - is located on Djumaya Square, and the main part lies under Alexander Batenberg Street, the main pedestrian street of the Old City. The main entrance to the stadium is located on Kamenitsa Square.

The dimensions of the antique stadium are 240 meters long, about 50 meters wide. Monolithic marble blocks were used to erect 14 rows of spectator seats, which could accommodate about 30 thousand people. Places for guests of honor were signed, like the tradition of the Odeon and the Ancient Theater. Today, the partially restored northern edge of the stadium and part of the fortress wall (2-4 centuries) are accessible for viewing. The ancient stadium in Plovdiv was built according to the plan of the Delphic Stadium; only 12 sports facilities of this type have survived throughout the world.

Sports competitions and gladiator fights were organized at the stadium. Gladiators fought with animals and among themselves. Sports competitions similar to the Greek games were called Piti, in 214, when Emperor Caracal visited, the games were called Alexandria, and in 218, when Emperor Elagabal visited the stadium, Kendrisia. The Games were organized by the General Assembly of the Thracian Province. For the games, special coins were minted, which depicted scenes of competitions between athletes, as well as the faces of the emperors who ruled in certain periods. Many of these coins were found during the excavation of the ancient stadium, they are included in the exposition of the Sofia Historical Museum.

Today, the ancient Roman stadium is being reconstructed under a special program implemented by the government of Plovdiv with financial support from the European Union. In 1995, this site was declared a national treasure.

In addition, there are several interesting tourist sites near the stadium: at the main entrance, the remains of a city clock working on a hydraulic mechanism were found, next to there is a memorial plate informing about the fact that in 1980, on its way from Athens in the direction of Moscow, there was an Olympic flame for one night.

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Topic: Ruins of the ancient stadium (Plovdiv Roman Stadium) description and photos - Bulgaria: Plovdiv.