Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Drone photos show a bird's eye view of the legendary Thracian sanctuary of Orpheus near the village of Tatul

Photo: Aneliya Kryndeva

New drone photos show the legendary Thracian sanctuary of Orpheus near the village of Tatul from a bird's eye view. A few days ago, the archaeological excavations near the unique temple of the mythical Thracian hero, discovered at the beginning of the XXI century near the village of Tatul in Momchilgrad, were completed. 

The head of the archaeological works in the Rhodope Mountains, Prof. Dr. Nikolay Ovcharov, has filmed the well-preserved sites with a drone. Anyone interested in the history and archaeology of these lands can get a bird's eye view of the early Christian church and the Roman temple near the legendary sanctuary of Orpheus. 

Excavations in the autumn of 2022 have uncovered the remains of a large Christian church built in the 5th-6th centuries. In the words of Prof. Dr. Ovcharov it lasted until the 9th-12th centuries. Its size, reaching almost 18 m in length, ranks it among the three largest Christian temples discovered so far in the Eastern Rhodopes. The surprise discovery was that the church was built on the foundations of a much older monumental building. 

Fragments of walls and an almost 2-m wide massive stone threshold at the entrance testify that there was a huge temple there, which according to archaeologist Ovcharov can be dated to the 3rd-4th century, judging by the coins and ceramics found. 


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

President announces date for new cabinet consultations

On Monday (June 24), President Rumen Radev will begin consultations with the parliamentary groups in the 50th National Assembly, the Presidency said. The consultations are being held in accordance with the Constitution, before the Head of State gives..

published on 6/21/24 2:33 PM
PM Dimitar Glavchev (L) and President Rumen Radev.

President, Prime Minister to represent Bulgaria at NATO summit

President Rumen Radev and caretaker Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dimitar Glavchev will both attend the upcoming NATO summit , the government press office said. The deadline for registration for the event, to be held in Washington from July 9 to..

published on 6/21/24 2:17 PM

National Assembly accepts Hristo Ivanov’s resignation

With a majority of 225 votes, the MPs terminated the powers of Hristo Ivanov, who resigned as a member of parliament. Immediately after the elections on June 9, Hristo Ivanov resigned as chairman of "Yes, Bulgaria" and stated that he..

published on 6/21/24 12:10 PM