Saturday, January 11, 2014

Madara Horseman


Majestic cliffs, beautiful scenery and abundant water attracted people in ancient times. Once settled through the Neolithic (New Stone Age), he never left this place. Over the centuries, has created this cave temples, palaces and mansions, castles, temples, hermitage and monasteries, places of solitude and general holidays. Evidenced found traces of material and spiritual culture of the many ethnic groups - primitive people, Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs, Bulgarians, Turks and others.


Today here you can see dozens of monuments and antiquities of all ages. 
There are various hypotheses about the origin of the name Madara. 
Some historians believe that it is related to the ancient Greek adjective "madaros" to mean a "goal", "bald", "treeless". Others focus of Old origin of the name under which it is the sacred rock, a sacred place.
The first traces of the ancient history of Madara are found at the beginning of the 30s of the twentieth century during the excavation of two mounds on the plateau. Funerary provides information on trade relationships with local Thracians Greek colonies in Asia Minor and the nearby coast. 
Long Thracians used caves as dwellings and like its predecessors - the primitive inhabitants extend them for more space and comfort.
Ancient period of Madara is marked with a strong Roman presence. The most remarkable monument is the Roman villa ( villa rustica ) existed between II and IV century and an imposing complex of buildings typical of the agricultural villas in European provinces of the Roman Empire. Perhaps it belonged to a wealthy slaveholder .
In late antiquity ( around the fourth century ) of the Madara Plateau occurs fortress , repeatedly refurbished , functioned until the invasion of the Ottoman Turks in the fourteenth century
First name Madara found in 1388 in connection with its conquest by the Ottomans .
The most notable monument in the reserve "Madara" is the unique rock relief known as the Madara Horseman. Carved on the magnificent cliff 23 meters high , it is a model of early medieval Bulgarian art.
The relief depicts a horseman in the natural growth of a spear . In the horse's feet are seen prostrate lion , and behind the rider depicted his hunting dog. According to one legend Latin King hunted on the plateau , but fell off the cliff and died . His close it immortalized by master ordered to cut his image as a rock. Scientific hypotheses associated image Krum (ruled on 803 - 814 ) Tervel (reigned 701-718 years) Asparouh ( 681-701 years) and even god Tangra ( the supreme deity of the Proto ) .
The rocky terrain is unique in Europe. In 1979 he was listed as a UNESCO monument of world importance , and in 2008 was declared a global symbol of Bulgaria . art .
In the fourteenth century Madara was built one of the biggest rock monasteries in Bulgaria . More than 150 were natural caves at different levels in the rock , which are used as churches, chapels, monastic cells and tombs. One of the largest caves was used as a church. This is exist and operate today rock chapel , St. Panteleimon . "
In reserve , Madara " function archaeological museum that presents the history of the town through the ages of human development. The museum was opened in 1935 exhibition includes more than 350 original artifacts from the region of Madara.
Attractive trail marked with signs , stems from the object itself.

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