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Archeological sites in Bulgaria (1)

Plovdiv

The Roman forum of Philippopolis, known as 'Римски форум на Пловдив' (Rimski forum na Plovdiv) in Bulgarian, stands as a majestic rectangular plaza, surrounded by the remnants of numerous ancient administrative structures at the epicenter of the historic city of Philippopolis, which we now recognize as modern-day Plovdiv. This monumental hub played a pivotal role as the nucleus of public affairs, governance, commerce, and religious activities within the ancient city. Within its confines, critical gatherings, intellectual discourse, vibrant celebrations, and significant state functions unfolded. Encompassing a sprawling expanse of 20 hectares (49 acres), with an excavation revealing 11 hectares (27 acres), this forum holds the esteemed distinction of being Bulgaria's most expansive Roman forum . Its origins trace back to the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, a time when the grand design of ancient Philippopolis took form, complete with a novel urban layout and a forum fashioned in the likeness of Roman architectural brilliance. At the core of this grandeur, the main arteries of the city, the cardo and the decumanus maximus, intersect just beyond the eastern threshold of the forum. Adjacently, a remarkable complex of public edifices flourished to the north, housing notable establishments like the odeon, the library, and the treasury building. The ancient city's forum, alongside its principal thoroughfare, the cardo, persists at the beating heart of present-day Plovdiv's urban landscape, firmly entrenched within the primary pedestrian domain, a tangible testament to the enduring legacy of antiquity seamlessly woven into the fabric of the contemporary city.

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