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

Ancient Thracian sanctuary on St. Thomas island astonishes archaeologists

БНР Новини
Photo: historymuseum.org

Archaeologists from the National Museum of History discovered a grand sanctuary on the island of Sveti Toma (St. Thomas) near Sozopol on the Black Sea.

On the western side of the island they found two ritual pits from the Late Iron Age though there are probably more. The pits were used by the Thracians in the 5th century BC, as suggested by fragments of Greek amphorae found there. The finds show that there once was a roadside sea sanctuary on St. Thomas island. The location was not randomly selected – the sanctuary was built next to the ancient Sozopol-Constantinople road.

The first official expedition to the island, organized in 1955, discovered the foundations of a small church and several outbuildings. Archaeologists say they are the remains of a single-nave church. On the peak of the island the archaeologists form the National Museum of History have found a medieval monastery.




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

The Kazanlak Thracian tomb was discovered 80 years ago

"Man does not know the way to heaven, but the horse does," says an ancient Thracian proverb. That is why the Thracian kings were necessarily sent to the afterlife together with their horses. Because of the numerous burial mounds of rulers from the..

published on 4/19/24 4:35 AM

New technologies recreate the Battle of Tutrakan

An innovative museum site opens its doors in the military cemetery near Tutrakan. The "Tutrakan Epopee - 1916" memorial is situated in a new museum-exhibition building. It includes a number of new technologies that immerse the visitor..

published on 4/18/24 1:15 PM

80 years since the last bombing of Sofia

The last and most destructive bombing of Sofia during World War II took place on April 17, 80 years ago. In 1944, on April 17 at noon, 350 American bombers, accompanied by Thunderbolt and Mustang fighters, dropped 2,500 bombs on..

published on 4/17/24 1:26 PM