Madara Horseman
Location
- Population placeMadara
- GPS coordinates
Contacts
- E-mail
- Working hours
- Closed
More information
The Madara Horseman is a significant part of the Madara Archaeological Reserve, which is located near the village of the same name in Northeastern Bulgaria and includes the remains of cave dwellings, ancient sanctuaries, a pagan temple, Christian churches and chapels, a rock monastery, an ancient and medieval fortress. Nearby are the first two Bulgarian capitals Pliska and Preslav. The bas-relief itself shows a man riding a horse moving to the right, an eagle flying in front of him, a dog following the horse and a lion under the horse's hooves, pierced with a spear by the rider. The rock relief is cut at a height of 23 m in a vertical 100-meter rock. It is 3.10 m wide and 2.60 m high. It was discovered for science by the Austro-Hungarian traveler Felix Kanitz in 1872. It is believed to have been cut down in the 8th century and is most often associated with Khan Tervel (700-721 d.). Inscriptions in Greek around the horseman give information about historical events. According to various researchers, they are related to other rulers of the First Bulgarian State: Asparuh, Krum (or Krumesis - Kormesiy), Omurtag.