Sevtopolis

An important moment for a substantial research of the history, culture and the urban development of the Thracian tribes during the early hellenic period are the salvage excavations, undertaken because of the building of “Koprinca” dam. An ancient Thracian town is discovered. The town was built on a flat ledge on a curve of the river Tonzos and a shore of its feeder, very well naturally defended to south-west, south and east. It has been the first and the only one Thracian town of urban type in Bulgaria so far.

The town was founded by the Thracian ruler Sevt III in the end of IV BC. The form of the town is defined by the wall of a fortress, which determines a scalene pentagon. In the north -east corner was the ruler’s residence. In 1953 in the residential yard is found an inscription, written in Greek language, which means:

“ This inscription to be made on two plates and be put down in Sevtopolis, in the temple of the great Thracian gods”, which is the proof, that the name of the town is Sevtopolis.

Sevtopolis is not deprived of memorials of the monument architecture and art –a palace-temple with a rich internal decoration, a temple of Dionysus and a temple of the Great Samothrace gods.

It is well-known that Sevt III was the first Thracian ruler, who minted coins. During the researching of Sevtopolis 2000 coins, 800 of them from Sevt have been discovered. His coins can be divided in seven types. The latest type had been minted with the face of the ruler on the head side.

During the excavations of the town there were led parallel excavations in the three big mound hills close to it and in a necropolis of a simple flat tombs. Stock was found there consisting of native and import pottery, golden jewellery, iron articles, coins and funeral garlands.

Sevtopolis, built by Sevt III in the heart of Kazanlak region, had been developing fast as a range political, economic and cultural centre, the capital of the Sevt’s state. It was founded in 323 BC and destroyed in 270 BC.

The mayor of Kazanlak town, Mr. Stefan Damyanov is developing a plan for the reconstruction of the Odrysian capital –Sevtopolis. The idea is to be built a contra wall around the settlement, higher than the dam “Kopinca”. In order to reach the object, small tourist boats should be used. According to the conceptions of the architect Jeco Tilev Sevtopolis should be spread on a territory of 60 decares. The project is expected to be unique in its main point tourist attraction.