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Augusta Traiana - Stara Zagora

romansofbulgaria
Dec 8, 2014
2 min read

The Roman town Augusta Traiana today is located in the center of the modern city of Stara Zagora. It was raised near the Thracian settlement Beroe, probably during the age of Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD). It belongs to the province of Thrace (Thracia). Under Marcus Aurelius (161-180), about 50 hectares were fortified with a stone wall of irregular pentagonal shape. The town is provided with a street network, water supply and sewerage systems. The central square has not been revealed since it’s situated under the modern central city area. However, another square public space has been excavated. Its shape is oval and it lies by the western gate. A market was situated here and on certain days there were gladiatorial fights and wild beasts “venatio” taking place here. In the 4th century AD in the center of this square was raised a base for an emperor’s cavalry statue.

In Augusta Traiana has been constructed a large bathing complex (thermae). Another big bathing facility has been discovered in the nearby resort Starozagorski Mineralni Bani (Thermal Baths of Stara Zagora).

A large number of inscriptions, mostly in Greek originate from the Roman city. One inscription in Latin mentions the construction of an Augustaeum in honor of Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235 AD).

Within the settlement as well as in its outskirts and close vicinity are spread numerous temples and sanctuaries as well as villas. From the 4th century AD date numerous polychrome floor mosaics revealed under today’s opera building and the central post office.

The Roman town used to be a station along the road Philippopolis (Plovdiv) – Calyle (Kabile) – Aquae calidae (Burgaski mineralni bani) – Anchialos (Pomorie) and the Black Sea. Another road started from here northwards, to the Danube.

The population was of varied ethnicities – Thracians, Hellenized immigrants from Asia Minor, Roman veterans from legio XXX Ulpia, etc.

Today the renovated Archaeological Museum not only offers you a journey through the long and interesting history of Stara Zagora over the ages, but it allows its visitors to become a Roman yourself by dressing in Roman clothes and even putting on some Roman jewelry.