Nicopolis ad Istrum

Welcome, students of antiquity, to the grand ruins of Nicopolis ad Istrum. We are standing in the agricultural heartland of northern Bulgaria, near the village of Nikyup, preparing to explore one of the best preserved Roman…

We begin our exploration at the remnants of the Northern Gate. Initially, when Trajan founded the city, Nicopolis ad Istrum had no defensive walls. …

Following the Cardo Maximus, we arrive at the absolute heart of Nicopolis ad Istrum, the Forum, or the Agora, as it was known in the Greek speaking eastern provinces. This expansive urban square was the epicenter of economic,…

Adjacent to the great Forum, we find the structural remains of the Odeon. While a grand amphitheater would have hosted brutal gladiatorial combat, an Odeon was a smaller, more intimate, semi circular theater. …

Just outside the main complex of the Agora, located on the eastern side, we encounter the foundations of a massive and highly unique public building. According to an inscription found on site, this structure was known as the…

Amidst the grand architecture, the true nature of Roman politics is often revealed in the text carved into stone. Here we examine a highly significant stele, an inscribed stone slab that tells a story of political survival and…

We conclude our exploration at the edges of the excavated site, looking out over the unexcavated mounds that hide the rest of the sprawling city. This vantage point allows us to reflect on the violent end of Nicopolis ad Istrum. …

Our journey through the ruins of Nicopolis ad Istrum concludes here. We have walked the grooved stones of the Cardo Maximus, stood in the political heart of the Forum, marveled at the luxurious heating of the Thermoperipatos, and…