Perperikon

Location

Perperikon (Hyperperakion or Perperakion) is in the Eastern Rhodope range, some 10 miles from the town of Kardzhali. The roads from Sofia, via Asenovgrad or Haskovo, are fairly good and well maintained. Perperikon is perched on a rocky peak at 1,400 ft above sea level guarded at its foot by the village of Gorna Krepost. The gold-bearing river Perpereshka flows nearby forming a valley some 7 miles long and 2.5 miles wide. This fertile sheltered place had attracted settlers in very ancient times, and today, dozens of sites clustered around the natural hub of Perperikon reveal layer upon layer of archaeological remains. Just a little further downstream, the Perpereshka flows into the artificial lake of Stouden Kladenets on the river Arda. Where the two bodies of water meet, is the village of Kaloyantsi, a scenic place with some tourist facilities.

The Gold of Perperikon

The cult of Dionysus was deeply rooted in Thracian culture in the Rhodope. Another tradition for which the mountain was famous in ancient times was the mining of gold, silver and precious stones. One of the largest mines in Antiquity was located near the present-day village of Stremtsi, about a mile and a half from Perperikon. What remains of it are about a dozen entrances and more than 500 metres of galleries. The entire hillside was cut through by a thick network of tunnels and caverns. During the Pleistocene, the site must have been the bed of a subterranean river carrying gold-rich alluvium. In subsequent geological periods, the upper layers of rock must have collapsed and, as the river bed dried up, the alluvial deposits became consolidated. The ancient gold-diggers crushed the rock into gravel and then washed away the lighter sands with water from the nearby river.

Fragments of the True Cross Found at Perperikon

Recent research has revealed that Perperikon's glory did not fade into oblivion during the age of Christianity. In the 5th-7th century, it was probably the see of an early diocese, and in the 8th-12th century it became regional centre under the direct authority of Constantinople. The surviving historical records are supported by an abundance of interesting archaeological finds. One of them is of particular value.
On 21 August 2002, a cruciform pendant reliquary made of bronze was found in one of the chambers of the Christian place of worship at the foot of Perperikon. Such pendant reliquaries were known as Palestine crosses for they were believed to have come from the Holy Land. The Perperikon find was dated quite accurately to the 9th-10th century judging by its characteristic iconography. Both sides of the pendant are modelled in high relief, one depicting a crucifix, Christ alive on the cross and clad with a long robe, and the other showing the Holy Mother in prayer interceding before her Son in behalf of humanity.

The Acropolis

Broadly speaking, Perperikon comprises four elements: the citadel, an acropolis at the top of the hill; a palace or temple immediately beneath the acropolis and facing southeast; and two outer cities, one on the northern and one on the southern slope of the hill.

Palace or Temple

Some 90 feet below the acropolis is a grand palace out of fairy tales. Palace is in fact a working description as the actual purpose served by the structure has not yet been established. It is quite possible that it was indeed the proverbial Temple of Dionysus which had grown and developed for several centuries to reach its peak during the Roman period. An element that might indicate such a conclusion is the roofless hall with the big round altar at the north-western end of the complex. On the other hand, palace and temple are not mutually exclusive: Thracian rulers did possess both secular and religious authority.

 
A Masterpiece of Engineering and Architecture

The palace and all the other structures on Perperikon are an amazing achievement of architectural creativity and craftsmanship. One's heart fills with awe as one passes through doors first opened a thousand years ago; steps onto thresholds that still keep the traces of generations long gone by; walks along mysterious passageways once lit by the light of torches.

Internet source: www.perperikon.bg
Pictures: www.panoramio.com