Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Floor mosaic and the head of a Roman statue discovered at Heraclea Sintica

On September 20, Prof. Ludmil Vagalinski's team discovered a statue in Heraclea Sintica, three days later they also discovered the head of the sculpture.
Photo: Archaeologia Bulgarica

The head of a statue has been unearthed during excavations in the great canal of the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica located in Southwestern Bulgaria, close to the town of Petrich.

The head longs to the statue that was discovered a few days ago and is now in the Petrich-based history museum for the restorers to take over. 
"This summer was unique," said Prof. Ludmil Vagalinski on the occasion of the discovery of the two statues. “The head is placed at the opposite end of the cloaca maxima, so that it faces the previously discovered headless statue. This is hardly accidental," says the archaeologist.

The unveiling of a building with a floor mosaic in Heraclea Sintica has also begun. 

"For the first time since we have been exploring the city, we have come across a mosaic floor," commented the head of the team, Prof. Vagalinski, who led the excavations. 

“Not a dwelling, but a public Roman building, situated in the north-east corner of the forum. It may turn out to be a temple. But it is still too early to say what the purpose of the building is," the scientist points out.

Read also:


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The Cyril and Methodius monument in front of the National Library in Sofia.

Scientists from 14 countries meet to discuss the legacy of Christian missions in the Middle Ages

An international scientific conference will be held in Sofia from 21 to 24 May, the days preceding the celebration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, announced the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). The conference, titled "Christian Missions in the European..

published on 5/21/25 9:10 AM

What else don't we know about the Glagolitic alphabet, one of the oldest surviving alphabets?

A key to our heritage and national identity, the Glagolitic alphabet is an alphabet and a message to Europe, surrounded by many hypotheses. To mark the 1170th anniversary of its creation, we take a trip back to the 9th century, when the brothers Cyril..

published on 5/16/25 12:52 PM

Bulgarian Minister of Justice in Athos: The Zograf Monastery is one of the symbols of Bulgarian spirituality

A Bulgarian delegation, led by Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev, attended the enthronement of Archimandrite Gavriil as abbot of the Zograf Monastery in Mount Athos. Hieromonk Gavriil elected new abbot of Zograf Monastery “This is a..

published on 5/11/25 2:25 PM