Over one hundred leading scholars from three continents will participate in the 16th International Conference of the International Association for the Study of Ancient Mosaics (AIEMA), which opens today in the ceremonial hall of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The event is organized by the Institute of Balkan Studies and the Centre of Thracology "Prof. Alexander Fol" at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The scholars will present the latest studies on the issues surrounding mosaics and mosaic art in antiquity. They will also get acquainted with iconic monuments of mosaic art from antiquity, discovered in our lands. The participants will visit archaeological sites and museum exhibits in Sandanski, Petrich, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora and Kazanlak.

For the first time, Bulgarian institutions will host the prestigious forum, which began in Paris in 1963.