Ancient Greek:Ἡράκλεια Σιντική | |
_bronze_coin%3b_struck_c._101-138_AD.jpg) Coin struck in Heraclea Sinticac. 101–138 AD during reign ofTrajan orHadrian.Obv.: ornamented Macedonian shield;rev.: club ofHeracles lying upright. | |
  Heraclea Sintica Shown within Bulgaria Show map of Bulgaria Heraclea Sintica Heraclea Sintica (Balkans) Show map of Balkans | |
| Alternative name | Heraclea Strymonike |
|---|---|
| Location | Blagoevgrad Province,Bulgaria |
| Coordinates | 41°27′01″N23°15′52″E / 41.4502434992°N 23.264466914°E /41.4502434992; 23.264466914 |
| Type | Settlement |
| Part of | Macedonia,Ancient Rome |
| History | |
| Founded | 356–339 BC |
| Abandoned | c. 500 AD |
| Cultures | Macedonian,Greco-Roman |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | https://petrichhistorymuseum.bg/ (in Bulgarian) |
Heraclea Sintica (Ancient Greek:Ἡράκλεια Σιντική,romanized: Hērákleia Sintikḗ;Bulgarian:Хераклея Синтика), also known asHeraclea Strymonike, was anancient Greek city located near what is now the village ofRupite in south-westernBulgaria.
Heraclea Sintica was founded sometime between 356 and 339 BC byPhilip II of Macedon with Macedonian settlers fromHeraclea in Mygdonia.[1] This settlement may have replaced a previousThracian tribal center called Sintia as the Roman historianLivy emphasized that Heraclea lay within the territories of theSintoi. These people were evidently chased away at the city's foundation, however, asAppian included the Sintoi with theDardanians and Enetoi as tribes outside theprovince of Macedonia. Moreover, there is a conspicuous absence of Thracian names among inscriptions from Heraclea which also suggests that the Sintoi had been driven out of theStrymon Valley and that they did not intermix with the colonizers.[2]
The generalAsclepiodotus of Heraclea was a native.Demetrius, son ofPhilip V of Macedon, was slain at Heraclea Sintica.[3] Coins minted here in antiquity have survived.[4]
A major earthquake around 425 AD destroyed much of the city's infrastructure, including the civic basilica, and caused the nearby Strumeshnitsa River to flood the forum. After 457 AD, small groups resettled amid the ruins, but by around 500 AD there were no signs of permanent habitation and the city was effectively abandoned.[5]
The polis was identified by Assoc. Prof.Georgi Mitrev (University of Plovdiv) after the accidental discovery of a large Latin inscription in 2002. In essence, this is letter of EmperorGalerius and CaesarMaximinus II from 308 AD in which the rulers are turning to Herakleians in response to their request to reclaim the lost city rights. Before 2005, Mitrev published another inscription, which mentions Guy Lucius Skotussaios and Harakleios. It proves conclusively that this is precisely Heraclea Sintica, not another Herculaneum or Heraclea, as this name is very popular in the ancient world.
Since 2007 archaeological excavations have been taking place at Heraclea Sintica, led by Assoc. Prof.Lyudmil Vagalinski, of theNational Institute with Museum of Archaeology inSofia. They noticed strange structures above it: tunnels and an arch. Later on, after geosonar examination by Russian specialists, a large studio for producing ceramic masks for an unknown and as yet unrevealed ancient theatre was discovered.
In 2024, excavations in an ancient sewer revealed most of a marble statue of Hermes that had been placed carefully in the sewer and then covered with soil. Initial archaeological investigations suggest that citizens buried the statue intentionally.[6] Further excavations are planned to reveal the complete statue, to make it available for further research, and to remove it for placement in a museum.[7]
Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Heraclea Sintica".Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.| International | |
|---|---|
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
