2 March 2026 The Future is the Product of the Past

Greek Warrior Relief Found in Bulgaria

In Sozopol, on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, a piece of terracotta relief depicting ancient Greek warriors has been discovered.

The newly discovered slab with ancient Greek warriors, or hoplites, looks like a piece of a larger representation, other parts of which were discovered during excavations in 2018 and 2019 in the area of ​​the two temples of the deity Apollo Iatros (“The Healer “). – one from the Late Archaic period and one from the Early Classic period of Ancient Greece – on the island of Saint Cyricus in Sozopol of Bulgaria.

The island of St. Cyricus, more precisely named Sts. The islands of Quiricus and Julietta have rich archaeological structures from the dawn of the settlement of Sozopol, which emerged from the ancient Greek colony Apollonia Pontica on the western Black Sea coast in the 6th century BC.

The newsly discovered slab fragment from ca. 500 BC with marching hoplites, the Ancient Greek citizen warriors who formed the dreadful phalanx formation, from the sacred zone with two Apollo temples on the St. Cyricus Island in Bulgaria’s Black Sea town of Sozopol. Photo: National Institute and Museum of Archaeology
The newsly discovered slab fragment from ca. 500 BC with marching hoplites, the Ancient Greek citizen warriors who formed the dreadful phalanx formation, from the sacred zone with two Apollo temples on the St. Cyricus Island in Bulgaria’s Black Sea town of Sozopol. Photo: National Institute and Museum of Archaeology

The fragment is from around 500 BC. and includes two hoplites in the march. They both wear Corinthian-style helmets and armor. The one on the left (the more intact figure) holds a spear in his right hand and a shield on his back. With her left hand, she holds the horn to her mouth. It is a fragment of a larger frieze that once adorned the temple of Apollo.

A sketch showing the likely full relief of Ancient Greek hoplite warriors from Sozopol, of which the newly discovered fragment is a part. Photo: Archaeologist Margarit Damyanov, 2020 Bulgarian Archaeology Exhibition poster
A sketch showing the likely full relief of Ancient Greek hoplite warriors from Sozopol, of which the newly discovered fragment is a part. Photo: Archaeologist Margarit Damyanov, 2020 Bulgarian Archaeology Exhibition poster

Other fragments of the terracotta frieze were discovered in 2018 and 2019. A total of 20 fragments have been discovered in recent excavations, all from the same site. Degrand’s excavations also found a fragment of the frieze that is now in the Louvre’s collection along with the rest of the excavated Degrand artifacts. The Louvre section appears to exactly match the newly discovered section, although it is much less worn.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Source: http://archaeologyinbulgaria.com/

Related Articles

“Last Rhodes shipwreck” of Roman period found in Turkey’s Fethiye

5 March 2022

5 March 2022

Turkish researchers, a Rhodes shipwreck from the third century A.D. was discovered in the depths of the Gulf of Fethiye...

The Oldest Semicircular Classroom in the Greek World Unearthed in Sicily

21 April 2025

21 April 2025

In a remarkable archaeological breakthrough in southern Sicily, an international team of researchers has uncovered an extraordinary ancient classroom that...

Vindolanda marks the 1900th anniversary of Hadrian’s Wall with an altar discovery

9 February 2022

9 February 2022

The excavation season hasn’t started yet, but the Vindolanda Roman fort has kicked off Hadrian’s Wall’s 1900th anniversary year with...

2500-year-old Aphrodite Temple Discovered

4 February 2021

4 February 2021

Archaeologists have discovered a 2500-year-old temple built in the name of Goddess Aphrodite around Çeşme and Urla districts of Izmir...

USF team discovers 2,000-year-old Roman house during excavation in Malta

8 August 2023

8 August 2023

A team of researchers and students unearthed a 2,000-year-old Roman house in Malta, complete with a waste disposal system and...

Ancient Roman Breakwater Discovered Underwater in Misenum: Sculptures and Architecture Reused to Tame the Sea

27 June 2025

27 June 2025

An underwater excavation off the coast of Bacoli, in southern Italy, has uncovered a remarkable Roman-era breakwater built from reused...

Rare bronze hand discovered in Roman Vindolanda, England

11 July 2023

11 July 2023

One of Europe’s most important Roman archeological sites is the Fort of Vindolanda, one of the earliest Roman garrisons built...

A spectacular rare ancient Roman bronze coin depicting the moon goddess was discovered off the coast of Israel

25 July 2022

25 July 2022

A rare 1850-year-old exceptionally well-preserved bronze coin depicting the Roman moon goddess Luna has been found off the coast of...

Pluto’s ‘Gate to Hell’ in Hierapolis

25 April 2021

25 April 2021

Hierapolis Pluto or Pluto’s Gate is a ploutonion (a religious site dedicated to the god Pluto) in the ancient city...

The Mysterious Figure of Anatolia: Alexander of Abonoteichus, the False Prophet of Rome

12 February 2025

12 February 2025

In the annals of history, few figures are as intriguing as Alexander of Abonoteichus, the self-proclaimed prophet who captivated the...

Zeugma of the Black Sea to be will Restore

8 February 2021

8 February 2021

Hadrianaupolis Antique City is located 3 km west of Eskiyapar district of Karabük. This ancient city has been known as...

Archaeologists find a Roman military watchtower in Morocco for the first time

7 November 2022

7 November 2022

A Roman military watchtower the first of its kind was discovered by a team of Polish and Moroccan archaeologists in...

Laodikeia’s Roman Asopos Bridge Carries Water Again After 1,300 Years

2 March 2026

2 March 2026

After more than a millennium of silence, water is once again flowing beneath the monumental arches of the Laodikeia Asopos...

Unique 1,850-Year-Old Roman Thermal Structure Unearthed in Antalya’s Ancient City of Myra

9 January 2026

9 January 2026

Archaeologists in southern Türkiye have uncovered an extraordinary 1,850-year-old Roman thermal structure in the ancient city of Myra, a discovery...

Archaeologists may have found the Sanctuary of Samian Poseidon described in ancient texts

11 October 2022

11 October 2022

During excavations in the foothills at the ancient acropolis of Samicum in Greece, archaeologists may have found the sanctuary of...