Bulgarian archeologists unearth unique mosaic

4 October 2011
FOCUS News Agency
Stara Zagora.

Bulgarian archeologists have unearthed a unique mosaic in the southern municipality of Stara Zagora, the press center of the municipality announced.

A team headed by Dimitar Yankov, chief curator of the Regional Museum of History in the city of Stara Zagora, held a press conference to brief the media about the find.

The mosaic dates back to around the 3rd century and depicts a man and two women, all members of Dionysus’ entourage.



“The complex figures of dancing women suggest the mosaic was done by a great master. The clothes are in five shades of blue and the red color varies from pink to dark red. The figures are very fine. One of the women holds castanets in her hands and the other one holds other music instruments. The folds of their clothes suggest their knees are bent. Their ankles are bare and their legs move. There is play of light and shade,” said Dimitar Yankov, and expressed hope the team’s further excavations would reveal more figures, including the one of Dionysus, the Greek god of grape harvest, winemaking and wine.

According to archaeologists the building was not a private one, but a temple to Dionysus. The building is 30 meters away from the walls of the forum of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Traiana in the center of the city of Stara Zagora.