The Thracians were the indigenous population predominantly of the mainland of the Balkan Peninsula, whereas the seafaring Greeks with their fast ships had the opportunity to colonise the Black Sea coast. In the 8th – 6th century BC, they settled in the peninsulas of present-day Bulgarian Black Sea coast, which were convenient both for habitation and for defence purpses.

Dozens of sea expeditions were sent by the cities in mainland Greece to the coasts of Asia Minor and the Aegean islands. Athens, Megara, Byzantion and some other cities were particularly active. This is how many fortified cities appeared: Dionyssopolis ( Balchik ), Odessos ( Varna ), Mesambria ( Nessebur ) and Apollonia ( Sozopol ). The colonie usually maintained contacts with the metropolises, importing various works of art, artisan production and beautifully painted ceramics. Incredible monuments have been discovered during excavations of city necropolises. For example, hundreds of whole red-figured ceramic vessels, decorated with mythological scenes and images of deities, were found in the principal necropolis of Apollonia.

The Bridge of San Luis Rey full

The new cities recreated the image of their metropolises. A typical example in this respect was the colony Mesambria founded by the Doric city of Megara. The colonists erected a strong fortress in typical Greek style on the picturesque peninsula separated from the coast only by narrow isthmus. All elements of the democratic Greek polis were present within the confines of the city: gymnasia, palestrae for practising sports, and the bouleuterion where the Council of the citizens with full rights met. It is know with certainty that Mesambria had a theatre where the festivities in honour of Dionysos were organized, as well as a temple of Apollo.

The Greek colonisation stimulated the exchange between Greeks and Thracians. The colonists usually built their fortresses in older Thracian settlements. Nevertheless, the main fortresses of the Thracians were in the interior, in the mountainous and semi-mountainous regions. These were usually unpretentious fortifications, without any special fortress construction and urban planning, which were intended for protecting the local population. However together with them, royal cities of the type of Perperikon

, Masteira, Kabyle, Eumolpia and Helis were also created.

Seuthopolis was the first city built following the Hellenistic model and unifying to a considerable extent the construnction on Southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. It was imposed owing both to the Greek colonies and to the changes occurring in the world following the Macedonian invasion after the forties of the 4th century BC. New centres also appeared then, e.g., the city of Philip II – Philippopolis ( Plovdiv ), founded at the place of an old Thracian settlement.

Similar Topics from Ancient Bulgaria Archive

» A little more Thracian history from the very beginning part I
» Thracians, the oldest people in the Balkans
» Macedonian story about Philip II, Alexander the Great and Thracian treasures
» Thracians, the oldest people in the Balkans Part 3
» Thrace under the reign of Roman Empire