5 interesting obscure facts about Plovdiv
We present you 5 interesting facts about Plovdiv that deserve your attention:
1.Plovdiv is the oldest city in Europe and the sixth oldest city in the world. It is believed that the first settlement in these lands was established about 8000 years ago. Its first name was Kendrisos, named after Apollo Kendrisos – the main deity during the Roman era. The next name which the city received was Eumopia, during this period the land was inhabited by the Thracian tribe Bessi. Afterwards, its name was changed to Odrisa, which was the main administrative center of the Odrysian kingdom. In 342 BC Philip II the Macedon made a huge invasion in the Thracian lands, including Plovdiv and named the city after himself – Philippopolis. When the city became again part of the Thracian lands, they changed its name to Pulpudeva. In 72 BC Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus named the city Trimontium – the city of the three hills. Plovdiv became part of the First Bulgarian Empire in 812 under the governance of Khan Krum. During that period, it was called Plovdiva. When Bulgaria fell within the Ottoman Empire, the city was called Philibe. It is considered that its contemporary name derives from Pulpundeva.
2.The Roman theatre of Philippopolis is one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Roman theatres, located in the city center of modern Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It was constructed in the еnd of the 1st century AD, probably during the reign of Mark Ulpii Trayan and was revealed in the period between 1968-1969. The theatre was created to host between 5,000 and 7,000 spectators and it is currently in use with a capacity of 3500 spectators.
3.The Clock Tower in Danov hill is one of the oldest clock towers in Eastern Europe and the first city clock tower in the Ottoman Empire (it was built in the 16th century).
4.Dondukov garden (near the Regional Natural History museum) is the first public park in Bulgaria. It was created in 1878 by Lucien Shevals.
5.The Culture and Literacy day (24th of May) was first celebrated in Plovdiv on 11.05.1851 , initiated by Naiden Gerov in “Kiril and Metodiy” school. Afterwards, when the Gregorian calendar was adopted, the date of the celebration was changed to 25.05.