Perperikon
The ruins of the ancient city of Perperikon
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 Shown within Bulgaria
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| Location | Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria |
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| Region | Thrace |
| Coordinates | 41°42′53″N 25°27′55″E / 41.71472°N 25.46528°ECoordinates: 41°42′53″N 25°27′55″E / 41.71472°N 25.46528°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Site notes | |
| Condition | In ruins |
The ancient Thracian city of Perperikon (also Perpericon; Bulgarian: Перперикон, Greek: Περπερικον) is located in the Eastern Rhodopes, 15 km northeast of the present-day town of Kardzhali, Bulgaria, on a 470 m high rocky hill, which is thought to have been a sacred place. The village of Gorna Krepost ("Upper Fortress") is located at the foot of the hill and the gold-bearing Perpereshka River flows near it. Perperikon is the largest megalith ensemble in the Balkans.
It is thought that the famous Temple of Dionysius is located at this location. A visitor centre is being constructed at a cost of 2.4 million Euros funded by the EU.
Bulgarian archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov started the excavation works at Perperikon in 2000, and revealed the remains of ancient architectural complex.
Human activity in the area dates back to 5000 B.C. The first traces of civilization on the hill date from the Bronze Age, while the ceramics found on the place date from the Early Iron Age, as well as the impressive round altar, almost 2 m in diameter, hewn out of the rocks. At Perperikon, a twelve days' journey from the sea, Medokos called himself king of Thrace after Sitalces's death in 424 BC, but failed to hold a throne.
Archaeologists have uncovered a giant multi-story palace and an imposing fortress built around the hill, with walls as thick as 2.8 m. These date from the time of the Roman Empire. Temples and residential quarters were also constructed in the fortress. The megalithic complex has been laid in ruins and re-erected many times throughout history.
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Wikipedia