A Thracian settlement of the 3rd–4th century BC has been found on the north bank of the Beli Lom river, and an early Roman settlement extended it in the late 1st or early 2nd century AD.
In 251 during the Gothic invasions the Romans suffered a disastrous defeat and the death of the Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus at the Battle of Abritus, which took place about 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Abritus, in the valley of the river Beli Lom, to the south of the village of Dryanovets.[2]
The fortifications with massive walls, 3 m (9.8 ft) thick and 12 m (39 ft) high, were built around the town on the south bank of the river in 320–330 under Constantine the Great, seemingly for protection from immigrant "barbarians" (foederati) as part of the policy of pacifying them.[3]
However, the walls could not withstand the destruction of the city in the Gothic Wars in 376–8, in 447 by the Huns, and in the 480s again by the Goths. Each time the city was rebuilt, and in the 5th–6th centuries Abritus was one of the largest cities in the province and seat of a bishop.
The gates were narrowed under Justinian (527–565) to provide better security. However the city was destroyed by the Avars in 586.
Later a Bulgarian mediaeval settlement was built, which existed until the 10th century.
The first archaeological survey was done in 1887 by Ananie Yavashov, and regular excavations were conducted from 1953.
The Site
The walls enclosed 15 hectares (37 acres) and had 35 bastions projecting in front of the wall. The southern wall was more vulnerable than the others as it was overlooked by a slope outside, and hence the southern gate was recessed from the wall, which was also thicker in this area, and a moat was dug outside it for extra protection. Two of the bastions have superstructures built to the original height to accentuate their impressive size.
Army barracks were located to the side of the north gate in which arms were discovered.
Two aqueducts are known; one from the 2nd century originating at a spring near Peroishte 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of the city, passing through ceramic pipes, and arriving under the south gate,[4] and the other coming from Nedoklan 3 km (1.9 mi) to the northeast.
The largest late empire hoard of gold coins in Bulgaria was found just inside the eastern wall consisting of 835 gold coins weighing 4 kg (8.8 lb) and dating from the 5th century, probably hidden during the invasion of the Goths 487.[5]
Gallery
Northern gate (with later partial blocking)
Peristiye Building
Peristiye Building
Archeological excavations
Southern gate of Abritus
Tower
Floor plan of Abritus
Map of ancient sites around Abritus
See also
Abrytasites, an extinct zoological genus called after the Ancient city
References
^. Abritus Archaeological Reserve. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016.
^Archaeologists identify battlefield of 251AD Roman-Goth battle of Abritus near Bulgaria's Dryanovets, Archaeology in Bulgaria
^. Abritus Archaeological Reserve. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018.
^Ivan Tsarov: The Aqueducts in the Bulgarian Lands, 2nd-4th century AD, ISBN9786191681907 p. 96
^. Abritus Archaeological Reserve. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018.
Sources and external links
Dinu Adameșteanu, "Abrittus (Razgrad) Bulgaria." The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites Stillwell, Richard. MacDonald, William L. McAlister, Marian Holland eds. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1976, Accessed on 1 April 2012.
Jean-Philippe Carrié & Dominic Moreau, "The Archaeology of the Roman Town of Abritus : The Status Quaestionis in 2012", in L. Vagalinski & N. Sharankov (eds.), Limes XXII. Proceedings of the 22nd international Congress of Roman Frontier Studies (Ruse, Bulgaria, September 2012), NAIM, Sofia, 2015 (Bulletin of the National Archaeological Institute, 42), pp. 601–610.
Teofil Ivanov (1963), Archäologische Forschungen in Abrittus: (1953-1961), Sofia, BAN.
Teofil Ivanov & Stoyan Stoyanov (1985), ABRITVS - Its History and Archaeology, Razgrad: Cultural and Historical Heritage Directorate.
Alexander P. Kazhdan (1991), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford: Oxford University Press, at 6.
Brahim M'Barek & Dominic Moreau, "The Plan of Abritus (Moesia Secunda/Inferior). Status Quaestionis in 2015", in C. Sebastian Sommer & Suzana Matešić (eds.), Limes XXIII. Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Ingolstadt 2015 - Akten des 23. Internationalen Limeskongresses in Ingolstadt 2015, Mainz, 2018 (Beiträge zum welterbe Limes. Sonderband 4/II), pp. 1087–1091.
Dominic Moreau & Jean-Philippe Carrié, "L’agglomération romaine d’Abritus (Mésie inférieure / Mésie seconde) : sources textuelles et bilan archéologique", in Chr. Freu, S. Janniard & A. Ripoll (eds.), Libera curiositas. Mélanges d'histoire romaine et d'Antiquité tardive offerts à Jean-Michel Carrié, Brepols, Turnhout, 2017 (Bibliothèque de l'Antiquité tardive, 31), pp. 229–256.
Abritus Archaeological Reserve, Razgrad at , Accessed on 21 April 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abrittus.
January 21, 2023
abritus, coordinates, 52111, 55167, 52111, 55167, abrittus, impressive, roman, walled, city, biggest, urban, centres, province, moesia, inferior, remains, archaeological, park, razgrad, shown, within, bulgariacoordinates43, 52209, 55292, 52209, 55292southern, . Coordinates 43 31 16 N 26 33 06 E 43 52111 N 26 55167 E 43 52111 26 55167 Abritus Abrittus was an impressive Roman walled city and one of the biggest urban centres in the province of Moesia Inferior Its remains are in the Archaeological Park of Razgrad 1 AbritusShown within BulgariaCoordinates43 31 20 N 26 33 11 E 43 52209 N 26 55292 E 43 52209 26 55292Southern wall Contents 1 History 2 The Site 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources and external linksHistory EditSee also Battle of Abritus A Thracian settlement of the 3rd 4th century BC has been found on the north bank of the Beli Lom river and an early Roman settlement extended it in the late 1st or early 2nd century AD At the end of the 1st century AD a Roman military camp was built and in the 2nd century the Cohors II Lucensium of the Legio XI Claudia based at Durostorum was stationed here In 251 during the Gothic invasions the Romans suffered a disastrous defeat and the death of the Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus at the Battle of Abritus which took place about 15 km 9 3 mi northwest of Abritus in the valley of the river Beli Lom to the south of the village of Dryanovets 2 The fortifications with massive walls 3 m 9 8 ft thick and 12 m 39 ft high were built around the town on the south bank of the river in 320 330 under Constantine the Great seemingly for protection from immigrant barbarians foederati as part of the policy of pacifying them 3 However the walls could not withstand the destruction of the city in the Gothic Wars in 376 8 in 447 by the Huns and in the 480s again by the Goths Each time the city was rebuilt and in the 5th 6th centuries Abritus was one of the largest cities in the province and seat of a bishop The gates were narrowed under Justinian 527 565 to provide better security However the city was destroyed by the Avars in 586 Later a Bulgarian mediaeval settlement was built which existed until the 10th century The first archaeological survey was done in 1887 by Ananie Yavashov and regular excavations were conducted from 1953 The Site EditThe walls enclosed 15 hectares 37 acres and had 35 bastions projecting in front of the wall The southern wall was more vulnerable than the others as it was overlooked by a slope outside and hence the southern gate was recessed from the wall which was also thicker in this area and a moat was dug outside it for extra protection Two of the bastions have superstructures built to the original height to accentuate their impressive size Army barracks were located to the side of the north gate in which arms were discovered Two aqueducts are known one from the 2nd century originating at a spring near Peroishte 6 km 3 7 mi southwest of the city passing through ceramic pipes and arriving under the south gate 4 and the other coming from Nedoklan 3 km 1 9 mi to the northeast The largest late empire hoard of gold coins in Bulgaria was found just inside the eastern wall consisting of 835 gold coins weighing 4 kg 8 8 lb and dating from the 5th century probably hidden during the invasion of the Goths 487 5 Gallery Edit Northern gate with later partial blocking Peristiye Building Peristiye Building Archeological excavations Southern gate of Abritus Tower Floor plan of Abritus Map of ancient sites around AbritusSee also EditAbrytasites an extinct zoological genus called after the Ancient cityReferences Edit Home Abritus Archaeological Reserve Archived from the original on 25 December 2016 Archaeologists identify battlefield of 251AD Roman Goth battle of Abritus near Bulgaria s Dryanovets Archaeology in Bulgaria Everyday life in the area of the Roman city of Abritus Abritus Archaeological Reserve Archived from the original on 15 June 2018 Ivan Tsarov The Aqueducts in the Bulgarian Lands 2nd 4th century AD ISBN 9786191681907 p 96 The treasure of golden coins of Abritus Abritus Archaeological Reserve Archived from the original on 15 June 2018 Sources and external links EditDinu Adameșteanu Abrittus Razgrad Bulgaria The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites Stillwell Richard MacDonald William L McAlister Marian Holland eds Princeton N J Princeton University Press 1976 Accessed on 1 April 2012 Jean Philippe Carrie amp Dominic Moreau The Archaeology of the Roman Town of Abritus The Status Quaestionis in 2012 in L Vagalinski amp N Sharankov eds Limes XXII Proceedings of the 22nd international Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Ruse Bulgaria September 2012 NAIM Sofia 2015 Bulletin of the National Archaeological Institute 42 pp 601 610 Teofil Ivanov 1963 Archaologische Forschungen in Abrittus 1953 1961 Sofia BAN Teofil Ivanov amp Stoyan Stoyanov 1985 ABRITVS Its History and Archaeology Razgrad Cultural and Historical Heritage Directorate Alexander P Kazhdan 1991 Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford Oxford University Press at 6 Brahim M Barek amp Dominic Moreau The Plan of Abritus Moesia Secunda Inferior Status Quaestionis in 2015 in C Sebastian Sommer amp Suzana Matesic eds Limes XXIII Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Ingolstadt 2015 Akten des 23 Internationalen Limeskongresses in Ingolstadt 2015 Mainz 2018 Beitrage zum welterbe Limes Sonderband 4 II pp 1087 1091 Dominic Moreau amp Jean Philippe Carrie L agglomeration romaine d Abritus Mesie inferieure Mesie seconde sources textuelles et bilan archeologique in Chr Freu S Janniard amp A Ripoll eds Libera curiositas Melanges d histoire romaine et d Antiquite tardive offerts a Jean Michel Carrie Brepols Turnhout 2017 Bibliotheque de l Antiquite tardive 31 pp 229 256 Abritus Archaeological Reserve Razgrad at Bulgariatravel org Official Tourism Portal of Bulgaria Accessed on 21 April 2012 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abrittus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abritus amp oldid 1090102185, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
