Amphitheatre of Serdica
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At the beginning of the second century A.D., the city of Sofia was called Ulpia Serdica after the Roman emperor, M. Ulpius Traianus. At this time, Sofia was a large and beautiful trading and political centre built according to the Roman model, with wide stone streets, a forum, temples, and public buildings. The abundance of hot mineral spirngs with their healing waters was one of the reasons for The Emperor Caracalla (198–217 AD) to visit Serdica in the year 214–215 AD.
The following 100 years were a time of real blossom of ancient Serdica. Large and dencely populated it gradually developed into a rich spiritual and cultural center reclaiming new teritorry, developing dynamic trading activities, building new and even more luxurious public buildings. One of them, although only partially preserved can be seen today underneath FPI Hotel's Arena di Serdica hotel.
Serdica used to be an important trade and political center in the past. The large and well-developed city was built like Rome, with broad cobbled streets, a forum, beautiful shrines and imposing buildings with a magnificent decoration. At that time Serdica was the capital city of the Eastern internal province Dakia – a part of the Great Roman Empire.
A slate was found in 1919 not far away from the Government building in Sofia. It depicted gladiator fights between men and predators. This artifact was a sure sign that there was a gladiator fights arena on the territory of ancient Serdica (modern Sofia). It was a known fact ever since that the amphitheater existed but its exact whereabouts were not clear.
During the summer of 2004 a ground survey began whereupon the ruins of a large building were discovered. Archaeologists did not take long to conclude that they had discovered the ancient amphitheatre of Serdica (Amphitheatrum Serdicense). This was a monumental public building with an ellipsoid plan and a central arena. The steps surrounding this arena were used as seating places for the audience. The amphitheatre of Serdica consists of a complicated system of arcs, steps, vault arcs and galleries. The rich and splendid decoration gladdened the eye of the spectators and inhabitants of the city. Elegantb marble and bronze sculptures of gods and emperors, were ranged in specially built niches cut into the massive walls.
Some 85 years after the finding of the slate, in 2004, a wall from Roman times was accidentally discovered during construction works of the newest hotel of the FPI Hotels & Resorts chain – Arena di Serdica. Archaeological excavation commenced. Archaeologist Zharin Velichkov, head of the project, had no doubt – what was found was the Amphitheater of Serdica! Surprises kept coming, though. Research of the site showed that there was a theater 5 meters beneath the amphitheater. It was built in 2nd or 3rd century A.D. i.e. about 100 years before the amphitheater was built in 3rd or 4th century A. D. These are the largest buildings from the age of ancient Serdica, evidencing its prosperity throughout the centuries. The find was declared unique and the discovery – unmatched in the world!
77 antique amphitheaters have discovered in the world so far. The largest one is the Colosseum in Rome. The Arena of Serdica (60.5 m long and 43 m wide) is only 10 m smaller. Only nine share the same architectural design with the Sofia one (its sitting part only encircles half of the arena). Yet the amphitheater of Serdica is the only one in the world, combining a Roman theater and a late-antique amphitheater at the same place, and the only such building on the Balkan Peninsula. This makes the site really unique and its discovery – sensational. It is a fact that no capital or city in the world boast a combined theater and amphitheater in its very center. Research shows that the amphitheater of Sofia is twice as large as the one in Plovdiv and at least ten times as large as the Roman ruins in Hisarya and Devnya.
The multitude of coins and pottery, found by archaeologists on the site, have helped the scientists to precisely pinpoint the time of building of the amphitheater of Serdica: the end of 3rd century – the beginning of the 4th. Its construction has begun during the reign of emperor Diocletian and was completed during the reign of Constantine the Great. Theodosius I issues and edict in the end of 4th century, banning the spectacles that took place on the arena, depriving it of its function of an important community building. It was then left to fall apart. The building material from it was plundered as if it was a brick and stone pit and its ruins were used to build living premises. It is thought that people lived around the amphitheater till the end of 6th century.
The archaeological excavations are funded by Fair Play International AD, which invests in the large project of restoration, preservation and exhibition of this unique historical monument. The find, described by archaeologists and architects as unique, priceless and sensational, forced some changes in the architectural blueprints of the Arena di Serdica Hotel. Its very concept went through significant changes. It is entirely within the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria which protects the national historic and cultural treasures. Today, 17 centuries later, the amphitheater accepts guests once again, thanks to the efforts of the company. Its walls have kept their genuine look, the arena is covered with sand as it used to be in the past, and the clay tiles still bear the footprints of the animal (goats, dogs, cats) that died in the ferocious gladiator fights. One can see the dressing rooms of the actors who performed on the stage and the East Gate Entrance where the chariots passed during the gladiator fights. Seven stone spectator seats have been preserved and set into their original places. A dwelling place and a furnace, dating back to the 5th-6th century, as well as a well from the 4th-5th century have been exposed. Additional constructions, coins and pottery from the time of the Ottoman Empire have also been discovered.
The access to the archaeological exposition is free today. 1/6 of the amphitheater of Serdica that has been restored and is on the Arena di Serdica hotel territory, is exposed in a most appropriate way and anyone can walk around and explore the excavations between 10.00 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.
Arena di Serdica hotel is a living proof that modern buildings can live in harmony with what we have inherited from the past.
