Eastern gate of Philippopolis

Coordinates: 42°08′56″N 24°45′21″E / 42.148811°N 24.755862°E / 42.148811; 24.755862
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Eastern Gate of Philippopolis
Eastern Gate Plovdiv
Map of Plovdiv old town
Map of Plovdiv old town
Eastern Gate of Philippopolis
Shown within Plovdiv City Center
LocationPlovdiv, Bulgaria
Coordinates42°08′56″N 24°45′21″E / 42.148811°N 24.755862°E / 42.148811; 24.755862
TypeGate
History
BuilderHadrian
Founded2-4th century AD
PeriodsAntiquity
Site notes
Excavation dates1970s

The Eastern gate of

Bosphorus. Initially constructed in the 2nd century AD during the reign of Hadrian
, the gate and the complex around it were completely rebuilt in the 4th century, and partially repaired in the 5th century. The Eastern gate was discovered in the 1970s.

The Gate

Plan of the complex around the Eastern gate

After it was rebuilt in the 4th century, the Eastern gate of Philippopolis had one wide central entrance and two narrower side entrances. Two watch towers were built on both sides of the gate for protection during attacks. The gate was built on the widest and most elaborate street of the city which was partly discovered during the archeological works.[1] The 13 metres wide street was covered with large syenite slabs with paved sidewalk on both sides (each 2.6 m wide) unlike any other street in Philippopolis. Richly decorated colonnade in the Roman Corinthian order was aligned on both sides of the street. Wheel ruts can be seen on the syenite pavement indicating busy cart traffic through the gate. Buildings built in the 4th century with elaborate porticoes in the Corinthian style were found on both sides of the Eastern gate.[2] It is presumed that they were either barracks or infirmary, but their purpose is still debatable. Together with the Eastern gate they formed an entire complex.

  • Ruins of the Gate

History

The first structure on the place of the today's Eastern gate was a marble

Marcomannic
invasion, extending the old walls from around the Three Hills.

The triumphal arch was left a few dozen metres outside the fortified area where the first eastern gate was built. After Philippopolis recovered from the destruction of the Goth invasion in 251, the old walls were renovated using bricks and stone. The new Eastern gate of Philippopolis was built using the remains of Hadrian's arch.[3] The memorial of the imperial visit from the 2nd century became the biggest and the most important entrance of Philippopolis.

Gallery

  • General view of the complex
    General view of the complex
  • Marble fundament of the gate
    Marble fundament of the gate
  • Stone fundament of the gate
    Stone fundament of the gate
  • Ruins of the stone walls and the watch towers
    Ruins of the stone walls and the watch towers
  • Detail from the arcade
    Detail from the arcade
  • Corinthian capital
    Corinthian capital
  • Details from the architrave
    Details from the architrave
  • Ruins of the barracks
    Ruins of the barracks
  • The street leading to the Eastern gate
    The street leading to the Eastern gate
  • Full size columns
    Full size columns

References

  1. ^ [1] Roman Plovdiv
  2. ^ [2] Ancient Philippopolis
  3. ^ [3] Roman Plovdiv