Plovdiv – Spartacus

Bulgarian Properties - Plovdiv, Article by John Lindley, 20th June 2006

You have seen the film and maybe even bought the ‘T’ shirt – ‘I’m Spartacus”. To those who are thinking of visiting Plovdiv this summer it might be of interest to know that the slave Spartacus actually fought in the very centre of Plovdiv.

Just opposite the Turkish Mosque and next to the outdoor market for paintings there is the remains of a Roman arena situated under the main pedestrian thoroughfar, built around 200 AD. You can clearly see the entrance of the arena from street level. Spartacus fought in a similar arena in about 75 BC almost at the same spot where the nearby Turkish Mosque now stands.

Spartacus was a Thracian who became a gladiator. He was born a free man and served for a time as an auxillary in the Roman army but at some point he deserted and was eventually captured and sold as a slave to the owner of a gladiator school.

When Bulgaria was occupied by the Romans, slaves had no rights and were at the mercy of their masters. Spartacus organized a revolt by escaping along with 70 others by seizing cooking knives from a gladiator school and retreating to nearby mount Visuveus. Slaves from nearby villages began to leave their masters and eventually Spartacus’s followers numbered well over 120 000. After defeating many Roman legions he was eventually defeated jn 73BC. Spartacus was killed in battle and 6000 slaves were recaptured and crucified along the Appian Way.

There are many remnants from this period to be found in the numerous museums, archealogical sites and rediscovered Roman ruins that are situated in and around Plovdiv- including the famous Archealogical Museum in Saedinenie Square- They are certainly well worth a visit and should you like to stay longer there is also the option of buying a property here at very reasonable prices.

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