Madara Horseman

The Madara Horseman is located 20 kilometers from the town of Shumen and is a symbol of the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve "Madara", located near the village of the same name. The rock bas-relief was carved in the VIII century AD on a vertical rock at a height of 23 meters. It depicts a life-size horseman, a dog, a lion and inscriptions in Greek. 

With his left hand the rider holds the reins of his horse, and with his right hand he throws a short spear at the lion that fell at the feet of the animal. A dog is chasing behind the horse. The old style greek letters are incarved in several places. At the height of the head of the horse, there is an eagle, with unfolded wings. 

According to one theory, the horseman depicted on the rock is Khan Tervel himself, presented as the victor. The inscriptions report events that took place in the VIII - IX century during the reign of the khans Tervel, Omurtag and Kormisosh. 

(*Khan Terval was the second King of the First Bulgarian Kindom from 700 to 721) 

The bas-relief has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. This monument was appointed as the National Symbol in 2008 by the Bulgarian government.

[Theme Photo: site of the Bulgarian Tourism Union]