The Temple of Cybele can be completely restored

information by HoReMag

The temple of Cybele in Balchik can be completely renewed and will receive a status of a monument of world significance, if the archaeologists have the opportunity to study the western wall of the antique building, announced the head of the History Museum in Balchik, Radostina Encheva for BTA. She added that the western part of the site stands under the foundations of a hotel which is now being constructed and the archaeology studies have ceased. According to her, there is a stand by the commission of the National Institute for the Monuments of Culture, this part of the new building site, which stops the studies, to be demolished. The land plot is a private property and the municipal negotiates with the owner to buy it.

The temple was found during emergency excavations in the spring of 2007. The temple is completely studied from the northern side to the base, the entrance and the antechamber. Scientists have found roof-tiles and announced that the building had a two-level roof. According to the team of archeologists, the temple of Cybele is the only, well preserved temple from the Hellenic period in Bulgaria. It is considered that the building had been constructed during the period 280 – 260 BC. Scientists believe that it had functioned for more than 700 years.

The head of the local museum expects all artifacts to be restored, preserved and exposed in the museum. Archeologist came upon two dozens of intact or half-preserved marble statues – most of the Great Mother of Gods. Specialists work over more than 200 coins from the III – IV century B.C. Scientists plan to restore over 20 inscriptions – most of them in Greek, as well as 15 clay lamps, bone needles, some of them decorated with the head of Aphrodite, announced from the museum.