{"version":2,"locale":"en","id":"story.nessebar-mesambria","hasFind":true,"slug":"nessebar-mesambria","url":"/en/stories/nessebar-mesambria/","topic":"Nessebar","title":"The town on the narrow isthmus","summary":"A helmet on a coin, repaired walls and roofless churches: evidence from different periods of Mesambria.","cover":{"title":"The town on the narrow isthmus","subtitle":"Mesambria — ancient Nessebar","hook":"What do Nessebar’s coins and walls preserve?","summary":"A helmet on a coin, repaired walls and roofless churches: evidence from different periods of Mesambria.","takeaway":"A wall, a coin and a church preserve different parts of the past of the same place."},"sortYear":-500,"firstActivity":5,"epoch":{"id":"epoch.antiquity","styleId":"antiquity","sortOrder":6,"title":"Main period: Antiquity: Thracians, Greeks, Romans","dateLabel":"1st millennium BC – 6th century AD","eraShort":"Main period: Antiquity","slug":"antiquity","fill":"#D4CBBE","ink":"#221616","raised":"#DAD3C8","dark":"#6B6862"},"epochId":"epoch.antiquity","placeShort":"Nessebar","date":"Antiquity–Middle Ages","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-cutout-480.1327ed02.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-cutout-960.1327ed02.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-cutout-1600.1327ed02.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#b88c54","h":1760,"w":1807,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-cutout-960.1327ed02.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-cutout-960.1327ed02.webp","id":"asset.ness.coin-gold-cutout","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. The goddess Athena wearing a helmet, seen from the side on a gold coin.","objectCaption":"Gold coin from Mesambria","caption":"The front of a gold coin from Mesambria, called a stater. It shows the goddess Athena wearing a helmet. The coin follows a design of Alexander the Great.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Photographer uncredited; ancient object: Mesambria mint, Alexander type · Public domain · National Library of France / Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Digitisation: National Library of France, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Photographer uncredited. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Digitisation: National Library of France, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Photographer uncredited. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monnaie_-_Stat%C3%A8re_aux_types_d%27Alexandre_le_grand,_Mesembria,_Thrace_-_btv1b10060926f_(1_of_2).jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"},"scenes":[{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.s1-isthmus","number":1,"kind":"narrative","title":"The path along the isthmus","body":"You enter Old Nessebar along the isthmus. This narrow strip of land joins the peninsula to the mainland. The site is more than 3,000 years old.\n\nPeople lived here before the Greeks. Later came the Dorians, a group of ancient Greeks. They formed a polis: a town with its own government. Their exact arrival date is disputed. Along the way, you will see traces from different centuries.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-panorama-480.e6402963.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-panorama-960.e6402963.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-panorama-1600.e6402963.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#8b868b","h":1200,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-panorama-960.e6402963.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-panorama-960.e6402963.webp","id":"asset.ness.panorama","alt":"A present-day view of roofs and a church tower; not an ancient panorama.","objectCaption":"A present-day view of roofs and a church tower. In 1983, Old Nessebar was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.","caption":"A present-day view of roofs and a church tower. In 1983, Old Nessebar was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"User:Japus · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 2.5","attribution":"Photo: Japus; watermark removal: Beao. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Japus; watermark removal: Beao. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nesebar-panorama-day.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"A representative point for the old town. The circle is neither an ancient coastline nor the UNESCO boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.old-town","name":"Old Nessebar","latitude":42.65911111111111,"longitude":27.736027777777778,"radiusMeters":600,"sourceIds":["src.ness.unesco"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.old-town","url":"/en/map/#ness.old-town"}],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":24.442333333333334,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.s1-isthmus","duration":24.533,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/s1-isthmus.27dd97f2.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.unesco"},{"id":"src.ness.history"},{"id":"src.ness.cn"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-panorama"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.s2-walk","number":2,"kind":"map","title":"The museum and three churches","body":"The archaeological collection and the church buildings preserve evidence from different periods. Small finds inside complement the large walls outside. The museum has occupied its specially built home since 1994.\n\nThe map links it with three churches: Christ Pantocrator, St Sophia and St Stephen. These places exist today. Each building represents a different period. Coins, stonework and decoration provide different kinds of evidence. Start with something small enough to hold between two fingers.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-museum-480.54de5251.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-museum-960.54de5251.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-museum-1600.54de5251.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#7c7f82","h":1200,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-museum-960.54de5251.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-museum-960.54de5251.webp","id":"asset.ness.museum","alt":"The modern Archaeological Museum building in Nessebar; not an ancient structure.","objectCaption":"The modern Archaeological Museum building in Nessebar; not an ancient structure.","caption":"The modern Archaeological Museum building in Nessebar; not an ancient structure.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Svik  at  Bulgarian Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 3.0","attribution":"Photo: Svik at Bulgarian Wikipedia. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Svik  at  Bulgarian Wikipedia. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nessebur_Museum.JPG","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-480.8cd13c65.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-960.8cd13c65.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-1600.8cd13c65.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#959695","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-960.8cd13c65.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-960.8cd13c65.webp","id":"asset.ness.walls","alt":"Stone walls with brick bands at the entrance to Old Nessebar. Present-day view with repaired sections.","objectCaption":"Stone walls with brick bands at the entrance to Old Nessebar. Present-day view with repaired sections.","caption":"Stone walls with brick bands at the entrance to Old Nessebar. Present-day view with repaired sections.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Julian Nyča · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Julian Nyča. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Julian Nyča. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nessebar_Stadtmauer.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary. This is not a findspot for the illustrated coins.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.museum","name":"Nessebar Archaeological Museum","latitude":42.658333333333,"longitude":27.730555555556,"radiusMeters":60,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-museum","src.ness.museum"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/nesebar-archaeological-museum/","slug":"ness.museum","url":"/en/map/#ness.museum"},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.pantocrator","name":"Christ Pantocrator","latitude":42.65875,"longitude":27.733277777778,"radiusMeters":30,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-pantocrator","src.ness.pantocrator"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/church-of-christ-pantocrator/","slug":"ness.pantocrator","url":"/en/map/#ness.pantocrator"},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary. The Old Bishopric was the main church of the local church leader.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.sofia","name":"St Sophia — the Old Bishopric","latitude":42.659138888889,"longitude":27.736,"radiusMeters":30,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-sofia","src.ness.sofia"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.sofia","url":"/en/map/#ness.sofia"},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.stephen","name":"St Stephen — the New Bishopric","latitude":42.657777777778,"longitude":27.733055555556,"radiusMeters":50,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-stephen","src.ness.stephen"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.stephen","url":"/en/map/#ness.stephen"}],"map":{"light":{"src":"/assets/maps/relief@3x.jpg?v=075869a7dd","w":3072,"h":1987,"avif":[],"webp":[],"responsive":[{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-2x-1024.4c826249.avif","w":1024},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-3x-1536.8876519a.avif","w":1536},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-2x-2048.4c826249.avif","w":2048},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-3x-3072.8876519a.avif","w":3072}]},"dark":{"src":"/assets/maps/relief-dark@3x.jpg?v=0941a59d06","w":3072,"h":1987,"avif":[],"webp":[],"responsive":[{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-2x-1024.73ab39a9.avif","w":1024},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-3x-1536.4f3ca147.avif","w":1536},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-2x-2048.73ab39a9.avif","w":2048},{"src":"/media/map/map-relief-dark-3x-3072.4f3ca147.avif","w":3072}]},"places":[{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary. This is not a findspot for the illustrated coins.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.museum","name":"Nessebar Archaeological Museum","latitude":42.658333333333,"longitude":27.730555555556,"radiusMeters":60,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-museum","src.ness.museum"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/nesebar-archaeological-museum/","slug":"ness.museum","url":"/en/map/#ness.museum","number":1,"x":77.88194,"y":51.86092,"inside":true,"viewX":72.60214503225806,"viewY":50.00421756774194},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.pantocrator","name":"Christ Pantocrator","latitude":42.65875,"longitude":27.733277777778,"radiusMeters":30,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-pantocrator","src.ness.pantocrator"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/church-of-christ-pantocrator/","slug":"ness.pantocrator","url":"/en/map/#ness.pantocrator","number":2,"x":77.91597,"y":51.84997,"inside":true,"viewX":81.60214503225806,"viewY":56.00421756774194},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary. The Old Bishopric was the main church of the local church leader.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.sofia","name":"St Sophia — the Old Bishopric","latitude":42.659138888889,"longitude":27.736,"radiusMeters":30,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-sofia","src.ness.sofia"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.sofia","url":"/en/map/#ness.sofia","number":3,"x":77.95,"y":51.83974,"inside":true,"viewX":90.60214503225806,"viewY":62.00421756774194},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.stephen","name":"St Stephen — the New Bishopric","latitude":42.657777777778,"longitude":27.733055555556,"radiusMeters":50,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-stephen","src.ness.stephen"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.stephen","url":"/en/map/#ness.stephen","number":4,"x":77.91319,"y":51.87552,"inside":true,"viewX":93,"viewY":68.00421756774193}],"extent":[0,0,1,1],"orientation":[{"name":"Sofia","kind":"town","x":22.774,"y":50.826,"viewX":4.3394064516128985,"viewY":48.6775168967742},{"name":"Plovdiv","kind":"town","x":40.566,"y":65.549,"viewX":26.378529032258065,"viewY":67.55145302580647},{"name":"Varna","kind":"town","x":80.184,"y":37.187,"viewX":75.45372903225807,"viewY":31.193198832258062},{"name":"Burgas","kind":"town","x":74.532,"y":55.892,"viewX":68.45254193548386,"viewY":55.171802058064536},{"name":"Ruse","kind":"town","x":55.821,"y":20.617,"viewX":45.275045161290315,"viewY":9.951527864516125},{"name":"Veliko 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Mountains","kind":"nature","x":38.75,"y":79.447,"viewX":24.129032258064516,"viewY":85.36779238064517},{"name":"Strandzha","kind":"nature","x":76.25,"y":67.774,"viewX":70.5806451612903,"viewY":70.40375947741936}],"crop":{"sx":0.8072916666666666,"sy":0.7800704579768494,"x":0.19270833333333337,"y":0.1285410710115753},"credit":{"id":"map-relief"}},"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":31.652125,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.s2-walk","duration":31.744,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/s2-walk.7a8edabf.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.museum"},{"id":"src.ness.walls"},{"id":"src.ness.sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.pantocrator"},{"id":"src.ness.stephen"},{"id":"src.ness.coord-museum"},{"id":"src.ness.coord-pantocrator"},{"id":"src.ness.coord-sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.coord-stephen"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.s3-coin","number":3,"kind":"artifact","title":"A town on a coin","body":"Mesambria, ancient Nessebar, minted its own coins in the fifth century BCE. The illustrated silver diobol has a helmet on the front and a wheel on the back. Diobol names a small coin. The helmet resembles a metal mask with eye openings.\n\nTurn it over. Four spokes divide the wheel. Letters from the town’s name sit between them. One interpretation connects the wheel with Apollo, a Greek god. Another suggests the god Ares. Its meaning is uncertain.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-wheel-480.3faf1653.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-wheel-761.3faf1653.avif","w":761}],"dominant":"#938664","h":571,"w":761,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-wheel-761.3faf1653.webp","w":761}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-wheel-761.3faf1653.webp","id":"asset.ness.coin-wheel","alt":"Reverse of a Mesambrian diobol: four-spoked wheel, letters and outer rays. Small image.","objectCaption":"Reverse of a Mesambrian diobol: four-spoked wheel, letters and outer rays. Small image.","caption":"Reverse of a Mesambrian diobol: four-spoked wheel, letters and outer rays. Small image.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Hermann Junghans · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 3.0 de","attribution":"Photo: Hermann Junghans. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Hermann Junghans. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mesembria_Rv.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-helmet-480.ae72f91b.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-helmet-714.ae72f91b.avif","w":714}],"dominant":"#7c7054","h":536,"w":714,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-helmet-714.ae72f91b.webp","w":714}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-helmet-714.ae72f91b.webp","id":"asset.ness.coin-helmet","alt":"The front of a diobol with a helmet covering the face, with eye openings.","objectCaption":"The front of a diobol with a helmet covering the face, with eye openings.","caption":"The front of a diobol with a helmet covering the face, with eye openings.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Hermann Junghans · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 3.0 de","attribution":"Photo: Hermann Junghans. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Hermann Junghans. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mesembria_Diobol_Av.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-480.659a3756.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-960.659a3756.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-1600.659a3756.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#dac19e","h":2150,"w":2150,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-960.659a3756.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-coin-gold-960.659a3756.webp","id":"asset.ness.coin-gold","alt":"The goddess Athena wearing a helmet, seen from the side on a gold coin.","objectCaption":"Gold coin from Mesambria","caption":"The front of a gold coin from Mesambria, called a stater. It shows the goddess Athena wearing a helmet. The coin follows a design of Alexander the Great.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Photographer uncredited; ancient object: Mesambria mint, Alexander type · Public domain · National Library of France / Wikimedia Commons","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Digitisation: National Library of France, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Photographer uncredited. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Digitisation: National Library of France, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Photographer uncredited. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monnaie_-_Stat%C3%A8re_aux_types_d%27Alexandre_le_grand,_Mesembria,_Thrace_-_btv1b10060926f_(1_of_2).jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/"}],"hotspots":[{"id":"h-coin-spokes","x":0.42,"y":0.61,"title":"Four spokes","body":"Four spokes meet at the wheel’s centre.","sourceIds":["src.ness.petac2019","src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-coin-letters","x":0.3,"y":0.75,"title":"The town’s letters","body":"M-E-T-A abbreviates the town’s name. The coin is rotated in this photograph.","sourceIds":["src.ness.polis","src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-coin-rays","x":0.69,"y":0.45,"title":"Rays around the wheel","body":"Short rays surround the wheel. Its shape is visible; a connection with a particular god is an interpretation.","sourceIds":["src.ness.petac2019","src.ness.cn","src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-coin-melsas","x":0.65,"y":0.75,"title":"The legend of Melsas","body":"A legend says Melsas founded the town and gave it his name. The coin does not prove that he lived.","sourceIds":["src.ness.history","src.ness.cn"],"certainty":"source_reported"}],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":29.411416666666668,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.s3-coin","duration":29.525,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/s3-coin.8614fd00.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.history"},{"id":"src.ness.cn"},{"id":"src.ness.petac2019"},{"id":"src.ness.polis"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-coin-helmet"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-coin-gold"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.s4-walls","number":4,"kind":"narrative","title":"A repaired wall","body":"At the entrance, look at the stone and red brick. Greek builders used large stone blocks. Romans conquered the town in 72 BCE and kept its defences.\n\nIn the mid-fifth century CE, Byzantine builders raised a new wall. They alternated stone and brick. Byzantium is the name we now use for the Eastern Roman Empire. Repairs continued through the Middle Ages. The visible wall was not built all at once. Materials alone cannot tell us the age of every stone.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-480.8cd13c65.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-960.8cd13c65.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-1600.8cd13c65.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#959695","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-960.8cd13c65.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-walls-960.8cd13c65.webp","id":"asset.ness.walls","alt":"Stone walls with brick bands at the entrance to Old Nessebar. Present-day view with repaired sections.","objectCaption":"Stone walls with brick bands at the entrance to Old Nessebar. Present-day view with repaired sections.","caption":"Stone walls with brick bands at the entrance to Old Nessebar. Present-day view with repaired sections.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Julian Nyča · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Julian Nyča. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Julian Nyča. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nessebar_Stadtmauer.JPG","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":31.338666666666665,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.s4-walls","duration":31.445,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/s4-walls.9df5dd3d.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.walls"},{"id":"src.ness.history"},{"id":"src.ness.byzantium"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.a1-evidence","number":5,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: what can we see?","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.ness.evidence","kind":"single_choice","prompt":"What can we point to directly on the back of the illustrated diobol?","sourceIds":["src.ness.petac2019","src.ness.cn","src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"],"items":[{"id":"opt-wheel","label":"A wheel with four spokes."},{"id":"opt-apollo","label":"An inscription naming Apollo.","whyWrong":"The letters abbreviate the town’s name; the Apollo connection is an interpretation."},{"id":"opt-melsas","label":"A biography of Melsas.","whyWrong":"Melsas is a legendary founder; the coin does not tell his life story."},{"id":"opt-church","label":"A picture of Christ Pantocrator church.","whyWrong":"This side shows a wheel; the church is much later."}],"explanation":"The wheel and spokes are visible. The symbol’s meaning is a separate research question.","correctItemId":"opt-wheel","sources":[{"id":"src.ness.petac2019"},{"id":"src.ness.cn"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":4.391916666666667,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.a1-evidence","duration":4.48,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/a1-evidence.0265d9ee.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.petac2019"},{"id":"src.ness.cn"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-coin-wheel"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.s5-sofia","number":6,"kind":"narrative","title":"The roofless church","body":"At St Sophia, sky replaces the old roof. Building began in the late fifth and early sixth centuries CE. It is a basilica: a long church with three lengthwise spaces, called naves. Arches separate them. The semicircular part at the eastern end is called an apse.\n\nIt is called the Old Bishopric: the main church of the local church leader. The church was altered after it was first built.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-arches-480.d58f6bde.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-arches-960.d58f6bde.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-arches-1600.d58f6bde.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#7b808e","h":1200,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-arches-960.d58f6bde.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-arches-960.d58f6bde.webp","id":"asset.ness.sofia-arches","alt":"View along the central space of St Sophia towards the semicircular apse, with sky above the ruins.","objectCaption":"View along the central space of St Sophia towards the semicircular apse, with sky above the ruins.","caption":"View along the central space of St Sophia towards the semicircular apse, with sky above the ruins.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Gérard Janot · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 3.0","attribution":"Photo: Gérard Janot, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Gérard Janot, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NessebarVieilleMetropole.jpg","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-480.8939b8b4.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-960.8939b8b4.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-1600.8939b8b4.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#998f86","h":1200,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-960.8939b8b4.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-960.8939b8b4.webp","id":"asset.ness.sofia","alt":"Two tiers of brick arches within stone walls. Present-day photograph of the ruins of St Sophia.","objectCaption":"Two tiers of brick arches within stone walls. Present-day photograph of the ruins of St Sophia.","caption":"Two tiers of brick arches within stone walls. Present-day photograph of the ruins of St Sophia.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Oleg Yunakov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Oleg Yunakov. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Oleg Yunakov. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2024_-_Hagia_Sophia_Church_-_01.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary. The Old Bishopric was the main church of the local church leader.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.sofia","name":"St Sophia — the Old Bishopric","latitude":42.659138888889,"longitude":27.736,"radiusMeters":30,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-sofia","src.ness.sofia"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.sofia","url":"/en/map/#ness.sofia"}],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":25.905208333333334,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.s5-sofia","duration":26.027,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/s5-sofia.c2609daf.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.history"},{"id":"src.ness.submerged"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.a2-timeline","number":7,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: put events in order","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.ness.timeline","kind":"sequence","prompt":"Put the events in order from earliest to latest.","sourceIds":["src.ness.history","src.ness.sofia","src.ness.cn"],"items":[{"id":"ev-mint","label":"The city starts minting coins"},{"id":"ev-roman","label":"Roman troops take the city"},{"id":"ev-sofia","label":"Building St Sophia"},{"id":"ev-krum","label":"Krum captures the town"}],"explanation":"Fifth-century BCE coinage precedes the Roman conquest; the basilica belongs to later centuries; Krum’s capture comes after its construction.","correctOrderIds":["ev-mint","ev-roman","ev-sofia","ev-krum"],"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.history"},{"id":"src.ness.sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.cn"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":4.043625,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.a2-timeline","duration":4.139,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/a2-timeline.468fd867.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.history"},{"id":"src.ness.sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.cn"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.s6-churches","number":8,"kind":"artifact","title":"Saucers and paintings on walls","body":"At Christ Pantocrator, look above the arches. Ceramic saucers and four-leaf shapes decorate the facade, the outside wall. Pantocrator means Almighty: Christ, who rules over everything. The church dates to the thirteenth–fourteenth centuries.\n\nInside St Stephen, the New Bishopric, look at the wall paintings. It was built in the eleventh–thirteenth centuries. But an inscription dates its mural decoration to 1599. A mural is a painting on a wall. The building and its paintings have different ages.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-pantocrator-480.ce7b3a03.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-pantocrator-960.ce7b3a03.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-pantocrator-1600.ce7b3a03.avif","w":1600},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-pantocrator-2400.ce7b3a03.avif","w":2400}],"dominant":"#858b8e","h":1786,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-pantocrator-960.ce7b3a03.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-pantocrator-960.ce7b3a03.webp","id":"asset.ness.pantocrator","alt":"The facade of Christ Pantocrator with arches, green ceramic decoration and a drum below the dome.","objectCaption":"The facade of Christ Pantocrator with arches, green ceramic decoration and a drum below the dome.","caption":"The facade of Christ Pantocrator with arches, green ceramic decoration and a drum below the dome.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Chrumps · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Chrumps; sharpening: Jacek Halicki. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Chrumps; sharpening: Jacek Halicki. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Church_of_Christ_Pantocrator_Nesebar.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-480.57575c23.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-960.57575c23.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-1600.57575c23.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#7a716c","h":1693,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-960.57575c23.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-960.57575c23.webp","id":"asset.ness.stephen","alt":"St Stephen’s interior with murals, columns and an iconostasis. The photograph includes a white border.","objectCaption":"St Stephen’s interior with murals, columns and an iconostasis. The photograph includes a white border.","caption":"St Stephen’s interior with murals, columns and an iconostasis. The photograph includes a white border.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"fusion-of-horizons · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 2.0","attribution":"Photo: fusion-of-horizons. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"fusion-of-horizons. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 2.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nessebar_-St._Stephen_Church_(11th_to_13th_century).jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0"},{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-mural-480.e58fac35.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-mural-960.e58fac35.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-mural-1600.e58fac35.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#bfb09e","h":1616,"w":2101,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-mural-960.e58fac35.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-ness-stephen-mural-960.e58fac35.webp","id":"asset.ness.stephen-mural","alt":"A damaged painted fragment with exposed masonry at St Stephen. The date of this fragment is unverified.","objectCaption":"A damaged painted fragment with exposed masonry at St Stephen. The date of this fragment is unverified.","caption":"A damaged painted fragment with exposed masonry at St Stephen. The date of this fragment is unverified.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Pierre André Leclercq · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Pierre André Leclercq. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Pierre André Leclercq. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nessebar_%C3%A9glise_St_St%C3%A9phan_fresque_du_xvii.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[{"id":"h-church-ceramics","x":0.43,"y":0.51,"title":"Ceramics on the wall","body":"Green ceramic saucers follow the curve above the arch.","sourceIds":["src.ness.pantocrator","src.ness.photo-pantocrator"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-church-arch","x":0.29,"y":0.62,"title":"An arch in the wall","body":"A recessed arch decorates the facade. It is not a passage.","sourceIds":["src.ness.pantocrator","src.ness.photo-pantocrator"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-church-drum","x":0.52,"y":0.25,"title":"A window below the dome","body":"A window in the drum: the raised part beneath the dome.","sourceIds":["src.ness.pantocrator","src.ness.photo-pantocrator"],"certainty":"source_reported"}],"places":[{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.pantocrator","name":"Christ Pantocrator","latitude":42.65875,"longitude":27.733277777778,"radiusMeters":30,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-pantocrator","src.ness.pantocrator"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/church-of-christ-pantocrator/","slug":"ness.pantocrator","url":"/en/map/#ness.pantocrator"},{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.ness.stephen","name":"St Stephen — the New Bishopric","latitude":42.657777777778,"longitude":27.733055555556,"radiusMeters":50,"sourceIds":["src.ness.coord-stephen","src.ness.stephen"],"accuracy":"approximate","guideUrl":null,"slug":"ness.stephen","url":"/en/map/#ness.stephen"}],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":33.55616666666667,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.s6-churches","duration":33.664,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/s6-churches.79e258a1.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.pantocrator"},{"id":"src.ness.stephen"},{"id":"src.ness.unesco"},{"id":"src.ness.photo-pantocrator"}]},{"id":"nessebar-mesambria.a3-matching","number":9,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: match the clues","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.ness.matching","kind":"matching","prompt":"Match each object or place with its clue in the story.","sourceIds":["src.ness.petac2019","src.ness.sofia","src.ness.pantocrator","src.ness.stephen"],"items":[{"id":"m-coin","label":"The silver diobol","pairedLabel":"Helmet and wheel"},{"id":"m-sofia","label":"St Sophia","pairedLabel":"The roofless Old Bishopric"},{"id":"m-pantocrator","label":"Christ Pantocrator","pairedLabel":"Ceramic saucers on the facade"},{"id":"m-stephen","label":"St Stephen","pairedLabel":"Mural painting inscription: 1599"}],"explanation":"The coin carries civic symbols; St Sophia is a basilica; we examined exterior ceramics at Christ Pantocrator and distinguished building from painting at St Stephen.","sources":[{"id":"src.ness.petac2019"},{"id":"src.ness.sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.pantocrator"},{"id":"src.ness.stephen"}],"columns":["Item","Description"]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":4.182916666666666,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.nessebar-mesambria.nessebar-mesambria.a3-matching","duration":4.309,"src":"/audio/en/nessebar-mesambria/a3-matching.85cbdc46.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.ness.petac2019"},{"id":"src.ness.sofia"},{"id":"src.ness.pantocrator"},{"id":"src.ness.stephen"}]}],"minutes":4,"sources":[{"year":2001,"url":"https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/byzantium-ca-330-1453","institutionOrAuthor":"Sarah T. Brooks","id":"src.ness.byzantium","title":"Byzantium (ca. 330–1453)","container":"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Byzantium as the Roman imperial state governed from Constantinople, whose medieval inhabitants called themselves Romans; context for the short definition in S4."},"authors":["Sarah T. Brooks"],"accessed":"2026-11-02"},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/en/typology/19","institutionOrAuthor":"Corpus Nummorum project (institutional numismatic research portal; no individual byline on page)","id":"src.ness.cn","title":"Coin Typology of Mesembria","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Foundation in late sixth or early fifth century BCE; lively minting activity from late fifth century, without explicitly dating the first issue in this passage; classical helmet-and-wheel motifs; uncertain Apollo/Ares interpretations; mythical Melsas; Alexander the Great-type gold staters with Athena."},"authors":["Corpus Nummorum project (institutional numismatic research portal; no individual byline on page)"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q637004","institutionOrAuthor":"Wikimedia geographical database contributors","id":"src.ness.coord-museum","title":"Nessebar Archaeological Museum","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Coordinate only. Historical statements use museum/scholarly sources. CC0 structured data; locator is a cartographic point, not a measured archaeological extent."},"authors":["Wikimedia geographical database contributors"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3656756","institutionOrAuthor":"Wikimedia geographical database contributors","id":"src.ness.coord-pantocrator","title":"Christ Pantocrator","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Coordinate only. Historical statements use museum/scholarly sources. CC0 structured data; locator is a cartographic point, not a measured archaeological extent."},"authors":["Wikimedia geographical database contributors"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3656775","institutionOrAuthor":"Wikimedia geographical database contributors","id":"src.ness.coord-sofia","title":"St Sophia — the Old Bishopric","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Coordinate only. Historical statements use museum/scholarly sources. CC0 structured data; locator is a cartographic point, not a measured archaeological extent."},"authors":["Wikimedia geographical database contributors"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3656400","institutionOrAuthor":"Wikimedia geographical database contributors","id":"src.ness.coord-stephen","title":"St Stephen — the New Bishopric","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Coordinate only. Historical statements use museum/scholarly sources. CC0 structured data; locator is a cartographic point, not a measured archaeological extent."},"authors":["Wikimedia geographical database contributors"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.ancient-nessebar.com/html/main_en.php?menu=his","institutionOrAuthor":"Museum Ancient Nessebar","id":"src.ness.history","title":"History of Nessebar","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Late Bronze Age settlement; Dorian settlers at end of sixth century BCE; two harbours; museum chronology of coinage; Roman conquest in 72 BCE; Krum in 812; legendary Melsas; church-count tradition; inscription in 1983."},"authors":["Museum Ancient Nessebar"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.ancient-nessebar.com/html/main_en.php?menu=sights_arheolo","institutionOrAuthor":"Museum Ancient Nessebar","id":"src.ness.museum","title":"The Archaeological Museum","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Museum created in 1956; moved to purpose-built building in 1994; exhibition Nessebar during the Ages; diploma displayed in lobby."},"authors":["Museum Ancient Nessebar"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.ancient-nessebar.com/html/main_en.php?menu=sights_pantokrator","institutionOrAuthor":"Museum Ancient Nessebar","id":"src.ness.pantocrator","title":"The Christ Pantokrator Church","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Thirteenth–fourteenth century dating; meaning of Pantocrator; recessed arches, decorative ceramic saucers and quatrefoils, drum windows, bell tower."},"authors":["Museum Ancient Nessebar"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","container":""},{"year":2019,"url":"https://mnk.pl/images/upload/o-muzeum/wydawnictwa/Notae/Tom%20XIV/NOTAE_14_02_PETAC-VILCU.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Emanuel Petac; Aurel Vîlcu","id":"src.ness.petac2019","title":"About the Diobols Hoard of Apollonia Pontica and Mesembria Discovered in 1911 in Constanţa (Ancient Tomis)","container":"Notae Numismaticae – Zapiski Numizmatyczne","volume":"XIV","pages":"43–58","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Independent scholarly description of helmet obverse, four-spoked radiate wheel reverse, M-E-T-A letters and silver diobol denomination. Specimens described there are not claimed to be the Commons specimen."},"authors":["Emanuel Petac; Aurel Vîlcu"],"accessed":"2026-11-02","isPdf":true},{"year":null,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monnaie_-_Stat%C3%A8re_aux_types_d%27Alexandre_le_grand,_Mesembria,_Thrace_-_btv1b10060926f_(1_of_2).jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Photographer uncredited; ancient object: Mesambria mint, Alexander type","id":"src.ness.photo-coin-gold","title":"Monnaie - Statère aux types d'Alexandre le grand, Mesembria, Thrace - btv1b10060926f (1 of 2).jpg","container":"Bibliothèque nationale de France / Wikimedia Commons","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Photograph identity, visible details and licence metadata only; not independent historical dating. Obverse of a Mesambrian gold stater of Alexander type: head of Athena in a helmet. 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Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Digitisation: National Library of France, via Wikimedia Commons. Public domain. Photographer uncredited. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monnaie_-_Stat%C3%A8re_aux_types_d%27Alexandre_le_grand,_Mesembria,_Thrace_-_btv1b10060926f_(1_of_2).jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.ness.sofia-arches","src":"/media/asset-ness-sofia-arches-960.d58f6bde.webp","alt":"View along the central space of St Sophia towards the semicircular apse, with sky above the ruins.","w":1600,"h":1200,"caption":"View along the central space of St Sophia towards the semicircular apse, with sky above the ruins.","credit":"Gérard Janot · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 3.0","attribution":"Photo: Gérard Janot, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. 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Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nessebar_%C3%A9glise_St_St%C3%A9phan_fresque_du_xvii.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"map-relief","src":"/assets/maps/relief@3x.jpg?v=075869a7dd","thumb":"/media/map/map-relief-2x-1024.4c826249.avif","alt":"Geographic context, without historical borders","w":3072,"h":1987,"caption":"","kindLabel":"Geographic context, without historical borders","visibleKind":"Geographic context, without historical borders","credit":"Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso · Public domain · Natural Earth","license":"Public domain","attribution":"Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso","attributionParts":null,"sourceUrl":"https://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10m-raster-data/10m-gray-earth/","licenseUrl":"https://www.naturalearthdata.com/about/terms-of-use/","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}}],"places":[{"note":"Approximate building location, not an entrance or site boundary. 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