{"version":2,"locale":"en","id":"story.perperikon","hasFind":true,"slug":"perperikon","url":"/en/stories/perperikon/","topic":"Perperikon","title":"A town carved into a hill","summary":"Rooms cut into rock, water in a deep hollow and a disputed hypothesis. A close look at Perperikon from antiquity to the Middle Ages and the excavations begun in 2000.","cover":{"title":"A town carved into a hill","subtitle":"Perperikon: rock, town and a disputed oracle","hook":"How do you build a town from rock?","summary":"Rooms cut into rock, water in a deep hollow and a disputed hypothesis. A close look at Perperikon from antiquity to the Middle Ages and the excavations begun in 2000.","takeaway":"Visible remains and interpretations of them are different kinds of knowledge."},"sortYear":46,"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":"Perperikon","date":"Antiquity–Middle Ages","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-480.26124ce5.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.avif","w":825}],"dominant":"#4f483f","h":769,"w":825,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.webp","w":825}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.webp","id":"asset.perp.08-cutout","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. Stone disc with two holes at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","objectCaption":"Stone disc","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_08.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"},"scenes":[{"id":"perperikon.s1-rock-city","number":1,"kind":"narrative","title":"A room in the rock","body":"The photograph shows rooms cut into rock. At Perperikon, people carved into the hill itself. They cut out rooms, streets and courtyards. Above the rock-cut lower floors, they raised walls and beams. Today the ruins look like houses with their upper halves removed.\n\nDifferent generations changed the hill. Follow the edge of a room. Where does the rock end and the masonry begin?","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-01-480.e7510926.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-01-960.e7510926.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-01-1600.e7510926.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#636d6e","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-01-960.e7510926.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-01-960.e7510926.webp","id":"asset.perp.01","alt":"Walls among the rocks at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","objectCaption":"Walls among the rocks at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_01.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":22.909833333333335,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.s1-rock-city","duration":23.04,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/s1-rock-city.a1b5faf3.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.tourism"}]},{"id":"perperikon.s2-hill","number":2,"kind":"map","title":"Steps on the hilltop","body":"Find Perperikon on the map. The hill lies in the Eastern Rhodopes, near Gorna Krepost village and present-day Kardzhali. The point marks its approximate location, without ancient borders.\n\nTraces here reach back to the Copper Age. People then used both stone and copper. Later, the place is associated with the Thracians, ancient Balkan communities. The modern excavation programme began in 2000. Archaeologists uncovered a fortified hilltop settlement. They found rock-cut steps, channels and niches, small recesses in stone. Who made them, and what were they for?","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[{"note":"Approximate area of the rocky hill near Gorna Krepost in the Eastern Rhodopes. Does not show ancient borders.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.perp.perperikon","name":"Perperikon","latitude":41.714722,"longitude":25.465278,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":300,"sourceIds":["src.perp.wikidata","src.perp.nekhrizov"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/perperikon/","slug":"perp.perperikon","url":"/en/map/#perp.perperikon"}],"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 area of the rocky hill near Gorna Krepost in the Eastern Rhodopes. Does not show ancient borders.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.perp.perperikon","name":"Perperikon","latitude":41.714722,"longitude":25.465278,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":300,"sourceIds":["src.perp.wikidata","src.perp.nekhrizov"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/perperikon/","slug":"perp.perperikon","url":"/en/map/#perp.perperikon","number":1,"x":49.56598,"y":76.47864,"inside":true,"viewX":50.0,"viewY":69.84713398709677}],"extent":[0,0,1,1],"orientation":[{"name":"Sofia","kind":"town","x":22.774,"y":50.826,"viewX":16.812515096774185,"viewY":36.962104516129024},{"name":"Plovdiv","kind":"town","x":40.566,"y":65.549,"viewX":38.851637677419355,"viewY":55.83604064516129},{"name":"Varna","kind":"town","x":80.184,"y":37.187,"viewX":87.92683767741936,"viewY":19.477786451612886},{"name":"Burgas","kind":"town","x":74.532,"y":55.892,"viewX":80.92565058064515,"viewY":43.45638967741935},{"name":"Ruse","kind":"town","x":55.821,"y":20.617,"viewX":57.748153806451604,"viewY":-1.763884516129049},{"name":"Veliko Tarnovo","kind":"town","x":51.465,"y":40.853,"viewX":52.352334451612904,"viewY":24.17736193548386},{"name":"Pleven","kind":"town","x":38.834,"y":31.796,"viewX":36.70619251612903,"viewY":12.566872258064501},{"name":"Stara Zagora","kind":"town","x":51.681,"y":57.962,"viewX":52.61989574193547,"viewY":46.10999612903225},{"name":"Shumen","kind":"town","x":67.951,"y":35.671,"viewX":72.77370219354837,"viewY":17.534372258064497},{"name":"Vidin","kind":"town","x":17.099,"y":16.308,"viewX":9.782837677419348,"viewY":-7.287744516129052},{"name":"Blagoevgrad","kind":"town","x":19.929,"y":68.531,"viewX":13.288386064516121,"viewY":59.658772258064516},{"name":"Haskovo","kind":"town","x":50.694,"y":70.78,"viewX":51.397289290322576,"viewY":62.54184516129031},{"name":"Smolyan","kind":"town","x":40.014,"y":80.031,"viewX":38.16786993548387,"viewY":74.40103032258065},{"name":"Sliven","kind":"town","x":60.286,"y":51.247,"viewX":63.27899251612904,"viewY":37.501799354838695},{"name":"Dobrich","kind":"town","x":79.091,"y":27.65,"viewX":86.57292799999998,"viewY":7.251967741935463},{"name":"Pernik","kind":"town","x":19.223,"y":53.257,"viewX":12.413857032258056,"viewY":40.07848967741934},{"name":"Yambol","kind":"town","x":62.544,"y":56.432,"viewX":66.07599896774194,"viewY":44.14863483870967},{"name":"Pazardzhik","kind":"town","x":35.42,"y":64.052,"viewX":32.47723767741935,"viewY":53.91698322580646},{"name":"Vratsa","kind":"town","x":25.661,"y":37.29,"viewX":20.388669935483865,"viewY":19.6098258064516},{"name":"Gabrovo","kind":"town","x":47.734,"y":46.177,"viewX":47.73070864516129,"viewY":31.00238645161289},{"name":"Kardzhali","kind":"town","x":48.471,"y":78.573,"viewX":48.64363767741935,"viewY":72.53196838709675},{"name":"Kyustendil","kind":"town","x":14.889,"y":61.673,"viewX":7.0452892903225734,"viewY":50.86725870967741},{"name":"Montana","kind":"town","x":21.563,"y":31.916,"viewX":15.312437677419346,"viewY":12.720704516129016},{"name":"Lovech","kind":"town","x":40.178,"y":39.23,"viewX":38.37101832258064,"viewY":22.096780645161274},{"name":"Silistra","kind":"town","x":72.008,"y":13.056,"viewX":77.7991473548387,"viewY":-11.456598709677444},{"name":"Targovishte","kind":"town","x":63.402,"y":36.202,"viewX":67.13881187096774,"viewY":18.215079999999986},{"name":"Razgrad","kind":"town","x":62.709,"y":28.698,"viewX":66.28038606451612,"viewY":8.595436129032242},{"name":"Kazanlak","kind":"town","x":48.661,"y":52.884,"viewX":48.878992516129024,"viewY":39.60032774193547},{"name":"Danube","kind":"nature","x":46.384,"y":23.924,"viewX":46.05845058064516,"viewY":2.4754761290322405},{"name":"Black Sea","kind":"nature","x":86.25,"y":45.496,"viewX":95.44085058064516,"viewY":30.129388387096768},{"name":"Balkan Mountains","kind":"nature","x":41.25,"y":49.45,"viewX":39.698915096774186,"viewY":35.198161290322574},{"name":"Rila","kind":"nature","x":25.625,"y":65.69,"viewX":20.344076387096766,"viewY":56.01679354838708},{"name":"Pirin","kind":"nature","x":24.125,"y":75.565,"viewX":18.486011870967733,"viewY":68.67590645161289},{"name":"Rhodope Mountains","kind":"nature","x":38.75,"y":79.447,"viewX":36.6021409032258,"viewY":73.65238},{"name":"Strandzha","kind":"nature","x":76.25,"y":67.774,"viewX":83.0537538064516,"viewY":58.68834709677419}],"crop":{"sx":0.8072916666666666,"sy":0.7800704579768494,"x":0.09201396666666672,"y":0.21992954202315063},"credit":{"id":"map-relief"}},"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":35.425375,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.s2-hill","duration":35.541,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/s2-hill.8b8cd5b5.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.bilde2008"},{"id":"src.perp.nekhrizov"},{"id":"src.perp.wikidata"}]},{"id":"perperikon.s3-water","number":3,"kind":"artifact","title":"Water in the rock","body":"The photograph shows a deep rock-cut hollow containing water. Above it stands a modern safety railing. The municipal portal describes a large cistern in the Acropolis, the fortified upper town. We have not confirmed that this photograph shows that cistern. A cistern is a structure for collecting and storing water.\n\nThe town also had drainage: channels carrying rainwater away. Water alone does not prove the hollow’s purpose. Not every hollow is an altar, a place for offerings or sacrifices. What can you see for certain?","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-10-480.7f8f9127.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-10-960.7f8f9127.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-10-1600.7f8f9127.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#6c6f5f","h":1600,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-10-960.7f8f9127.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-10-960.7f8f9127.webp","id":"asset.perp.10","alt":"A deep rock-cut hollow containing water, with a metal safety railing at Perperikon.","objectCaption":"A deep rock-cut hollow containing water, with a metal safety railing at Perperikon.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_10.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[{"id":"h-perp-rock","x":0.25,"y":0.43,"title":"Rock wall","body":"The hollow is cut into bedrock.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo10"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-perp-water","x":0.44,"y":0.8,"title":"Water","body":"Water is visible below in the modern photograph. This does not date the structure.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo10"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-perp-rail","x":0.74,"y":0.12,"title":"Modern railing","body":"The metal railing is a modern safety barrier, not an ancient wall.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo10"],"certainty":"source_reported"}],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":31.327041666666666,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.s3-water","duration":31.445,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/s3-water.c06f5cc8.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.photo10"},{"id":"src.perp.cistern"},{"id":"src.perp.tourism"}]},{"id":"perperikon.s4-oracle","number":4,"kind":"narrative","title":"Wine and flame","body":"Archaeologists describe an oval hall with a round rock-cut altar, a place for offerings or sacrifices. A disputed proposal links it to the oracle of Dionysus, a god associated with wine. An oracle is a place where people sought predictions.\n\nA legend tells of Gaius Octavius, father of the future emperor Augustus. Priests predict his son’s power from flames rising from wine on an altar. It compares the omen with Alexander the Great’s. But it never names Perperikon. It proves neither man visited this hill.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-02-480.bb2c41dc.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-02-960.bb2c41dc.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-02-1600.bb2c41dc.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#757d74","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-02-960.bb2c41dc.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-02-960.bb2c41dc.webp","id":"asset.perp.02","alt":"Rock-cut rooms above the valley at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","objectCaption":"Rock-cut rooms above the valley at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_02.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":32.383541666666666,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.s4-oracle","duration":32.512,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/s4-oracle.843c4075.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.bilde2008"},{"id":"src.perp.afp2003"},{"id":"src.perp.iliev2013"},{"id":"src.perp.suetonius"}]},{"id":"perperikon.a1-evidence","number":5,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: what do we know?","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.perp.evidence","kind":"single_choice","prompt":"What can we say about the famous oracle?","sourceIds":["src.perp.iliev2013","src.perp.afp2003","src.perp.bilde2008","src.perp.suetonius"],"items":[{"id":"opt-hypothesis","label":"The connection with Perperikon is a disputed hypothesis."},{"id":"opt-proof","label":"The round hollow identifies a temple of Dionysus.","whyWrong":"Shape does not prove which god was served here."},{"id":"opt-name","label":"Suetonius names Perperikon.","whyWrong":"In this passage, Suetonius mentions Thrace but does not name Perperikon."}],"explanation":"Ovcharov proposes the connection; Iliev disputes its grounds. A rock-cut feature alone does not identify a deity.","correctItemId":"opt-hypothesis","sources":[{"id":"src.perp.iliev2013"},{"id":"src.perp.afp2003"},{"id":"src.perp.bilde2008"},{"id":"src.perp.suetonius"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":2.778125,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.a1-evidence","duration":2.901,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/a1-evidence.824ebe41.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.iliev2013"},{"id":"src.perp.afp2003"},{"id":"src.perp.bilde2008"},{"id":"src.perp.suetonius"}]},{"id":"perperikon.s5-disc","number":6,"kind":"artifact","title":"The stone disc with two holes","body":"Here is a stone disc with two holes. One is near the middle, the other at the upper right. The photograph cannot date the disc or show whether it always stood here.\n\nIn 46 CE, the Thracian kingdom became a Roman province, an area under Roman rule. Public buildings and temples were built at Perperikon. That does not make every stone in the photograph Roman. Behind the disc stands a wall of separate blocks. Dating needs finds and their context during excavation.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-480.8d260b30.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-960.8d260b30.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-1600.8d260b30.avif","w":1600},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-2400.8d260b30.avif","w":2400}],"dominant":"#777a71","h":1600,"w":2400,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-960.8d260b30.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-960.8d260b30.webp","id":"asset.perp.08","alt":"Stone disc with two holes at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","objectCaption":"Stone disc","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_08.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[{"id":"h-perp-hole","x":0.53,"y":0.53,"title":"Central hole","body":"The pale surface behind the disc is visible through the hole.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo08"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-perp-upper","x":0.585,"y":0.39,"title":"Second hole","body":"A second hole is visible at the upper right. Its function is unconfirmed.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo08"],"certainty":"source_reported"},{"id":"h-perp-wall","x":0.79,"y":0.34,"title":"Block masonry","body":"Behind the disc is masonry made of separate stone blocks. This view does not establish its date.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo08"],"certainty":"source_reported"}],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":29.957083333333333,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.s5-disc","duration":30.08,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/s5-disc.be5c296a.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.photo08"},{"id":"src.perp.tourism"},{"id":"src.perp.guler2025"}]},{"id":"perperikon.s6-later-city","number":7,"kind":"narrative","title":"Churches and fortress","body":"In Late Antiquity, people built Christian churches here. In 2016, excavators uncovered a large basilica in the South Quarter. This basilica is a church with three long sections: a nave and two side aisles.\n\nPeople used the hill for centuries afterwards. A scholarly article places the Ottoman conquest, early 1360s. The exact year is disputed. It reports a heavy siege. Afterwards, soldiers guarded the fortress until the early fifteenth century.\n\nThe photograph shows a carved room. Calling it a famous oracle requires further evidence.","images":[{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-03-480.259c013a.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-03-960.259c013a.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-03-1600.259c013a.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#6c777d","h":1067,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-03-960.259c013a.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-03-960.259c013a.webp","id":"asset.perp.03","alt":"Stone wall on the hill at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","objectCaption":"Stone wall on the hill at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_03.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":null,"audio":{"durationSeconds":36.516708333333334,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.s6-later-city","duration":36.608,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/s6-later-city.46a9b3fa.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.tourism"},{"id":"src.perp.ovcharov2021"},{"id":"src.perp.bnr2010"},{"id":"src.perp.naim2016"}]},{"id":"perperikon.a2-timeline","number":8,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: put time in order","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.perp.timeline","kind":"sequence","prompt":"Put these in order, earliest first.","sourceIds":["src.perp.tourism","src.perp.ovcharov2021","src.perp.bilde2008","src.perp.guler2025","src.perp.naim2016"],"items":[{"id":"ev-roman","label":"Thrace becomes a Roman province"},{"id":"ev-church","label":"Christian churches are built"},{"id":"ev-siege","label":"The Ottoman conquest"},{"id":"ev-research","label":"Modern excavations begin"}],"explanation":"First comes the Roman province. The churches described were built centuries later. The Ottoman conquest and the modern excavation programme follow.","correctOrderIds":["ev-roman","ev-church","ev-siege","ev-research"],"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.tourism"},{"id":"src.perp.ovcharov2021"},{"id":"src.perp.bilde2008"},{"id":"src.perp.guler2025"},{"id":"src.perp.naim2016"}]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":3.184458333333333,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.a2-timeline","duration":3.285,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/a2-timeline.55426588.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.tourism"},{"id":"src.perp.ovcharov2021"},{"id":"src.perp.bilde2008"},{"id":"src.perp.guler2025"},{"id":"src.perp.naim2016"}]},{"id":"perperikon.a3-matching","number":9,"kind":"activity","title":"Activity: match the evidence","body":"","images":[],"hotspots":[],"places":[],"map":null,"activity":{"id":"q.perp.matching","kind":"matching","prompt":"Match each piece of evidence to what it shows us.","sourceIds":["src.perp.photo08","src.perp.photo10","src.perp.cistern","src.perp.suetonius"],"items":[{"id":"m-water","label":"Photograph of the water-filled hollow","pairedLabel":"Visible water, unconfirmed purpose"},{"id":"m-disc","label":"Photograph of the stone disc","pairedLabel":"Two visible holes, no secure date"},{"id":"m-text","label":"Suetonius’ account","pairedLabel":"Legendary prediction, no name Perperikon"}],"explanation":"The photograph shows water, but alone cannot prove the hollow’s purpose. The photograph shows holes but does not date the disc. The written account preserves a legend, not an address for the oracle.","sources":[{"id":"src.perp.photo08"},{"id":"src.perp.photo10"},{"id":"src.perp.cistern"},{"id":"src.perp.suetonius"}],"columns":["Item","Description"]},"audio":{"durationSeconds":3.3934583333333332,"source":"synthetic_tts","voice":"en_US-ljspeech-high","provider":"Piper","assetId":"audio.en.perperikon.perperikon.a3-matching","duration":3.499,"src":"/audio/en/perperikon/a3-matching.a568b8f9.m4a"},"textRevised":false,"sources":[{"id":"src.perp.photo08"},{"id":"src.perp.photo10"},{"id":"src.perp.cistern"},{"id":"src.perp.suetonius"}]}],"minutes":4,"sources":[{"year":2003,"url":"https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/14476/oracle-of-dionysus-found-in-bulgaria/","institutionOrAuthor":"Agence France-Presse; interview with excavation director Nikolay Ovcharov","id":"src.perp.afp2003","authors":["Agence France-Presse; interview with excavation director Nikolay Ovcharov"],"title":"Oracle of Dionysus found in Bulgaria?","container":"eKathimerini","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Director’s hypothesis and his explicit demand for documentary support; modern excavation from 2000. Contemporary interview is primary evidence of his stated position, not independent proof of it."}},{"year":2008,"url":"https://pure.au.dk/ws/files/22391878/ArchRep_2008.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Pia Guldager Bilde; Birgitte Bøgh; Søren Handberg; Jakob Munk Højte; Jens Nieling; Tatiana Smekalova; Vladimir Stolba","id":"src.perp.bilde2008","authors":["Pia Guldager Bilde; Birgitte Bøgh; Søren Handberg; Jakob Munk Højte; Jens Nieling; Tatiana Smekalova; Vladimir Stolba"],"title":"Archaeology in the Black Sea Region in Classical Antiquity 1993–2007: Thracian inland sites","container":"Archaeological Reports","volume":"54","pages":"123–124","doi":"10.1017/S0570608400000910","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Multi-period fortified hilltop; research initiated in 2000; oval hall, altar and other rock-cut features; sanctuary function as a theory, not proof of oracle identity."},"isPdf":true},{"year":2010,"url":"https://old-news.bnr.bg/radiobulgaria/post/100225055/perperikon-edin-ot-nai-populyarnite-bylgarski-arheologicheski-obekti-v-chujdite-medii","institutionOrAuthor":"Българско национално радио; интервю с Николай Овчаров","id":"src.perp.bnr2010","authors":["Българско национално радио; интервю с Николай Овчаров"],"title":"Перперикон – един от най-популярните български археологически обекти в чуждите медии","container":"Радио България: История и вяра","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Director’s broad chronology and account of Roman urban development; exact 1361 conflicts with tourism brochure 1362."},"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":null,"url":"https://visitkardzhali.com/en/vodohranilisthe/","institutionOrAuthor":"Община Кърджали / Municipality of Kardzhali","id":"src.perp.cistern","authors":["Община Кърджали / Municipality of Kardzhali"],"title":"Водохранилище / Water reservoir","container":"Visit Kardzhali: official municipal tourism portal","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"The municipality describes a large Acropolis cistern used to store water. Photograph 10 has not been confirmed as that cistern. Water and shape do not establish the photographed structure’s function."},"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg"}},{"year":2025,"url":"https://zenodo.org/records/15470799","institutionOrAuthor":"Taner Güler","id":"src.perp.guler2025","authors":["Taner Güler"],"title":"“The Rugged Jaw of The Sea”: A Coastal Settlement of Salmydessos in Eastern Thrace","container":"Septem Artes","volume":"3","issue":"1","pages":"47–61","doi":"10.5281/zenodo.15470799","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Thrace became a Roman province in 46 CE under Emperor Claudius. Does not date Perperikon or any individual object."}},{"year":2013,"url":"https://sudigital.org/lib/record/19686/files/SUDGTL-BOOK-2013-657.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Йордан Илиев","id":"src.perp.iliev2013","authors":["Йордан Илиев"],"title":"Родопите и прорицалището на Дионис в Древна Тракия","container":"Докторантски и постдокторантски четения 2011. ИФ–94. Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“; съст. Антоан Тонев, Антоанета Петкова, Цветелина Харалампиева","pages":"5–22","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Critical alternative: ancient texts may concern several oracles; no direct ancient link to Rhodopes; insufficient archaeological basis for Perperikon identification. Cites Margarita Tacheva criticism (Rhodopica 2007 pp.251–258), which has NOT been independently read. Iliev is the directly read dissenting scholar."},"isPdf":true,"fieldLanguages":{"title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":2017,"url":"https://naim.bg/Documents/Godishen_otchet_NAIM-BAN_2016-final.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Николай Димитров Овчаров; НАИМ–БАН","id":"src.perp.naim2016","authors":["Николай Димитров Овчаров; НАИМ–БАН"],"title":"Индивидуален отчет: резултати от научната дейност, §1.1","container":"Национален археологически институт с музей: Годишен отчет за 2016 г. София","pages":"151–152","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Late Bronze/Early Iron Age finds; 2016 excavation of South Quarter cistern and basilica. The South Quarter cistern is distinct from the Acropolis cistern described by the municipality; photograph 10 is not securely identified with either. No new dimensions or superlatives adopted. The basilica is three-aisled: central nave and two side aisles."},"isPdf":true,"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":null,"url":"https://naim.bg/CV/1_G.Nekhrizov_CV_EN.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Georgi Nekhrizov; National Archaeological Institute with Museum, BAS","id":"src.perp.nekhrizov","authors":["Georgi Nekhrizov; National Archaeological Institute with Museum, BAS"],"title":"Curriculum Vitae","container":"NAIM–BAS","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Independent institutional record of work at Perperikon near Gorna Krepost; author listed as deputy head in 2002. Undated CV: do not infer publication year."},"isPdf":true},{"year":2021,"url":"https://journals.uni-vt.bg/fhyb/eng/vol5/iss1/art10","institutionOrAuthor":"Николай Овчаров","id":"src.perp.ovcharov2021","authors":["Николай Овчаров"],"title":"Перперикон след Перперикон. Към историята на османското завоевание на Балканите / Perperikon after Perperikon. On the History of the Ottoman Conquest of the Balkans","container":"Годишник на Историческия факултет на ВТУ „Св. св. Кирил и Методий“","volume":"5","issue":"1","pages":"83–107","doi":"10.54664/SHHG7840","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Early 1360s rather than exact year; archaeological siege traces; Ottoman garrison survived into early 15th century."},"fieldLanguages":{"institutionOrAuthor":"bg","title":"bg","container":"bg"}},{"year":2018,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_08.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Kritzolina","id":"src.perp.photo08","authors":["Kritzolina"],"title":"Archaeological complex of Perperikon 08.jpg","container":"Wikimedia Commons","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Site today; visual description only. Depicted objects are not independently dated or identified by the generic Commons caption. Licence CC BY-SA 4.0."}},{"year":2018,"url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_10.jpg","institutionOrAuthor":"Kritzolina","id":"src.perp.photo10","authors":["Kritzolina"],"title":"Archaeological complex of Perperikon 10.jpg","container":"Wikimedia Commons","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Site today; visual description only. Depicted objects are not independently dated or identified by the generic Commons caption. Licence CC BY-SA 4.0."}},{"year":1913,"url":"https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Suetonius/12Caesars/Augustus*.html#94","institutionOrAuthor":"Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus; English translation J. C. Rolfe","id":"src.perp.suetonius","authors":["Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus; English translation J. C. Rolfe"],"title":"The Lives of the Caesars, Volume I: Augustus","container":"Loeb Classical Library 31; William Heinemann / Macmillan; digital transcription Bill Thayer, LacusCurtius, University of Chicago","pages":"Augustus 94","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Literary omen about Augustus’ father, wine and flame; comparison with Alexander. Text says remote Thrace, not Perperikon; prophetic outcome is legend, not verified event."}},{"year":null,"url":"https://visitbulgaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/BG-От-свещения-Перперикон-до-царствения-Търновград.pdf","institutionOrAuthor":"Николай Овчаров; national tourism portal BulgariaTravel (host)","id":"src.perp.tourism","authors":["Николай Овчаров; national tourism portal BulgariaTravel (host)"],"title":"От свещения Перперикон до царствения Търновград","container":"BulgariaTravel, cultural tourism brochure","pages":"4–5","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Rock-cut lower floors and streets, built upper portions; Roman additions; churches; medieval use. Author’s oracle identification explicitly not accepted as established. Gives 1362 against 1361 in his 2010 interview. The brochure’s arrival of Romans at the site in 45 is not the province’s creation in 46 CE. Roman construction and church building overlap; no sequence of all Roman walls before all churches is inferred."},"isPdf":true,"fieldLanguages":{"title":"bg"}},{"year":null,"url":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1943549","institutionOrAuthor":"Wikimedia geographical database contributors","id":"src.perp.wikidata","authors":["Wikimedia geographical database contributors"],"title":"Perperikon","accessedOn":"2026-11-02","accessed":"2026-11-02","supports":{"en":"Coordinate pointer only; no historical claims. CC0 structured data. Point is representative of hilltop site, not a surveyed perimeter."},"container":""}],"credits":[{"id":"asset.perp.08-cutout","src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.webp","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. Stone disc with two holes at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","w":825,"h":769,"caption":"","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_08.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.perp.01","src":"/media/asset-perp-01-960.e7510926.webp","alt":"Walls among the rocks at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","w":1600,"h":1067,"caption":"","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_01.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.perp.10","src":"/media/asset-perp-10-960.7f8f9127.webp","alt":"A deep rock-cut hollow containing water, with a metal safety railing at Perperikon.","w":2400,"h":1600,"caption":"","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_10.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.perp.02","src":"/media/asset-perp-02-960.bb2c41dc.webp","alt":"Rock-cut rooms above the valley at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","w":1600,"h":1067,"caption":"","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_02.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.perp.08","src":"/media/asset-perp-08-960.8d260b30.webp","alt":"Stone disc with two holes at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","w":2400,"h":1600,"caption":"","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_08.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"}},{"id":"asset.perp.03","src":"/media/asset-perp-03-960.259c013a.webp","alt":"Stone wall on the hill at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","w":1600,"h":1067,"caption":"","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Processed image.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_03.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 area of the rocky hill near Gorna Krepost in the Eastern Rhodopes. Does not show ancient borders.","precision":"approximate","id":"place.perp.perperikon","name":"Perperikon","latitude":41.714722,"longitude":25.465278,"accuracy":"approximate","radiusMeters":300,"sourceIds":["src.perp.wikidata","src.perp.nekhrizov"],"guideUrl":"https://travel-guide-bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/places/perperikon/","slug":"perp.perperikon","url":"/en/map/#perp.perperikon"}],"find":null,"next":[{"storyId":"story.apollonia-sozopol","title":"The god who left town","topic":"Sozopol","eyebrow":"Sozopol","url":"/en/stories/apollonia-sozopol/","reason":"See how people lived and worked in another period.","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-apol-alabastron-cutout-480.028bb0d1.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-apol-alabastron-cutout-732.028bb0d1.avif","w":732}],"dominant":"#745239","h":2354,"w":732,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-apol-alabastron-cutout-732.028bb0d1.webp","w":732}],"src":"/media/asset-apol-alabastron-cutout-732.028bb0d1.webp","id":"asset.apol.alabastron-cutout","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. Tall, narrow painted vessel with a human figure, photographed in Sozopol museum.","objectCaption":"Alabastron","caption":"Tall, narrow painted vessel with a human figure, photographed in Sozopol museum.","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Zde · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo / digitisation: Zde; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0. Unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo / digitisation: Zde; Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0. Unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red-figure_alabastron,_young_soldier,_500_BC,_AM_Sozopol,_Sozm05.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"},"minutes":4,"sceneCount":9},{"storyId":"story.boyana-church","title":"The faces of Boyana","topic":"Boyana Church","eyebrow":"Boyana Church · Boyana","url":"/en/stories/boyana-church/","reason":"","image":{"alpha":false,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-boyana-exterior-480.b8b98199.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-boyana-exterior-960.b8b98199.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-boyana-exterior-1600.b8b98199.avif","w":1600}],"dominant":"#63624f","h":1200,"w":1600,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-boyana-exterior-960.b8b98199.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-boyana-exterior-960.b8b98199.webp","id":"asset.boyana.exterior","alt":"Brick facades, two domed parts and the stone base of Boyana Church among trees.","objectCaption":"Boyana Church","caption":"","kindLabel":"Photo","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"cover","credit":"Aleksander Dragnes · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY 2.0","attribution":"Source: Aleksander Dragnes / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Processed image. Site today","attributionParts":[{"text":"Source: Aleksander Dragnes / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Processed image. Site today","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boyana_Church_1.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0"},"minutes":5,"sceneCount":9},{"storyId":"story.ivan-alexander-gospels","title":"The tsar between the pages","topic":"The Gospels of Ivan Alexander","eyebrow":"The Gospels of Ivan Alexander · London","url":"/en/stories/ivan-alexander-gospels/","reason":"","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-tetra-cover-cutout-480.f4a95879.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-tetra-cover-cutout-960.f4a95879.avif","w":960},{"src":"/media/asset-tetra-cover-cutout-1314.f4a95879.avif","w":1314}],"dominant":"#83524c","h":1398,"w":1314,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-tetra-cover-cutout-960.f4a95879.webp","w":960}],"src":"/media/asset-tetra-cover-cutout-960.f4a95879.webp","id":"asset.tetra.cover-cutout","alt":"The manuscript's red binding; an isolated photographic detail, not the lost gilded cover.","objectCaption":"Upper binding cover","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Unspecified · CC0 · British Library via Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC0","attribution":"The surviving upper binding cover. British Library, Add MS 39627; via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"The surviving upper binding cover. British Library, Add MS 39627; via Wikimedia Commons, CC0. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Gospels_of_Tsar_Ivan_Alexander,_with_added_Menologion_-in_Slavonic-_-_Upper_cover_(Add_Ms_39627).jpg","licenseUrl":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en"},"minutes":5,"sceneCount":9}],"people":[{"id":"person.suetonius","name":"Suetonius","url":"/en/people/suetonius/"},{"id":"person.augustus","name":"Augustus","url":"/en/people/augustus/"},{"id":"person.gaius-octavius","name":"Gaius Octavius","url":"/en/people/gaius-octavius/"},{"id":"person.alexander-great","name":"Alexander the Great","url":"/en/people/alexander-great/"}],"rulers":[],"status":"draft","fact":{"id":"fact.discover.perperikon","storyId":"story.perperikon","factId":"F03","text":"The investigations are near Gorna Krepost village.","sourceIds":["src.perp.nekhrizov"]},"collectionFind":{"number":18,"total":59,"title":"Stone disc","dateLabel":"Date not specified","image":{"alpha":true,"avif":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-480.26124ce5.avif","w":480},{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.avif","w":825}],"dominant":"#4f483f","h":769,"w":825,"webp":[{"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.webp","w":825}],"src":"/media/asset-perp-08-cutout-825.26124ce5.webp","id":"asset.perp.08-cutout","alt":"Cut-out detail; background removed. Stone disc with two holes at the archaeological site of Perperikon.","objectCaption":"Stone disc","caption":"","kind":"photo","creditLabels":{"title":"Images","source":"Open source","full":"Full attribution"},"fit":"contain","credit":"Kritzolina · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","attribution":"Photo: Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","attributionParts":[{"text":"Photo: ","lang":"en"},{"text":"Kritzolina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Site today. Original file, unmodified. Cut-out detail; background removed.","lang":"en"}],"sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Archaeological_complex_of_Perperikon_08.jpg","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0"}},"ui":{"web.learnPromo":"Read these stories in Bulgarian — learn the language","web.travelPromo":"Visit this place — Travel Guide Bulgaria","web.autoAdvance":"Auto-advance to the next scene","web.repeatActivities":"Repeat activities","web.shortcuts":"Keyboard shortcuts","web.sceneNavigation":"Previous / next scene","web.findCount":"Found {count} of {total}","web.resumeNarration":"Resume {time}","web.activityLabel":"Activity","web.skippedActivities":"Activities · {count} — start","web.placesCount":"places: {count}","web.moreAnswers":"More answers below","web.playerSceneOf":"Scene {scene} of {total}: {title}","web.closeStory":"Close story","web.imageFit":"Show the whole image","web.activityOf":"Activity · {scene} of {total}","web.activityMoved":"Moved to position {scene} of {total}","web.activityIncomplete":"Connect all pairs","web.seekTen":"Back / forward 10 seconds","web.activityFromScene":"From scene {scene}","web.nextStory":"Next story","web.transcriptRevised":"text revised","action.close":"Close","action.next":"Next","action.retry":"Retry","activity.check":"Check","answer.correct":"Correct","answer.incorrect":"Not quite","audio.backTen":"Back 10 seconds","audio.pause":"Pause","audio.play":"Play narration","audio.seek":"Narration position","audio.speed":"Narration speed","audio.synthetic":"Synthetic voice","audio.unavailable":"Audio is unavailable. The text is here.","bookmark.add":"Save story","bookmark.inSaved":"In Saved","bookmark.remove":"Remove saved story","bookmark.removed":"Bookmark removed","credit.title":"Images","discover.audioMinutes %lld":"%lld min","discover.mapLabel":"Geographic context, without historical borders","player.approximate":"Approximate location","player.back":"Back","player.completed":"A new find for your collection","player.counter %lld %lld":"%1$lld / %2$lld","player.details %lld":"Details (%lld)","player.explanation":"Why is that?","player.finish":"Finish","player.firstCorrect":"✓ Correct on the first attempt","player.firstOther":"The first attempt is recorded. Retrying is practice.","player.interpretation":"Interpretation","player.matchHint":"Tap a term on the left, then a meaning on the right. Tap a connected item to undo.","player.moveDown":"Move down","player.moveUp":"Move up","player.nextDetail":"Next detail","player.previousDetail":"Previous detail","player.related":"Related stories","player.scene %lld":"Part %lld","player.sequenceHint":"Arrange from oldest to newest.","player.showAll":"Show all","player.skip":"Skip","player.sources %lld":"Sources · %lld","player.summary %lld %lld":"Activities: %1$lld of %2$lld correct on the first attempt","player.unpair":"Disconnect pair","player.vitrine":"Go to finds","sources.title":"Sources","story.listen":"Listen","story.sceneCount %lld":{"one":"%lld scene","other":"%lld scenes"},"story.start":"Start","answer.chosen":"Your answer","answer.skipped":"Activity skipped","answer.revealed":"Answer revealed","answer.correctOrder":"Correct order","answer.correctPairs":"Correct pairs","answer.yours.correct":"Your answer · correct","answer.yours.incorrect":"Your answer · incorrect","audio.stop":"Stop listening","Search.search.group.places":"Places","Atlas.zoomIn":"Zoom in","Atlas.zoomOut":"Zoom out"},"promos":{"learn":{"icon":"/media/promo/learn-160.webp","name":"Learn Bulgarian","url":"https://bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/learn-bulgarian/"},"travel":{"icon":"/media/promo/travel-160.webp","name":"Travel Guide Bulgaria","url":"https://bulgaria.zydeno.com/en/travel-guide-bulgaria/"}}}