Madara Rider, Rock relief sculpture in Shumen, Bulgaria.
The Madara Rider is a rock relief depicting a mounted figure with a lion and a dog carved 23 meters up on a 100-meter vertical cliff face. The carving spans a significant area and was executed with considerable detail directly into the natural stone.
The relief was created between 700 and 800 CE during the First Bulgarian Empire and bears three medieval Greek inscriptions naming rulers Tervel, Krum, and Omurtag. These inscriptions document the continuity of Bulgarian rule across several generations.
The relief combines elements from Thracian and Bulgarian traditions, showing a warrior figure that became a symbol of Bulgarian national identity. It expresses the power and authority that early Bulgarian rulers wanted to convey to their people.
The viewing platform is reached after climbing 300 steps from the parking area, and binoculars help examine the carving details. The ground can be slippery in rain, so appropriate shoes and time for a careful ascent are advisable.
The relief is the only known example of medieval rock art in Europe that combines figurative imagery and historical inscriptions in one monument. This combination makes it an extraordinary historical source that merges both artistic and documentary value.
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