Forum of Philippopolis, Roman forum in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The Forum of Philippopolis is a rectangular Roman plaza measuring 143 m north-south and 136 m east-west, with 11 hectares excavated. Its northern side held the odeon, library and treasury; three axial entrances opened onto the surrounding streets. Four construction phases left sandstone Doric columns, marble porticoes and a syenite stylobate carrying Roman Corinthian columns.

The complex was built gradually between the 1st and 2nd centuries as the Roman city developed and expanded. Multiple construction phases show how the design evolved to meet the growing needs of the urban population.

The forum's name comes from Philippopolis, the Roman city beneath modern Plovdiv. In the northern part, inscriptions record the religious and administrative life of the city, and a fragment of an invitation card for gladiator fights was found there. An altar with a dedicatory inscription to the goddesses Demeter and Kore (Persephone) also stood in the area.

The site connects to the main streets of Plovdiv at multiple entry points and is easily accessible from the city center. Wear sturdy shoes when visiting, as the terrain includes uneven stone surfaces and open excavation areas.

Among the finds on the forum's north side is a fragment of an invitation card announcing a gladiator show, evidence that such fights were advertised in the city, not staged in the square itself. The same area yielded an altar with a dedicatory inscription to the goddesses Demeter and Kore.