The Rider of Madara

Lyubitsa Lukanova, VisitBulgaria.net

In Madara Village, 20 km away from Shoumen, the champion of the Bulgarian state has been staying awaken for 12 centuries by now. Lifted up his head proudly, fused with the vertical rock, at a height of 23 m his eyes can see far away.

А lilac path goes to the platform at the foot of the smooth rock. If the weather is good and the sun shines on the rock, you will be able to look at his stately figure. The scene is not hunting or military – as if the time has stopped and the Rider is calmly taking delight in his victory over it. His garment is knee-length and he is holding the reigns in his left hand. With the right hand, he has thrown a short spear with a flag at the lion lying at the horse’s front legs. The back of a saddle is high so he can have a rest on the horse back during the long passages. His true dog is running behind him. Three Greek inscriptions are hewed out the rock.

Nobody knows who he is for sure.

One of the inscriptions presents the forceful abdication and the exile of the Byzantine emperor Justinian II in 705. Having managed to escape, Justinian II sought help from the Bulgarians. Khan Tervel and his army were those, who helped him to recover the throne of Byzantium. In return, Tervel received honours and gifts, and recognition of the title of Caesar, as well as land south of Hemus and an annual tax from Byzantium.

There is also an opinion the fearless warrior, standing alone against the storms of the centuries, is khan Asparuh, the founder of the Bulgarian state. Other historians think, it is possible the depicted rural to be either khan Kormisosh, or khan Omurtag.

A long time before the Rider of Madara to be found out of the science, the local people considered him to be St. George.

Whoever is he, he brings the memory of the greatness of the old Bulgarian khans to our days, as astonishing with the unique artistic workmanship. The image reminds scenes of the relief plastic art from the Iran and the Ancient artistic traditions, but the Madara Horseman is the only rock relief in Europe dated back to the early Middle Ages.

The Madara Rider was included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List of UNESCO in 1979. The Madara Rider became a symbol of Bulgaria in 2006.