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Sat, May 26 2012
Archaeology: temple of Greek goddess Demeter and daughter Persephone found in Sozopol
Photo: Jastrow
In the Bulgarian seaside resort town of Sozopol, archaeologists have unearthed an ancient temple of the goddess Demeter and her daughter Persephone, the private television channel bTV Reported on May 18 2011.
The finds were made at Cape Skamnii in the ancient town of Sozopol. Numerous statues and other artifacts have been found, indicating that the site was, indeed, a temple dedicated to Demeter and Persephone.
The temple dates back to the fourth or fifth century BC, according to archaeologists. The excavation works at Cape Skamrii began only a month ago, but already several other artifacts were found before this latest discovery, which promises that the area will be rich in secrets from 27 centuries ago, according to leading researcher Krustina Panayotova.
According to Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons, while Persephone, was the queen of the underworld, and a daughter of Zeus and Demeter.
In ancient times, Sozopol and the surrounding area were called Apollonia Pontica.
Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on the Bulgarian coast. According to historic reports, the first settlement on the site dates back to the Bronze Age.
Undersea explorations in the region of the port have unearthed relics of dwellings, ceramic pottery, stone and bone tools from that era. Researchers have also found anchors from the second and first millennium BC in the town's bay, a proof of active shipping since ancient times.
The finds were made at Cape Skamnii in the ancient town of Sozopol. Numerous statues and other artifacts have been found, indicating that the site was, indeed, a temple dedicated to Demeter and Persephone.
The temple dates back to the fourth or fifth century BC, according to archaeologists. The excavation works at Cape Skamrii began only a month ago, but already several other artifacts were found before this latest discovery, which promises that the area will be rich in secrets from 27 centuries ago, according to leading researcher Krustina Panayotova.
According to Greek mythology, Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, who presided over grains, the fertility of the earth, and the seasons, while Persephone, was the queen of the underworld, and a daughter of Zeus and Demeter.
In ancient times, Sozopol and the surrounding area were called Apollonia Pontica.
Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on the Bulgarian coast. According to historic reports, the first settlement on the site dates back to the Bronze Age.
Undersea explorations in the region of the port have unearthed relics of dwellings, ceramic pottery, stone and bone tools from that era. Researchers have also found anchors from the second and first millennium BC in the town's bay, a proof of active shipping since ancient times.
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Bright\Shadow - May I suggest, Jane Ellen Harrison's Prologamena to the Study of Greek Religion and any book by M. GiMbatus, and Evans on his excavation at Knossos? You just aren't reading the right
sources. that's all. Greek Mythology does not begin with Ovid.
I don't suppose there are any useful photos of the dig etc?
This begins the resurrection of the great mother god, annihilating the sexist war based religions that used violence and rape to destroy the worship of the true progenitor of the human race.
Well, thank you all for taking my ironic little bait so eagerly.
And Keir, if you behave that pedantic in the pub, you'll probably have your nose broken one evening.
Carita - There is no historical record of a religion that worshiped goddesses and not gods, unless you count the cult of the Virgin Mary <g>. Read something more scholarly than When God Was a Woman, which is a feminist tract not scholarship.
I am from Florida, there is a pretty large Hellenic Community down here actually.
Carita, Keir, Allie, Daniel out of curiosity where are you from? interesting to see that ancient religions are studied again.
just to get an idea how Christianity brought the middle ages to the world just watch the film Agora (2009) where Hypatia an ancient woman Greek philosopher and mathematician-astronomer in Egypt is executed after accused of being a witch.
Foreigner..Heathen means a Northern Pagan..a Person of the Heather. As to relics...relics mean something found from the past. Not usless at all.
And capitalize Pagan..it is a proper noun. Carita...When God was a Woman is very good. And yes there are Pagans still around, and growing. And some of us hold Demeter the Mother and Persephone/Kore as most dear. Add Hecate and you have the triple trine.
This is amazing! Hail to Persephone, sweet Goddess and Queen of the dead and her mother, Demeter.
Yes it's a pagan goddess but I love greek mythology ( and I love Jesus) and this temple is really ancient ,its not a useless dig !
Sozopol also was a Greek Christian Byzantine city (Sozopolis=Saviour city)before conquered by the descending Bulgarian tribes in the middle ages.
I am sorry Daniel, I meant my note for foreigner forgive me please!
Demeter is known to pagans today as the Goddess of Initiation, Persephone the wife of Hades,explains the changes of the seasons, she dwells on in the underworld,late fall through winter,she returns in the spring,promising new life and new beginnings, this is the bargain she made with Hades,who by the way was very much in love with her.
for Daniel the Goddess religion existed 4,000 years on earth,BC, and is still in existence today, do some research there Daniel, or read When God was a Woman, this religion is called Pagan.
Fantastic find I am sure there is more to come in BG.
A useless dig? How can you say that? The artifacts found are a part of our human history.
Were you expecting them to find Jesus' tomb in Bulgaria? Or the Ark?
At least everyone can describe your comment as useless.
Only heathen artifacts and no relics? What a useless dig.