Dionysupolis

Dionysupolis or Dionysoupolis or Dionysopolis (Ancient Greek: Διονύσου πόλις^[1] and Διονυσόπολις^[2]) was a town of ancient Thrace, later of Moesia, on the river . It was founded as a Thracian settlement in was founded still in V century BC, but was later colonised by the Ionian ancient Greeks and given the name Cruni or Krounoi (Κρουνοί). It was named Krounoi from the nearby founts of water.^[3]^[1] It was renamed as Dionysopolis after the discovery of a statue of Dionysus in the sea.^[4] Later it became a Greek-Byzantine and Bulgarian fortress. The town also bore the name Matiopolis.^[5]

It existed within the present town of Balchik, Bulgaria.^[6]^[7]

In the beginning of III century BC the city was relatively independent and included in the system of fortifications built by .

In VI century the town was destroyed by an earthquake and the population moved within the new fortification, whose construction was began at the end of V and beginning of VI century.

Later, in VII century the town is possession of the Bulgars and Slavs and was renamed first to Karvuna, and after that - Balik, after the name of Boyar Balik, who used it as a capital of its domain.

One of the most important discoveries in borders of the ancient Dionysopolis is the Temple of Greet mother-goddess Cybele. Many of the artifacts found there can be seen in Balchik History museum. Since 1994 the site has the status of cultural monument of national significance. ^[8]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, §D233.1
^ Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea, §35
^ Pseudo Scymnus or Pausanias of Damascus, Circuit of the Earth, §748
^ Mogens Herman Hansen & Thomas Heine Nielsen (2004). An inventory of archaic and classical poleis. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 932. ISBN 0-19-814099-1.
^ Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cruni". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
^ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 22, and directory notes accompanying.
^ Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
^ http://visit.guide-bulgaria.com/a/272/temple_of_great_mother_goddess_cybele.htm

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cruni". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.

Coordinates: 43°24′36″N 28°09′47″E / 43.409932°N 28.163044°E / 43.409932; 28.163044