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 Ziras. It was founded as a Thracian settlement in was founded in the 5th 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]

For other places with the same name, see Dionysupolis (disambiguation).

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

In the beginning of the 3rd century BC the city was relatively independent and included in the system of fortifications built by Diadohite.

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

Later, in VII century the town was in 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
  1. Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, §D233.1
  2. Arrian, Periplus of the Euxine Sea, §35
  3. Pseudo Scymnus or Pausanias of Damascus, Circuit of the Earth, §748
  4. 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.
  5. Public Domain Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Cruni". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  6. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 22, and directory notes accompanying.
  7. Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  8. "Temple of Great Mother Goddess Cybele (Town of Balchik)".

 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.

43°24′36″N 28°09′47″E


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