Perperikon identified as ancient Pergam or Pergamon

Archaeologist Professor Nikolay Ovcharov has proposed that the ancient name of the rock city Perperikon was Pergam or Pergamon. This hypothesis, originally suggested two decades ago, is now supported by the scale of the archaeological site and new research into ancient maps.

The theory is based on the writings of the 2nd-century Roman geographer Claudius Ptolemy. His work, ‘Geography’, identifies a city named Pergam or Pergamon located in the Rhodope Mountains near the middle course of the Arda River. Research by specialists at the Technical University of Berlin, which correlates Ptolemy’s coordinates with modern geographic systems, places the site in the Eastern Rhodopes between Zlatograd and Kardzhali.

Recent archaeological excavations spanning the period from the Roman era to the 14th century have yielded significant finds. Notable discoveries include a bronze encolpion (reliquary) featuring an image of the Virgin Oranta dating from the 10th to early 11th century, votive plaques from the 2nd–3rd centuries, and various Roman-era artifacts such as fibulae, bracelets, and earrings.