Europe Rare Temple Discovery: 1,500-year-old marble carving of mother goddess & 3 nymphs found at ancient Bulgarian sanctuary

Archaeologists have discovered a rare marble carving at an ancient temple site in southeastern Bulgaria, offering fresh clues about the religious practices of communities that lived there around 1,500 years ago. The relief depicts the mother goddess Cybele alongside three nymphs, an unusual combination of figures that researchers say has not been identified in comparable finds. The discovery was made at the Balak Dere archaeological site near Ivaylovgrad, according to Arkeonews.

Archaeologists discover rare Cybele carving at Balak Dere site

The marble relief was unearthed during the latest round of excavations at Balak Dere, led by archaeologist Ivaylo Kanev and a team from Bulgaria’s National Museum of History. The fieldwork was completed in October.

Cybele was an ancient goddess associated with nature, mountains and fertility. Nymphs, meanwhile, were female divinities linked to natural features such as rivers, springs and forests.


The presence of Cybele and three nymphs in a single carving is considered unusual. Researchers believe the artwork could offer insights into the deities worshipped at the sanctuary and the religious traditions followed by the people who visited it.

Water channel near temple offers clues about ancient worship

Another feature identified during the excavations may help researchers understand the significance of the carving. Archaeologists found a water channel running around the temple, which was located close to the Arda River.

The combination of the water feature and the depiction of nymphs has led researchers to consider whether part of the sanctuary was associated with their worship.

The temple measured around 49 feet in length and consisted of three connected rooms. Archaeological evidence suggests that the spaces had different functions.

One room contained an altar, while another had a structure believed to have been used for sacrifices. The third room may have served as a place to keep offerings.

Together, these features are helping researchers build a clearer picture of how the sanctuary was organised and used.

Ancient Bulgarian temple was destroyed by fire around 1,500 years ago

The sanctuary is believed to have been used for pagan worship from as early as the third century AD. Researchers suspect that religious practices continued at the site as Christianity spread through the Roman Empire. Evidence uncovered during excavations indicates that a major fire destroyed the temple around the middle of the fifth century AD. The precise circumstances of the blaze have not been established.

The period was one of significant religious change across the Roman Empire, as Christianity became increasingly widespread. However, archaeologists have not determined what caused the fire or whether it was connected to religious tensions. The apparent continuation of worship at the sanctuary during this period has led researchers to consider whether it was among the later pagan temples associated with ancient Thracian communities in the region.

Balak Dere excavations reveal centuries of settlement history

The temple forms part of a wider settlement that was occupied at different times between the third and 13th centuries. Archaeological finds from the area provide evidence of Roman-era religious activity as well as later medieval life.

Investigations at Balak Dere have been under way since 2004. Over the years, archaeologists have uncovered buildings, coins and other artefacts that help trace the settlement’s development across several centuries.


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