October 23, 2024 • 16 mins
Join us on Global Treasures as we explore Bulgaria's mysterious Madara Rider, an extraordinary 8th-century relief carved into a towering cliff face. This UNESCO World Heritage site features a majestic mounted knight that has become a powerful symbol of Bulgarian heritage. Discover the fascinating stories behind this monumental masterpiece, get insider travel tips, and uncover the historical significance that makes the Madara Rider a must-see cultural treasure.
Support our sponsors and affiliates at no extra cost to you:
Trip.com Madara Rider: https://trip.tp.st/f6fbWehL
Barvita (Get 15% off your order with code ABIGAILVACCA): https://barvita.co/?ref=ABIGAILVACCA
Plannin': https://plannin.com/en/profile/globaltreasures?refId=globaltreasures
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Abigail (00:00):
Imagine a place, that tells a story spanning centuries,
Keith (00:04):
where culture and nature intertwine to create something truly extraordinary.
Abigail (00:08):
That's the beauty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail.
Keith (00:16):
And I'm Keith.
Abigail (00:17):
And this is Global Treasures, the podcast that covers the history, travel
tips, and legends surrounding one of the1, 223 World Heritage Sites each episode.
Keith (00:30):
These places have been identified as having universal
cultural or natural significance
Abigail (00:35):
that is so exceptional that it transcends national
boundaries and is of importanceto present and future generations.
Keith (00:42):
Welcome to season two, where we're going to explore the
45 sites that UNESCO added in 1979.
Abigail (00:51):
In this episode, Keith and I will be introducing you
to Madara Rider in Bulgaria.
The Madara Rider is locatednear the village of Madara in
northeastern Bulgaria, on theMadara Plateau east of Shuman.
Keith (01:06):
Imagine, if you will, a massive cliff face rising 100 meters,
or about 330 feet, into the sky.
Now, picture a knight on horseback.
Carved into this sheer rock face about 23meters or about 75 feet above the ground.
This, my friends, is the Madara Rider.
An extraordinary relief sculpturethat has captivated historians
(01:27):
and art lovers for centuries.
Created at the beginning of the 8thcentury, this monumental equestrian
relief is truly one of a kind.
In fact, it's the only relief of its kind,with no parallel anywhere else in Europe.
What makes it even more remarkableis that it has survived in its
original state, without anyalterations, for over 1, 300 years.
Abigail (01:50):
The sculpture itself is almost life sized.
Depicting a horseman facingright, thrusting a spear into a
lion lying at his horse's feet.
If you look closely, you'll spota dog running after the horseman.
Time and erosion have taken their toll,and some details, like the horseman's
(02:12):
halo and garments, and a bird in frontof his face, are now barely recognizable.
Keith (02:18):
But the Madara Rider is more than just a stunning piece of art.
It's a historicaldocument carved in stone.
Surrounding the relief are three partiallypreserved inscriptions in medieval
Greek chronicling important eventsin the reigns of the famous Bulgarian
khans, Tervel, Krum, and Omertag.
These inscriptions, dating from roughly AD705 to 801, offer us a rare glimpse into
(02:43):
the early years of the Bulgarian state.
Abigail (02:46):
Just some context
of the First Bulgarian Empire.
Before Bulgaria's conversion toChristianity in the 9th century.
Keith (02:58):
Archaeological excavations have revealed fascinating
details about the site's history.
Between 1924 and 1935, researchersdiscovered the remnants of a complex
about 250 meters north of the relief.
This complex is believed to haveserved as a pagan shrine, possibly
a three aisled church, and includeda rectangular building thought to
(03:20):
be the ruler's private dwelling.
Here, it's believed that theruler performed sacred rituals
related to Tangra, the supremedeity of the early Bulgars.
The complex itself is commonlydated to the second quarter of the
9th century, based on pottery foundduring excavations in the 1970s.
However, Some scholars argue thatthe earliest buildings were actually
(03:41):
founded after Bulgaria's conversion toChristianity, suggesting that the pagan
temple and ruler's dwelling were built onthe site of an early Byzantine basilica.
Abigail (03:51):
Intriguingly, about two miles northeast of the relief,
another group of buildings wasdiscovered later in the 20th century.
This complex included a 5th to 6th centurybasilica, With an inner rectangular
structure, which some interpret as apagan temple, though the evidence for
this interpretation is pretty limited.
Keith (04:13):
Now let's delve into one of the most intriguing aspects of the Madara
Rider, its meaning and symbolism.
Despite centuries of study, the truesignificance of this monumental sculpture
still remains somewhat of a mystery.
Some early researchers consideredit an example of the Thracian
horseman, a recurring motifin Paleo Balkanic mythology.
(04:34):
This idea was gradually rejected dueto the differences in iconographic
details, such as the presenceof the dog, which isn't typical
in Thracian horseman depictions.
Abigail (04:45):
Many scholars now connect the origin of the relief with the start of the
Bulgar society, a semi nomadic equestrianwarrior culture from the Eurasian steppe.
The hero Horseman is indeeda common character in Turkic
and Iranian Alanic mythology.
Others have noted similarities toSasanian rock relief traditions,
(05:08):
and some researchers have suggestedconnections to various deities.
Some consider that the horsemen mightrepresent or be related to Tangra, the
supreme deity of the early Bulgars.
Others have related it tothe Iranian deity, Mithra.
Keith (05:26):
There's also a simpler explanation that's gained traction as of recently.
The relief might represent Khan Tervohimself, who ruled from 701 to 718.
This theory is supported by the factthat the oldest inscription near
the relief mentions Tervo by name.
What we can say for certainty is thatthe Madara Rider incorporates elements
(05:47):
from various cultural traditions.
It's monumental size and manyspecific details, like the
stirrup, Halo and the bird aregenerally part of Bulgar tradition.
On the other hand, the rightwarddirection of the horseman and the
presence of the lion are more typicalof Thracian artistic conventions.
Abigail (06:06):
The Medara Rider isn't just a relic of the past.
It continues to play a significantrole in Bulgarian culture today.
If you've ever handled Bulgariancurrency, you might have seen
a familiar equestrian figure.
The Madara rider is depicted on someof the smaller Bulgarian coins, the one
(06:27):
to 50 Stotinki issued in 1999 and 2000.
Looking to the future, when Bulgariaadopts the Euro, you might just see
the Madara rider on those coins too.
In an official survey on June29th, 2008, the Madara horseman
won the public vote for the designof Bulgaria's future Euro coins.
Keith (06:51):
And here's a fun fact to make you smarter than your average tourist:
the Madara rider's influenceextends far beyond Bulgaria, all
the way to Antarctica, in fact.
Madara Peak on Livingston Island inthe South Shetland Islands is actually
named after this historic site.
So as we wrap up our exploration ofthe Madara Rider, we're left with
kind of a sense of wonder and mystery.
(07:12):
This remarkable relief carved intothe sheer cliff face over 1, 300 years
ago continues to captivate us withits artistry and the secrets it holds.
It stands as a testament tothe rich cultural heritage of
Bulgaria and the complex interplayof traditions that shaped this
region in the early Middle Ages.
The Madara Rider reminds us that,sometimes, the most enduring monuments
(07:35):
are those that leave us with questions.
It challenges all of us to lookclosely, to consider the different
perspectives, and to appreciate theintricate tapestry of history and
culture that shapes our world heritage.
Now that we've gotten a pretty goodidea of this incredible monument, let's
transition to learn the best way tovisit and what to bundle with this site.
(07:55):
For this, Abigail's the expert, so let'ssee what it takes to visit this site.
Abigail (08:00):
Much like other sites, it's a bit removed from civilization.
Aka, it's a bit of a logistical jugglingact to figure out how to best get there.
If you plan on visiting from anothercountry, you'll want to fly into
Sofia Airport, and then take a flightto Varna, and then take a train
(08:20):
to Shumen, or just take the 8 hourplus train ride from the airport.
From there, taxi is probably thebest way to get to the actual site.
If you stay in Sofia, you're gonnahave the most options for hotels,
restaurants, and other things todo, which I'll talk about in a bit.
You can purchase tickets at the entrance,and it's cheaper to buy a self guided
(08:45):
tour, which comes in English or Bulgarian.
If you're looking for tickets online,know that some sites don't refer to this
as Madara Rider, but as Madara HorseRider, so don't let that confuse you.
At the site, there's a plaquein English with a short
description of what you're seeing.
(09:05):
You can climb to the fort atthe top as well, but it is
a bit physically strenuous.
This will be a short visit,figure 30 to 45 minutes tops.
And just knowing how inexpensive it is tovisit independently, I think this is one
site I would not recommend a tour becausethe ones I did find were pretty expensive.
Keith (09:27):
Yeah, I saw that staircase that's carved into the rock going up to the fort.
It looked amazing, but theysaid it was over 350 steps.
So what's the weather like?
Like when is the best time to visitand have a good chance at having some
good weather since this is outside?
Abigail (09:41):
So, winter gets as low as 5 degrees Celsius or 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
And then, during summer, it gets as highas 30 degrees Celsius or 86 Fahrenheit.
Peak rain hits in May and June, so thatmay not be the time you want to go.
Also, if you do go during thesummer, I would suggest going
(10:04):
in the morning before the sun isat its highest to avoid sunburn.
Keith (10:08):
Alright, got it.
So it sounds like Madara itselfis a tiny town and doesn't have
much to do, from what I saw.
Are there other things to do whenvisiting this site in Shumen or Varna?
This is way out of the way, so Ican't imagine unless you're a scholar
planning to take extended time tostudy this relief, They'd want to make
a special trip just to see this site.
Abigail (10:27):
Yes, and I know I pointed out before that the
train ride to Sofia is long.
It's about eight, eight and a half hours.
I think it's worth it because it's thecapital and there really is so much to do.
If you want to hear more aboutstaying and visiting Sofia, Go back
and listen to our episode of seasontwo, number nine, which featured
(10:49):
Boyana Church, another UNESCO site.
In Shumen, other places you may wantto visit include the Pliska National
Historical and Archaeological Preserve,the Shumen Fortress Reserve, the 1300
Years of Bulgaria Monument, and theTombul Mosque In Varna, you can go to
(11:10):
the Stone Forest, Sea Garden, ButterflyHouse, and Varna Archaeological Museum.
So just some things to know,the main language is Bulgarian.
Proficiency in English is not necessarilywidespread outside of the larger cities.
It, so it's interesting, I was curiousto see how many people visit each year,
(11:32):
and I actually couldn't find a statistic.
That being said, I don't think this is asite that gets a huge number of visitors.
Keith (11:39):
I actually tried to find that in my research too, could not find it anywhere.
Alright, so I know we covered the food ofthis area in episode 9 of this, season 2.
But is there anything else to add thatwe didn't cover in that first episode?
Abigail (11:52):
I would absolutely want to try patatnik, which is a
dish made from potatoes, onions,and sometimes mint or egg.
It almost reminds me of a poundeddown tater tot into a baked
potato pancake or omelette.
Also, I forgot that one of my all timefavorite desserts is very popular here.
(12:15):
Halva is a sesame based dessertwith a fudge like consistency.
And the main ingredients typicallyinclude sugar, too much sugar,
Margarine, or oil, and again, sesamepaste, that comes in a variety of
flavors, like chocolate or pistachio.
And sometimes it's gluten free too.
Keith (12:37):
Yeah, all that sounds wonderful as usual.
So, you also dig into the urbanlegends surrounding these sites, and
if I'm not mistaken, you've even beeninterviewed recently on another podcast
about this part of your expertise.
So what'd you find out about this site?
Abigail (12:51):
Yes, I did.
Shout out to Jim Harreld.
I had a great time.
So, simply put, some say that theMadara Rider carving holds magical
powers and can cure sickness.
Because there's a picture of what somesay is a scepter and not actually a spear.
(13:12):
In the Tantrismic religion, celestialenergy flows through scepters.
And the idea is that thisenergy permeates the site.
Keith (13:23):
Oh, that's an interesting one.
That the, uh, spear that's piercingthe lion is actually maybe a
scepter gathering celestial energy.
That's, and it's thoughtto have healing powers?
That's really interesting.
So this is kind of a unique legendcompared to the early ones we've explored.
Abigail (13:39):
I agree.
Now, I want to end by talking about thehistoric preservation piece, what's being
done to try to protect Madara Rider.
First off, cleaning this sitepresents unique challenges.
The purchase of special equipment toclean the monument was approved, so that
piece has been somewhat easily solved.
(14:01):
However, the main obstacle for this siteis that the supporting rock is unstable.
What I mean is, it's outdoorsand thousands of years old.
So, even though the property itselfis solid, wind, erosion, and water
runoff is causing the rock to erode.
(14:21):
There's been debate, as some expertsfeel, that the Madara Rider should
be moved to keep it protected.
But, obviously, that's notUNESCO's ideal solution.
All I can say is, I just want thisincredible place to stay intact so future
visitors can continue to enjoy thistribute to Bulgaria's unique history.
(14:45):
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
Please support the show by subscribingat Apple Podcasts, spotify or wherever
you get your podcasts and please leaveus a five star review You can also
check us out on tik tok and facebook.
Keith (15:02):
And that wraps up our exploration of the enigmatic Madara Rider in Bulgaria.
From its mysterious origins and intricatesymbolism to its enduring cultural
significance, this UNESCO World HeritageSite truly embodies the fascinating
interplay of art, history, and mythology.
We hope that this episode has inspired youto appreciate the importance of preserving
(15:23):
such a unique art cultural landmarks.
These ancient artworks not onlyconnect us to our past, but also
provide invaluable insights intothe complex tapestry of human
civilization and artistic expression.
Our next episode will transport us yetto another captivating UNESCO site.
We're heading out to Tunisia to explorethe Medina of Tunis, a labyrinthine
(15:46):
old city that's been a vibrant centerof urban life for over a millennia.
This walled city, with its narrowalleys, colorful souks, and stunning
architectural gems, offers a fascinatingglimpse into the rich tapestry of
North African history and culturethat has been the inspiration for
countless stories, art, and even movies.
(16:06):
It's a place where the past andpresent intertwine in a way that's
sure, to ignite your imagination.
So join us next time as we wanderthe winding streets of the Medina
of Tunis and delve into the culturalcrossroads of the Mediterranean.
Until then, keep exploring, keepwandering, and keep treasuring
this remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.
See you on our next adventure.
Imagine a place, that tells a story spanning centuries,
Keith (00:04):
where culture and nature intertwine to create something truly extraordinary.
Abigail (00:08):
That's the beauty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail.
Keith (00:16):
And I'm Keith.
Abigail (00:17):
And this is Global Treasures, the podcast that covers the history, travel
tips, and legends surrounding one of the1, 223 World Heritage Sites each episode.
Keith (00:30):
These places have been identified as having universal
cultural or natural significance
Abigail (00:35):
that is so exceptional that it transcends national
boundaries and is of importanceto present and future generations.
Keith (00:42):
Welcome to season two, where we're going to explore the
45 sites that UNESCO added in 1979.
Abigail (00:51):
In this episode, Keith and I will be introducing you
to Madara Rider in Bulgaria.
The Madara Rider is locatednear the village of Madara in
northeastern Bulgaria, on theMadara Plateau east of Shuman.
Keith (01:06):
Imagine, if you will, a massive cliff face rising 100 meters,
or about 330 feet, into the sky.
Now, picture a knight on horseback.
Carved into this sheer rock face about 23meters or about 75 feet above the ground.
This, my friends, is the Madara Rider.
An extraordinary relief sculpturethat has captivated historians
(01:27):
and art lovers for centuries.
Created at the beginning of the 8thcentury, this monumental equestrian
relief is truly one of a kind.
In fact, it's the only relief of its kind,with no parallel anywhere else in Europe.
What makes it even more remarkableis that it has survived in its
original state, without anyalterations, for over 1, 300 years.
Abigail (01:50):
The sculpture itself is almost life sized.
Depicting a horseman facingright, thrusting a spear into a
lion lying at his horse's feet.
If you look closely, you'll spota dog running after the horseman.
Time and erosion have taken their toll,and some details, like the horseman's
(02:12):
halo and garments, and a bird in frontof his face, are now barely recognizable.
Keith (02:18):
But the Madara Rider is more than just a stunning piece of art.
It's a historicaldocument carved in stone.
Surrounding the relief are three partiallypreserved inscriptions in medieval
Greek chronicling important eventsin the reigns of the famous Bulgarian
khans, Tervel, Krum, and Omertag.
These inscriptions, dating from roughly AD705 to 801, offer us a rare glimpse into
(02:43):
the early years of the Bulgarian state.
Abigail (02:46):
Just some context
of the First Bulgarian Empire.
Before Bulgaria's conversion toChristianity in the 9th century.
Keith (02:58):
Archaeological excavations have revealed fascinating
details about the site's history.
Between 1924 and 1935, researchersdiscovered the remnants of a complex
about 250 meters north of the relief.
This complex is believed to haveserved as a pagan shrine, possibly
a three aisled church, and includeda rectangular building thought to
(03:20):
be the ruler's private dwelling.
Here, it's believed that theruler performed sacred rituals
related to Tangra, the supremedeity of the early Bulgars.
The complex itself is commonlydated to the second quarter of the
9th century, based on pottery foundduring excavations in the 1970s.
However, Some scholars argue thatthe earliest buildings were actually
(03:41):
founded after Bulgaria's conversion toChristianity, suggesting that the pagan
temple and ruler's dwelling were built onthe site of an early Byzantine basilica.
Abigail (03:51):
Intriguingly, about two miles northeast of the relief,
another group of buildings wasdiscovered later in the 20th century.
This complex included a 5th to 6th centurybasilica, With an inner rectangular
structure, which some interpret as apagan temple, though the evidence for
this interpretation is pretty limited.
Keith (04:13):
Now let's delve into one of the most intriguing aspects of the Madara
Rider, its meaning and symbolism.
Despite centuries of study, the truesignificance of this monumental sculpture
still remains somewhat of a mystery.
Some early researchers consideredit an example of the Thracian
horseman, a recurring motifin Paleo Balkanic mythology.
(04:34):
This idea was gradually rejected dueto the differences in iconographic
details, such as the presenceof the dog, which isn't typical
in Thracian horseman depictions.
Abigail (04:45):
Many scholars now connect the origin of the relief with the start of the
Bulgar society, a semi nomadic equestrianwarrior culture from the Eurasian steppe.
The hero Horseman is indeeda common character in Turkic
and Iranian Alanic mythology.
Others have noted similarities toSasanian rock relief traditions,
(05:08):
and some researchers have suggestedconnections to various deities.
Some consider that the horsemen mightrepresent or be related to Tangra, the
supreme deity of the early Bulgars.
Others have related it tothe Iranian deity, Mithra.
Keith (05:26):
There's also a simpler explanation that's gained traction as of recently.
The relief might represent Khan Tervohimself, who ruled from 701 to 718.
This theory is supported by the factthat the oldest inscription near
the relief mentions Tervo by name.
What we can say for certainty is thatthe Madara Rider incorporates elements
(05:47):
from various cultural traditions.
It's monumental size and manyspecific details, like the
stirrup, Halo and the bird aregenerally part of Bulgar tradition.
On the other hand, the rightwarddirection of the horseman and the
presence of the lion are more typicalof Thracian artistic conventions.
Abigail (06:06):
The Medara Rider isn't just a relic of the past.
It continues to play a significantrole in Bulgarian culture today.
If you've ever handled Bulgariancurrency, you might have seen
a familiar equestrian figure.
The Madara rider is depicted on someof the smaller Bulgarian coins, the one
(06:27):
to 50 Stotinki issued in 1999 and 2000.
Looking to the future, when Bulgariaadopts the Euro, you might just see
the Madara rider on those coins too.
In an official survey on June29th, 2008, the Madara horseman
won the public vote for the designof Bulgaria's future Euro coins.
Keith (06:51):
And here's a fun fact to make you smarter than your average tourist:
the Madara rider's influenceextends far beyond Bulgaria, all
the way to Antarctica, in fact.
Madara Peak on Livingston Island inthe South Shetland Islands is actually
named after this historic site.
So as we wrap up our exploration ofthe Madara Rider, we're left with
kind of a sense of wonder and mystery.
(07:12):
This remarkable relief carved intothe sheer cliff face over 1, 300 years
ago continues to captivate us withits artistry and the secrets it holds.
It stands as a testament tothe rich cultural heritage of
Bulgaria and the complex interplayof traditions that shaped this
region in the early Middle Ages.
The Madara Rider reminds us that,sometimes, the most enduring monuments
(07:35):
are those that leave us with questions.
It challenges all of us to lookclosely, to consider the different
perspectives, and to appreciate theintricate tapestry of history and
culture that shapes our world heritage.
Now that we've gotten a pretty goodidea of this incredible monument, let's
transition to learn the best way tovisit and what to bundle with this site.
(07:55):
For this, Abigail's the expert, so let'ssee what it takes to visit this site.
Abigail (08:00):
Much like other sites, it's a bit removed from civilization.
Aka, it's a bit of a logistical jugglingact to figure out how to best get there.
If you plan on visiting from anothercountry, you'll want to fly into
Sofia Airport, and then take a flightto Varna, and then take a train
(08:20):
to Shumen, or just take the 8 hourplus train ride from the airport.
From there, taxi is probably thebest way to get to the actual site.
If you stay in Sofia, you're gonnahave the most options for hotels,
restaurants, and other things todo, which I'll talk about in a bit.
You can purchase tickets at the entrance,and it's cheaper to buy a self guided
(08:45):
tour, which comes in English or Bulgarian.
If you're looking for tickets online,know that some sites don't refer to this
as Madara Rider, but as Madara HorseRider, so don't let that confuse you.
At the site, there's a plaquein English with a short
description of what you're seeing.
(09:05):
You can climb to the fort atthe top as well, but it is
a bit physically strenuous.
This will be a short visit,figure 30 to 45 minutes tops.
And just knowing how inexpensive it is tovisit independently, I think this is one
site I would not recommend a tour becausethe ones I did find were pretty expensive.
Keith (09:27):
Yeah, I saw that staircase that's carved into the rock going up to the fort.
It looked amazing, but theysaid it was over 350 steps.
So what's the weather like?
Like when is the best time to visitand have a good chance at having some
good weather since this is outside?
Abigail (09:41):
So, winter gets as low as 5 degrees Celsius or 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
And then, during summer, it gets as highas 30 degrees Celsius or 86 Fahrenheit.
Peak rain hits in May and June, so thatmay not be the time you want to go.
Also, if you do go during thesummer, I would suggest going
(10:04):
in the morning before the sun isat its highest to avoid sunburn.
Keith (10:08):
Alright, got it.
So it sounds like Madara itselfis a tiny town and doesn't have
much to do, from what I saw.
Are there other things to do whenvisiting this site in Shumen or Varna?
This is way out of the way, so Ican't imagine unless you're a scholar
planning to take extended time tostudy this relief, They'd want to make
a special trip just to see this site.
Abigail (10:27):
Yes, and I know I pointed out before that the
train ride to Sofia is long.
It's about eight, eight and a half hours.
I think it's worth it because it's thecapital and there really is so much to do.
If you want to hear more aboutstaying and visiting Sofia, Go back
and listen to our episode of seasontwo, number nine, which featured
(10:49):
Boyana Church, another UNESCO site.
In Shumen, other places you may wantto visit include the Pliska National
Historical and Archaeological Preserve,the Shumen Fortress Reserve, the 1300
Years of Bulgaria Monument, and theTombul Mosque In Varna, you can go to
(11:10):
the Stone Forest, Sea Garden, ButterflyHouse, and Varna Archaeological Museum.
So just some things to know,the main language is Bulgarian.
Proficiency in English is not necessarilywidespread outside of the larger cities.
It, so it's interesting, I was curiousto see how many people visit each year,
(11:32):
and I actually couldn't find a statistic.
That being said, I don't think this is asite that gets a huge number of visitors.
Keith (11:39):
I actually tried to find that in my research too, could not find it anywhere.
Alright, so I know we covered the food ofthis area in episode 9 of this, season 2.
But is there anything else to add thatwe didn't cover in that first episode?
Abigail (11:52):
I would absolutely want to try patatnik, which is a
dish made from potatoes, onions,and sometimes mint or egg.
It almost reminds me of a poundeddown tater tot into a baked
potato pancake or omelette.
Also, I forgot that one of my all timefavorite desserts is very popular here.
(12:15):
Halva is a sesame based dessertwith a fudge like consistency.
And the main ingredients typicallyinclude sugar, too much sugar,
Margarine, or oil, and again, sesamepaste, that comes in a variety of
flavors, like chocolate or pistachio.
And sometimes it's gluten free too.
Keith (12:37):
Yeah, all that sounds wonderful as usual.
So, you also dig into the urbanlegends surrounding these sites, and
if I'm not mistaken, you've even beeninterviewed recently on another podcast
about this part of your expertise.
So what'd you find out about this site?
Abigail (12:51):
Yes, I did.
Shout out to Jim Harreld.
I had a great time.
So, simply put, some say that theMadara Rider carving holds magical
powers and can cure sickness.
Because there's a picture of what somesay is a scepter and not actually a spear.
(13:12):
In the Tantrismic religion, celestialenergy flows through scepters.
And the idea is that thisenergy permeates the site.
Keith (13:23):
Oh, that's an interesting one.
That the, uh, spear that's piercingthe lion is actually maybe a
scepter gathering celestial energy.
That's, and it's thoughtto have healing powers?
That's really interesting.
So this is kind of a unique legendcompared to the early ones we've explored.
Abigail (13:39):
I agree.
Now, I want to end by talking about thehistoric preservation piece, what's being
done to try to protect Madara Rider.
First off, cleaning this sitepresents unique challenges.
The purchase of special equipment toclean the monument was approved, so that
piece has been somewhat easily solved.
(14:01):
However, the main obstacle for this siteis that the supporting rock is unstable.
What I mean is, it's outdoorsand thousands of years old.
So, even though the property itselfis solid, wind, erosion, and water
runoff is causing the rock to erode.
(14:21):
There's been debate, as some expertsfeel, that the Madara Rider should
be moved to keep it protected.
But, obviously, that's notUNESCO's ideal solution.
All I can say is, I just want thisincredible place to stay intact so future
visitors can continue to enjoy thistribute to Bulgaria's unique history.
(14:45):
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
Please support the show by subscribingat Apple Podcasts, spotify or wherever
you get your podcasts and please leaveus a five star review You can also
check us out on tik tok and facebook.
Keith (15:02):
And that wraps up our exploration of the enigmatic Madara Rider in Bulgaria.
From its mysterious origins and intricatesymbolism to its enduring cultural
significance, this UNESCO World HeritageSite truly embodies the fascinating
interplay of art, history, and mythology.
We hope that this episode has inspired youto appreciate the importance of preserving
(15:23):
such a unique art cultural landmarks.
These ancient artworks not onlyconnect us to our past, but also
provide invaluable insights intothe complex tapestry of human
civilization and artistic expression.
Our next episode will transport us yetto another captivating UNESCO site.
We're heading out to Tunisia to explorethe Medina of Tunis, a labyrinthine
(15:46):
old city that's been a vibrant centerof urban life for over a millennia.
This walled city, with its narrowalleys, colorful souks, and stunning
architectural gems, offers a fascinatingglimpse into the rich tapestry of
North African history and culturethat has been the inspiration for
countless stories, art, and even movies.
(16:06):
It's a place where the past andpresent intertwine in a way that's
sure, to ignite your imagination.
So join us next time as we wanderthe winding streets of the Medina
of Tunis and delve into the culturalcrossroads of the Mediterranean.
Until then, keep exploring, keepwandering, and keep treasuring
this remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.
See you on our next adventure.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!