Temple in Ostrusha mound

The temple is located 3 km South-Eastern from the town of Shipka.

The installation under the mound was discovered in 1993 and is tomb-religious complex developed on a surface of 100 square meters. It comprises of six premises one of which is a sarcophagus-like chamber. In front of the complex was discovered a ritual heaping of many pounded pottery vessels and architecture details.

Three periods of usage of the facilities are marked off. The first one is around the middle of 4-th century BC when over a stereobate from big stone slabs was fitted a monolithic chamber with a funeral bed and wall-paintings covering the ceiling. Later to the building were added the other 5 premises. During the third stage at the end of the century, in front of the entrance was built a sarcophagus-like grave but without a funeral to be held in it. Most probably then was also performed the Trizna fest in front of the installation. Finally, the complex was buried. Its plundering happened in 4-th century AD, probably then were also destroyed most of the wall-paintings; untouched remained only the south-western chamber. With its planning decision, architectural special features, polychromic decoration and findings the installation in front of the Ostrusha mound is among the most impressive monuments of the Thracian funeral and religious architecture at the end of 4-th centuty BC.

Contacts:

Historical museum ‘Iskra’ – town of Kazanlak

Phone: 0431 62755

6100, Kazanlak, 8 P. R. Slaveykov Str.

e-mail: museum.iskra.kz@abv.bg