A new Roman inscription dating from the time of Emperor Trajan has been discovered at Aquae Calidae
An exceptionally valuable find adds to the history of one of the most significant ancient sites in Bulgaria – Aquae Calidae.
During archaeological excavations led by Associate Professor Dimcho Momchilov, an inscription dating from the early years of the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan (98–117 AD), at the end of the 1st and beginning of the 2nd century, was discovered.
The artefact is yet another important piece of evidence for the development and significance of Aquae Calidae during the Roman era and provides valuable information to supplement the written records already known from the site.
Archaeological research at Aquae Calidae is being carried out by the Regional History Museum – Burgas, with the financial support of Burgas Municipality, under the direction of Assoc. Prof. Dr Dimcho Momchilov.
The renowned Bulgarian epigraphist, Senior Assistant Professor Dr Nikolay Sharanov from Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, is working on the decipherment and scholarly interpretation of the newly discovered inscription.
The find forms part of a series of significant Roman inscriptions uncovered during archaeological excavations at Aquae Calidae in recent years. Between 2015 and 2022, several particularly valuable Latin inscriptions dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries were uncovered here.
Among them is the inscription from the time of Emperor Nero, discovered in 2015, which attests to the construction of the baths in the 1st century. Several votive altars with dedications from the 2nd century have also been discovered, amongst which the altar dedicated to the nymphs by Marcus Obséquant, found in 2022, holds a special place.
Important information - 17-23 August
Important info!
The spa center will be closed for routine maintenance from August 17 to 23, 2026.
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The history of Aquae Calidae comes to life through yet another completed project
Another project related to one of the top tourist attractions in Burgas has been successfully completed by the Regional History Museum - Burgas in partnership with OP "Tourism" - Burgas Municipality. It was officially presented in the presence of its authors and media representatives. This is "Aquae Calidae - the rulers' favorite thermal baths," co-financed by the "Creation" 2024 program of the National Culture Fund.
The event, showcasing the new cultural product - an animated 3D visualization of Aquae Calidae, was attended by the author Martin Kostov from Tornado Studio, along with the head of archaeological research, Assoc. Prof. Dimcho Momchilov, and Senior Assistant Prof. Radovesta Stewart, who talked about the creation process and its specifics.
It was very important for us to show people who find it difficult to visualize what it was like," said Senior Assistant Professor Dr. Radovesta Stewart. She emphasized that this is an original product that cannot guarantee authenticity—it is an idea of what the Byzantine bath looked like, and she hopes that young people will like the project and use it for inspiration.
"You know that the excavations have been going on for eighteen years in a row – since 2008," recalled the head of archaeological research, Assoc. Prof. Dimcho Momchilov. He welcomed innovative projects that aim to show an approximate reconstruction of the baths.
Assoc. Prof. Momchilov recalled that there are layers from three historical periods here – Roman, early Byzantine, and 12th-13th centuries – and that the complex is unique in that it has been repeatedly destroyed and reconstructed over the centuries.
The head of the research team shared that the modern infrastructure hinders the discovery of part of the archaeology – the facilities built over the last 60-70 years prevent the most sensitive areas of the excavations from being uncovered.
This innovative product presents cultural heritage in a visually captivating and easily accessible way for the numerous visitors to the site. This is another step forward for the Municipality of Burgas in the digitization of cultural heritage.
Martin Kostov from Tornado Studio shared that with the help of 3D technologies and expert knowledge, a hypothesis was developed about what the site looked like, which was used as the basis for creating an experience in which people can immerse themselves and travel through time via virtual reality.
The project is modern and impressive—a team of specialists in archaeology, history, museology, and 3D technology combined their knowledge, skills, and creative vision to build an interpretation of one of the most complex archaeological sites in Bulgaria due to the presence of a large number of cultural layers from different eras.
The aim is to reconstruct the ancient baths as they appeared in the early Byzantine period, which stands out as the heyday of the site after the devastating barbarian invasions.
The final product is an immersive VR experience that immerses visitors in the history and architecture of the Byzantine city with its monumental buildings and fortress walls.
The team of archaeologists working on the site during the process provided access to their research over the years. This includes the head of research, Assoc. Prof. Dimcho Momchilov, PhD, and Dr. Milen Nikolov, Senior Assistant Prof. Radovesta Stewart, PhD, with their expertise and creative vision for presenting the site and elements of the cultural heritage of Aquae Calidae to a wide audience.
The author's cultural product is now permanently available in the halls of the Aquae Calidae Exhibition and Demonstration Center. Upon its presentation, it aroused great interest among the media representatives present. They tried out the VR glasses system and were transported into the history of the site, which has accumulated thousands of years of history.
During the event, some of the results of this year's archaeological research in the Aquae Calidae area were also presented. Among them are the second Roman marble pool, as well as the northern arm and pelastri.
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