Stadium of Philippopolis
42°08′51″N 24°44′53″E / 42.1475679°N 24.7480184°E
The Ancient stadium in May 2012 | |
| Location | Plovdiv, Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°08′51″N 24°44′53″E / 42.1475679°N 24.7480184°E |
| Type | Stadium |
| Length | 250 m |
| Width | 50 m |
| History | |
| Builder | Hadrian |
| Material | bricks, marble |
| Founded | 90s of the 1st century AD |
| Periods | Roman Empire |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1923, 1973 - 1977, 2004, 2006, 2010 |
| Archaeologists | D. Tsontcheva, Liliya Botusharova, Maya Martinova-Kyutova |
| Condition | Restored |
| Ownership | Plovdiv Municipality |
| Public access | Yes |
| Website | http://ancient-stadium-plovdiv.eu/ |
The Stadium of Philippopolis was the ancient Roman stadium of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv), built in the 2nd century AD, during the Roman imperial period. It is among the largest and best preserved buildings from the time of the Roman Empire in the Balkan peninsula. At the time the stadium was built, Philippopolis was the capital of the Roman province of Thracia.
The stadium, approximately 250 m (820 ft) long and 50 m (160 ft) wide, could seat up to 30,000 spectators. Today, the northern curved part of the stadium (the sphendone) is partially restored and is one of the most recognisable landmarks of the city among the many preserved buildings from Roman times.