Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica, led by Prof. Dr. Lyudmil Vagalinski from the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, have uncovered a new inscription bearing the name of Heraclea Sintica.
The discovery was made on a partially preserved large stone cup. Despite its incomplete condition, researchers report that the inscription is clearly readable. Beneath the text, archaeologists identified an engraved shield typical of ancient Macedonian imagery, alongside a partial depiction of what appears to be either a horse’s or boar’s head, according to Archaeologia Bulgarica.
The find was located near an altar where an earlier inscription had been deciphered by Senior Assistant Prof. Dr. Nikolay Sharankov from Sofia University. That earlier text read “Antigone - to Heraclea Sintica…,” further reinforcing the ritual and religious significance of the site.
Researchers believe the newly discovered stone cup dates from the same historical period as the previously found inscription. It is thought to have been used in ceremonial or religious practices connected to the sanctuary dedicated to the mythological hero Heracles.
The latest find adds further weight to the understanding of Heracles Kynagidas’ cult presence in Heraclea Sintica, suggesting the site held sustained ritual importance linked to hero worship and local religious traditions.
