The Balkans - 1600 pixels photos

10288 Views 24 Replies 5 Participants Last post by PRIMEVAL, Apr 24, 2016

PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · Apr 26, 2014

The Balkans - 1600 pixels photos

The Balkan Peninsula is a geographical and cultural region of Southeast Europe that takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch from the east of Bulgaria to the very east of Serbia.

The largest religion on the Balkans is Orthodox Christianity, followed by Catholic Christianity and Islam.

The total area of the Balkans is 666,700 square km and the population is 59,297,000 (est. 2002).

The Balkans have been inhabited since the Paleolithic and are the route by which farming from the Middle East spread to Europe during the Neolithic (7th millennium BC). The Balkans are also the location of Europe's first advanced civilizations.

The identity of the Balkans is dominated by its geographical position; historically the area was known as a crossroads of cultures. It has been a juncture between the Latin and Greek bodies of the Roman Empire, the destination of a massive influx of pagan Slavs, an area where Orthodox and Catholic Christianity met, as well as the meeting point between Islam and Christianity.

Evolution of meaning

The first attested time the name "Balkan" was used in the West for the mountain range in Bulgaria was in a letter sent in 1490 to Pope Innocent VIII by Buonaccorsi Callimaco, an Italian humanist, writer and diplomat. English traveler John Morritt introduced this term into the English literature at the end of the 18th century, and other authors started applying the name to the wider area between the Adriatic and the Black Sea. The concept of the "Balkans" was created by the German geographer August Zeune in 1808.

This thread will be dedicated mostly to nature and history of the Balkans.

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 26, 2014 (Edited)

3

The Madara Rider, Bulgaria

The Madara Rider, Bulgaria

The monument was created during the rule of the Bulgar Khan Tervel, and is probably a portrayal of the khan himself. It is dated to about 710 CE and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.

Rock Cliff with Madara Horseman par DSLEWIS, sur Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 26, 2014

3

The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, Bulgaria

The Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari, Bulgaria

Discovered in 1982 in a mound, this 3rd century BC Getic (Dacian) tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings.

In 2012, archaeologists uncovered a significant treasure near the village. The treasure included a golden ring, 44 female figure depictions and 100 golden buttons, found in 150 tombs from the 4th century BC.

452 Bulgaria - Razgrad, Shuman - 00003 par Kai Can Travel (啓之旅), sur Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 26, 2014

2

Cherepish Monastery, Bulgaria

Cherepish Monastery, Bulgaria

It lies in the gorgeous Iskar defile on the banks of the Iskur River. Founded in 14th century, the present church is from 17th century while most of the other buildings are from beginning of 19th century.

andrey-andreev.com

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 26, 2014

7

Felix Romuliana archaeological site, Serbia

Felix Romuliana archaeological site, Serbia

Near Gamzigrad are the ruins of one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in Europe. It was here were was born Galerius (ruled at intervals between 293 - 211), one of the Tetrarchs and he wanted to mark his birthplace with a mangificent palace, similar to the way Diocletianus (other Tetrarch) did in Split.

The name Felix Romuliana was given in memory of his mother Romula, who was born in present Romania, in the Roman city of Romula (now Reșca, Olt County). In 273 CE, the province of Dacia was abandoned by Romans and most of the population was translated in the area next to Danube of today Serbia and Bulgaria.

The complex of temples and palaces at Felix Romuliana served three main purposes - a place of worship of his mother’s divine personality, a monument to his deeds as emperor, and a luxurious villa for Galerius. The complex survived until it was plundered by the Huns in the mid 5th century. Later the site became a humble settlement of farmers and craftsmen, finally to be abandoned at the beginning of the 7th century with the arrival of the Slavs.

Beginning with 3rd century CE, almost all Roman emperors were originary from the Balkan provinces, from today Bulgaria and Serbia. Called the Illyrian emperors (most of them were of Thracian, not Illyrian stock but were named like that because were originary from the Illyricum Prefecture) they usually ruled few years or less than an year and by number overcome the emperors from all other Roman provinces taken together, Italy included.

Gamzigrad, Felix Romuliana par elsslots, sur Flickr

Gamzigrad, Felix Romuliana par elsslots, sur Flickr

Gamzigrad, Felix Romuliana par elsslots, sur Flickr

Gamzigrad, Felix Romuliana par elsslots, sur Flickr

Gamzigrad, Felix Romuliana par elsslots, sur Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 26, 2014

2

Majdanpek, Serbia - where metallurgy was born

Majdanpek, Serbia - where metallurgy was born

Is a city with 18,179 inhabitants, isolated in a mountainous area covered in dense forests, close to the border with Romania.

The city is an industrial one, built near a large copper quarry with a moon-like appearance.

The place is important because here for the first time in the history of humanity the extractive metallurgy was discovered and practiced, in several archaeological sites around Majdanpek, dating from 5,500 BCE and belonging to the Vinča culture, the same Neolithic culture that also used a writing system for the first time in history.

Although officially only 11.89% of population is Vlach (Romanian), you will hear most people speaking an archaic form of Romanian (without the neologisms the language in Romania acquired in 19-20th centuries).

Saša Stojanović

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 26, 2014

9

Berat, Albania

Berat, Albania

With a population of 71,000, is the 9th largest city in country.

In Antiquity was called Antipatreia, founded around 300 BCE by Cassander, a former general of Alexander the Great and the first king of Hellenistic Macedonia. Before that, was a settlement of the Greek tribe of Dassaretae. The present name is from the Slavic Bel(i)grad, a common name given in Eastern Europe to cities which at the arrival of Slavs had impressive Roman ruins (like Belgrade in Serbia or Alba Iulia in Romania, which historically was named Bălgrad by Romanians).

Berat was successively part of the Roman, Byzantine, First Bulgar and Ottoman empires.

The landmarks of the city are:

- The mangificent Berat Castle with parts of construction from various epochs between 200 BCE and 13th century CE. Inside its walls are few 13th century Byzantine churches, from a much higher number that existed here, the most representative being the Church of St. Mary of Blachernae

- The Lead Mosque built in 1555

- The Halveti Tekke, an Islamic Sufi school founded in 15th century and rebuilt in 1782

- The Old Town, an Unesco site since 2008.

P4192233.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

P4202266.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

P4192249.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

P4202279.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

P4192246.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

P4192220.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

P4202281.jpg par kaveman743, sur Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 26, 2014 (Edited)

6

Bozhentsi village and Dryanovo Monastery, Bulgaria

Bozhentsi village and Dryanovo Monastery, Bulgaria

Bozhentsi village

Bozhentsi Village par lyura183, sur Flickr

Bozhentsi Village par lyura183, sur Flickr

Dryanovo Monastery was founded in 12th century and was rebuilt in present form in 1845. It is situated in the very wild gorges of Dryanovska River.

Dryanovo Monastery of St. Archangel Michael par lyura183, sur Flickr

Dryanovo Monastery of St. Archangel Michael par lyura183, sur Flickr

Dryanovska River

Dryanovska River near Dryanovo par lyura183, sur Flickr

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Rain Drops

· #9 · Apr 26, 2014

Very beautiful photos Primeval :cheers:

Keep them coming.

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 28, 2014

2

Rtanj Mountain, Serbia

Thank you Rain Drops and thank you all for likes!

Rtanj Mountain, Serbia

Its highest peak is 1,565 m, a natural phenomenon of karst terrain. The north side of the mountain is covered with forests and shrubs, full of autochthonous plant species and plenty of sources of potable water.

forum.garaza.rs

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 22, 2014

6

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Some photos made by me some years ago

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Little sheep

· #12 · May 22, 2014

Carimaligrad

Царимали град (Carimali grad/ Tsarimaligrad) is partially restored fortress from IV cent. AD. The fortress is situated near Belchin Village, Samokov municipality (50 km South of Sofia).

Изглед от крепост Цари Мали Град, Белчин by Iliyan Gochev, on Flickr

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Little sheep

· #13 · May 22, 2014

One more photo about Царималиград (Tsarimaligrad)

Крепост Цари Мали град by Iliyan Gochev, on Flickr

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Little sheep

· #14 · May 22, 2014

Mt. Athos, Greece - Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra (Simonopetra)

The Holy Monastery of Simonos Petra, or more simply Simonopetra, is without doubt the most daring construction on the Holy Mountain. It stands proudly at a height of 330 metres on the end of a rocky mountain range.

The Monastery was founded by the Blessed Simon the Myrrhobletes around 1257, as a result of a vision. The whole of the building work, the Life of the Saint assures us, was accomplished as the result of divine intervention. In 1363 the Monastery was renovated with generous donations from a Serb despot, John Uglesha, who is regarded as the Monastery's second founder.

Holy Monastery of Simonopetra ... HDR by Emil9497 Photography & Art, on Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 2, 2015

2

Treskavec Monastery, Macedonia

TRESKAVEC MONASTERY, MACEDONIA

Situated on the rocky Mount Zlatovrv, 8 km north of Prilep, was first built in the 12th century. It was rebuilt in the 14th century by Stephen Uroš II Milutin of Serbia and Stephen Uroš IV Dušan of Serbia. The monastery possesses a large collection of Byzantine frescoes.The oldest remaining date from the 15th century.

Treskavec Monastery, near Prilep, Monastery by newmansm, on Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 21, 2015

2

Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria

KOPRIVSHTITSA, BULGARIA

Koprivshtitsa is one of the characteristic Bulgarian towns, still preserving the atmosphere of the Bulgarian National Revival period of the 19th century. The town boasts a large number of architectural monuments from the period, 383 in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance.

Копривщица by Петър Михов, on Flickr

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PRIMEVAL

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 1, 2015

2

Monemvasia, Greece

MONEMVASIA GREECE

Monemvasia, meaning “single entrance” is a Greek town on an island, accessible only by a narrow bridge. The site was once an important medieval fortress, port and trading centre on the east coast of Peloponnes. Monemvasia is walled and in 1248 withstood a 3 year siege. Inside the walls, Byzantine churches and houses remain, as well as ruins of a mighty fortress in the upper town.

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modestman

· #18 · Jul 1, 2015

^^^^
Omg this Church or fortress on the big mountain/rock make me thrilled.

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No1

· #19 · Jul 18, 2015

2

Knossos, Crete, born of western civilization-Minoan civilization

The Minoan civilization was an Aegean Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and other Aegean islands such as Santorini and flourished from approximately 2600 to 1400 BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of British archaeologist Arthur Evans. Will Durant referred to it as "the first link in the European chain."

Greece - Crete - Knossos by abudulla.saheem on Flickr

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No1

· #20 · Jul 18, 2015

5

Santorini

Santorini (Greek: Σαντορίνη, pronounced [sandoˈrini]), classically Thera (English pronunciation /ˈθɪərə/), and officially Thira (Greek: Θήρα [ˈθira]), is an island in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast of Greece's mainland.

Santorini by Moja Grčka Sajt, on Flickr

The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the Minoan eruption (sometimes called the Thera eruption), which occurred some 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization. The eruption left a large caldera surrounded by volcanic ash deposits hundreds of metres deep and may have led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete, 110 km (68 mi) to the south, through a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of Atlantis.

Santorini.. by franco luca, on Flickr

Santorini by Pierre Chabardes, on Flickr

http://www.thinkstockphotos.com/image/stock-photo-architecture-of-oia-town-on-santorini/166471469 by Patryk Kosmider

http://hqwallbase.com/158669-azul-techo-santorini/

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