Ancient temple of 'Pontic Mother of the Gods - Cybele'

Ancient temple of 'Pontic Mother of the Gods - Cybele' was discovered in April 2007 during construction activities of private property in the coastal zone of Balchik. The temple of Mother Goddess - Cybele in Dionysopolis (predecessor of the present town of Balchik) is the only open and preserved Hellenistic temple not only in Bulgaria but in the Balkans. The building of the temple is rectangular. It consists of entrance and central part, its southern front wall has four steps. Ionian and Doric items are used in columns and pediments. Almost all statues found are of Cybele. It is a Phrygian goddess, considered to be Mother Earth. She symbolized the forces of nature, was the patron of the mountains, forests and beasts and united in itself both sexes. The temple has been operating for 700 years and was destroyed by a natural disaster. Picture source: morskivestnik.com