Bulgaria, petroglyph Madara Horseman
Among the many numismatists end of the last century a definite excitement caused the appearance on the market of commemorative coins issued by the National Bank of Bulgaria to the 1300 anniversary of the Bulgarian state. Although nominally a copper-nickel coin has a value of only two Bulgarian levs, but its market value over the years, becoming more so as the circulation of these coins, as well as many other jubilee, it was limited to just five thousand copies.
However, we have a greater interest in this coin has its numismatic value, and the image that is depicted on its obverse. And this image, so-called, «Madara Horseman» — Khan Tervel, which historically credited with the formation of the Bulgarian state.
This petroglyph, or if you want relief rock carvings located in the north-eastern part of Bulgaria near the village of Madara, which served as the main name of the historical monument. According to modern historians generally accepted version of a monument depicting a rider on horseback, accompanied by a running dog running, applies to about 710 AD, during the reign of the Bulgarian Khan.
In turn, this assumption is confirmed by three carved inscriptions made on the Byzantine language. The first of which confirms the version of the image on the rock Tervala Khan, the other labels ascribed khans Krum and Omurtag, Tervala followers on the board of the state of the Bulgarians. It should be noted that the historical merit of Khan is that, as a leader of the ancient Bulgarians, the interval with his troops helped the Byzantine emperor Justinian II to escape from prison, where he was after the military coup organized by his younger brother.
In gratitude for this Tervala received the title of «Caesar», and Bulgaria much of the area south of the Stara plavina. In addition to this, during the reign of Justinian II of, Byzantium paid annual tribute to the young Bulgarian Khanate. So, if you’re traveling on a fertile Bulgaria, do not apply to visit the rock, which depicts the Madara Horseman — the founder of the Bulgarian state.