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Madara Rider

Madara Rider is an early medieval monumental rock relief on the Madara Plateau near the village of Madara in northeastern Bulgaria, not far from the former Bulgarian capital of Pliska. Cut into a sandstone cliff about 100 meters high, it formed part of the main cult site of the First Bulgarian Empire. The relief shows a rider 23 meters above the ground, accompanied by a dog and depicted with a lion at his feet, which he has just killed. It is generally attributed to the Proto-Bulgarians and dated to the early 8th century, though some theories suggest a Thracian origin. The monument has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.

Madara Rider rock relief showing a horseman on horseback, a dog running ahead, and a faint fallen figure below.
The Madara Rider rock relief depicts a horseman, with a dog running ahead and a faint figure below the horse.
August 2009 © · CC BY 3.0
Madara Rider rock relief carved into a grey cliff face, with a vertical crack running through the carving.
The Madara Rider rock relief carved into a weathered cliff face in Bulgaria.
June 2017 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Madara Rider rock relief carved into a cliff face, showing a mounted figure above a lion and a smaller animal.
The Madara Rider rock relief carved into the cliff face, with a mounted figure and animal carvings below.
September 2016 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Madara Rider rock relief carved into a weathered cliff face, showing a mounted figure above a faint lion carving.
The Madara Rider, an ancient rock relief in Bulgaria, carved into a weathered cliff face.
© · CC BY 2.5
Rock face partly hidden by trees with a metal observation platform on the Madara Rider cliff.
The Madara Rider cliff with a metal observation platform extending from the rock face.
May 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleMadara Rider
Alternative namesReiter von Madara; Madara Horseman; Madarski konnik; Jeździec tracki z Madary; Le cavalier de Madara; Мадарський вершник; Мадарски конник; Мадарский всадник
Original-language nameMadarski konnik
TypeEarly medieval monumental rock relief

Historical context

DateVery late 7th century or more often the very early 8th century; commonly around 710 CE
Historical periodEarly medieval
Associated rulerKhan Tervel
Origin attributionGenerally attributed to the Proto-Bulgarians, though a Thracian origin has also been proposed
Alternative interpretationIf Thracian in origin, it would represent a god or a Thracian horseman motif

Creator

Attributed creatorsProto-Bulgarians
Alternative attributionAncient Thracians

Physical characteristics

FormRelief sculpture / bas-relief
SubjectA horseman or rider on horseback, almost life-size, facing right, thrusting a spear into a lion beneath the horse's front legs; an eagle appears in front of the rider and a dog runs behind him
ScaleAlmost life-size
Height above ground23 m
CliffA nearly vertical sandstone cliff about 100 m high

Materials

Carved intoRock cliff
MaterialSandstone

Appearance

StyleVery realistic, with essentially no unnecessary details

Iconography and meaning

SymbolismA symbolic representation of military triumph
InterpretationPossibly a portrait of Khan Tervel
Alternative identificationsA Thracian horseman motif; a Thracian god; the Bulgar deity Tangra; the Iranian deity Mithra

Location and ownership

National symbolDeclared a national symbol on 29 June 2008 after a national survey
UNESCO World Heritage statusInscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979
UniquenessThe only monument of its kind in Europe
Site contextPart of the main cult sanctuary of the First Bulgarian Empire
LocationMadara Plateau near the village of Madara, east of Shumen, in northeastern Bulgaria, not far from the former Bulgarian capital Pliska

History and restoration

ConditionPoor condition; subject to progressive erosion, with the halo and garments barely recognizable
ConservationConservation and protective work is currently being carried out in Madara
InscriptionsThree groups of fragmentarily preserved Middle Greek relief inscriptions, found on both sides of and around the rider image
Inscription contentThey record the deeds and campaigns of Bulgarian rulers Tervel, Krum, and Omurtag, and mention events involving Byzantine emperors, Thessaloniki, Kisinas, gold, broken treaties, and sacrifice to Tangra
Associated inscription detailInscription I c was identified by Vesselin Beschevliev and refers to Tervel and his uncle Khan Kuwer
Nearby archaeological findsBetween 1924 and 1935, about 250 m north of the relief, remains of a complex believed to have included a pagan shrine and a rectangular building were found; a damaged inscription by Khan Omurtag mentioning Tangra was also found there
Later discoveriesIn the later 20th century, another building group about 3.2 km northeast of the relief was found, including a 5th–6th century basilica with an inner rectangular structure