In front of you stretches a natural rock fissure, shaped further by the Thracians millennia ago and transformed into the sacred path leading to Perperikon’s largest sanctuary—the Temple of the god Dionysus.
The passage is about 100 meters long and approximately 6 meters wide. At the base of the rocks, large steps and ritual platforms were carved, along which worshippers ascended to the temple. This was the main access to the sanctuary.
On the higher rocks on both sides, guards stood to watch the path and protect the temple.
When the Romans conquered these lands, they faced resistance from the Thracian Bessi tribe, who controlled the sanctuary. To weaken their influence, the Romans transferred control of the temple to another Thracian tribe-the Odrysians.
This caused unrest among the priests of Dionysus. In 15 BC, a revolt broke out, led by the last prophet of the god—the priest Vologeses. Eventually, the Bessi were defeated and resettled to the north.
Later, the Romans fortified the sanctuary with defensive walls, and the passage gradually lost its role as the main entrance.
