Към въпроса за имената на Пловдив (ІV в. пр. н. е.- ІV в. от н. е.)
THE NAMES OF PLOVDIV (IV B.C- A. D. IV)

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with the different names that are said to be in use for modern Plovdiv in the time span between IV c. BC till A. D. IV., i.e. Eumolpias, Poneropolis, Philippopolis, Odrussa, Tiberias, Trimontium. Since most of the theories proposed in the bibliography are based on the ancient written sources, a critical analysis is made of all of them known up to now and the hypotheses advanced so far on the emergence and usage of different names are critically revised. For instance, since the concrete use of the name of Eumolpias is not yet proved, its appearance in late sources could be due to the propaganda which is attested in Thrace that time when the biggest cities tried to link their origin from different personages of the mythology. Of special interest is the setting of the date when the name of Philippopolis started to be in use. It appears for the fi rst time in Polybius’ book where, however, the history of Macedonian kingdom was during its last kings – Philipp V and Perseus. The lack of a note that Philippopolis was actually after Philipp II makes one believe that the city was named after Philipp V who in c. 182 B. C. seized and took over the fortress here and founded a garrison. It was during that time when we have the fi rst inscriptions mentioning the local magistrates. It should be emphasized that the connection between Philippopolis and Philipp II is mentioned for the fi rst time in II A. D. which might be regarded as a result of the royal Macedonian and local propaganda which characterises Thrace and Greek Orient at that time. During the Roman period two new names were introduced – Tiberias and Trimontium. The fi rst one was probably the result of the recognising of the Thracian ruler – Rhoemetalces II as basileus by the Roman princepss Tiberius, while Trimontium was the offi cial Roman name which was found in formula provinciae.

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