Сведението на Плиний Стари за тракийските реки Bargus и Syrmus
The Evidence of Pliny the Elder on the Thracian Rivers Bargus and Syrmus

Summary/Abstract: The paper traces the specialised academic discussion on the identification of the Bargus and Syrmus rivers, tributaries to the Hebros (pres. Maritsa), known from a laconical text by Pliny the Elder at the end of his text on Thrace. The author recalls that while the identification of Syrmus with today’s Stryama is certain and universally accepted, different viewpoints exist with respect to Bargus. In conclusion, support is given to the identification of Bargus with the Topolnitsa river that flows into Maritsa not far from the village of Vetren. A possibility discussed is that Pliny’s sources on the two rivers in Thrace were Greek authors who were familiar with the geography of the Upper Thracian Plain as a result of the contacts of the indigenous population with the Greek colonies along the Aegean coast, as well as owing to the presence of Greek population in that part of Thrace. It is assumed that the evidence must have been recorded on some occasion in some of the Aegean colonies that had trade contacts with the valley along the Upper course of the Maritsa river and that it probably reached Pliny through the mediation of the local history of one of those cities.

• Details
• Contents