The Madara Rider, also called the Madara Horseman (Bulgarian: Мадарски конник, Madarski konnik), is a large early medieval carved rock sculpture located on the Madara Plateau, east of Shumen in northeastern Bulgaria, near the village of Madara. The monument was created during the late 7th or early 8th century, during the rule of Bulgar Khan Tervel. In 1979, the site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Description
The relief sculpture shows a large horseman carved into a nearly vertical cliff about 100 meters (328 feet) high, positioned roughly 23 meters (75 feet) above the ground. The sculpture is almost life-sized. The horseman faces to the right, holding a spear aimed at a lion lying at the horse's feet. On the left, a dog is running toward the horseman. Over time, erosion and the poor condition of the monument have made details like the horseman’s halo, clothing, and a bird near his face hard to see. This relief is similar to images found in places like Saltovo, Soulek, Pliska, and Veliki Preslav.
The meaning and symbolism of the sculpture are unknown, as are its origins in masonry traditions and cultural influences. The sculpture likely combines elements from both Thracian and Bulgar traditions. Features such as the stirrup, halo, skull-cup, and bird are common in Bulgar art, while the horseman’s rightward direction and the lion are more typical of Thracian art.
Some early researchers thought the sculpture might represent a Thracian horseman, a recurring figure in Paleo-Balkanic mythology. This figure is often shown as a caped rider on a horse, holding a spear. He is sometimes depicted killing an animal, though this is not always included. This idea was later dismissed because of differences in details and the absence of a dog in the sculpture.
Many scholars believe the relief is connected to the Bulgars, a semi-nomadic warrior culture from the Eurasian Steppe. Others compare it to Sasanian rock relief traditions. The horseman is a common figure in Turkic and Iranian-Alanic mythology. Some think the horseman may be linked to the Bulgar god Tangra, while others associate him with the Iranian god Mithra.
Some researchers suggest the relief might represent Khan Tervel (701–718 AD) or Khan Krum (802–814 AD), though the latter is now widely rejected.
Between 1924 and 1935, archaeologists found remains of a complex near the relief, about 250 meters to the north. This complex included a three-aisled church, possibly a pagan shrine, and a rectangular building, likely the ruler’s private home, where rituals involving Tangra were performed. A damaged inscription by Khan Omurtag mentioning Tangra was also found at the site.
This complex is usually dated to the early 9th century, based on pottery found during excavations in the 1970s, which dates to between the 8th and 10th centuries. Some believe the buildings were constructed after the adoption of Christianity, possibly replacing an earlier Byzantine basilica. Evidence of a Christian burial, including a golden decorated belt dated to around 900 AD, was found near the site.
In the 20th century, another group of buildings was discovered about 3.2 kilometers (two miles) northeast of the relief. These included a 5th–6th century basilica with an inner rectangular structure, which some have suggested could be a pagan temple, though there is no clear evidence for this.
Inscriptions
Three partially preserved texts in Medieval Greek, carved into the rock, are located near the image of the rider. These texts contain important information about the history of Bulgaria during that time. The oldest inscription was created by Tervel (701–718 AD). It is believed that the relief was made during his rule or shortly after the Bulgars settled the region in 680–681 AD. The other inscriptions mention the Khans Krum (802–814 AD) and Omurtag (814–831 AD), who likely ordered the carvings.
Justinian the emperor made a treaty […] the Bulgars […] and came to Tervel. My uncles at Thessaloniki did not trust the emperor with the cut-off nose and went back to the Kisiniie […] one of his […]. The ruler Tervel made a treaty and gave to the emperor five thousand […] with my help the emperor scored a fine victory.
[…] gold. He gave eighteen […] gold the ruler […] soldiers […] a ruler […] the Greeks (Byzantines) […] what I gave to you, I will give you every year, and the emperor sent to the ruler […] and asked the ruler Krumesis […] the ruler […] divided the gold […] began […] he gave from […] the ruler Krumesis gave […] that sea […] you did […] the ruler […] war they tore the treaties […] war […] then […] name […]
[…] he was raised […] tore and Omurtag the ruler set by god sent […] help to me […]
Khan sybigi Omurtag, ruler from god […] was […] and made sacrifice to god Tangra […] itchurgu boila […] gold […]
Legacy
The Madara Rider was shown on the front of smaller Bulgarian coins (1 to 50 stotinki) released in 1999 and 2000. A survey conducted on June 29, 2008, about the design of Bulgaria's future euro coins was won by the Madara Horseman, receiving 25.44% of the votes. In early 2026, euro coins featuring the Madara Horseman were issued when Bulgaria joined the Eurozone. Madara Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, is named after the historic site called Madara.