Bulgarie, Antique mosaics from Augusta Trajana, Stara Zagora, Beroe 3rd-4th cc.

The study is a summary of the examination of the multi-coloured floor mosaics (more than 20 in number) that were found until 1999 in Stara Zagora. The focus is laid on six mosaics, found during studies of "Gen. Stoletov" Str., near the Post Office, "Graf Ignatiev" Str., 51 "Ruski" Str., in a peristylic building extra muros and in the thermae of Augusta Trajana. The circumstances of their discovery, the building they belong to, the technique and technology of their making are described for all of them. Attempts for interpretation of the figures have been made, parallels have been adduced and the present condition of the mosaic has been specified. After the studies have been made and after the data have been summarized it can be affirmed that in the second half of the 3rd c. a large mosaic school worked actively in Augusta Trajana - Beroe. In the next century the activity of the workshops was enlarged as many public and private buildings were decorated with multi-coloured mosaics. The techniques opus tesselatum and opus vermiculatum were mainly used for the mosaics. In the town there were influences of the most famous schools from the eastern provinces and the capital Constantinople as well as from the famous workshops from Rome, Aquileia, Ravenna, Spain, North Africa and the Greek islands. (Maria Kamicheva)