Nebet Tepe
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Transcript
Nebet Tepe is one of the hills where archaeological remains reveal Plovdiv’s deep antiquity. Municipal histories associate early Thracian settlement here with names such as Evmolpia and later the Macedonian ruler Philip II.
Ancient place-names and exact foundation stories are complicated. The same settlement could be renamed, expanded or politically redefined under successive powers. So the important fact is not a perfect birthday but long occupation of a strategic hill controlling routes across the Thracian plain.
The Romans later called the city Trimontium — the city of three hills — and made it a major urban centre in the province of Thrace.
From Nebet Tepe, topography becomes obvious. Hills offered defence and visibility; the plain offered trade routes.
Civilisations tend to attribute their success to divine favour or military genius. A decent hill does a surprising amount of unpaid work.