The Utroba Cave, also known as Womb Cave, is a prehistoric cave sanctuary in

Kardzhali Province Kardzhali Province ( bg, Област Кърджали, Oblast Kărdžali, tr, Kırcaali ili) is a province of southern Bulgaria, neighbouring Greece with the Greek regional units of Xanthi, Rhodope, and Evros to the south and east. It is 32 ...

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Mac ...

. The cave resembles a human

vulva The vulva (plural: vulvas or vulvae; derived from Latin for wrapper or covering) consists of the external female sex organs. The vulva includes the mons pubis (or mons veneris), labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vestibular bulbs, v ...

and dates to the Thracian period. Historians believe that it was once used as a fertility shrine. It is known in Bulgarian as (, , ) or (, , 'Womb Cave').

History

The cave is located 20 kilometers from the city of

Kardzhali Kardzhali ( bg, Кърджали , ''Kărdžali''; tr, Kırcaali; gr, Κάρτζαλι, ''Kártzali''), sometimes spelt Kardžali or Kurdzhali, is a town in the Eastern Rhodopes in Bulgaria, centre of Kardzhali Municipality and Kardzhali Prov ...

near the village of Ilinitsa and it dates to 480 BC. It is also referred to as "The Cave Womb" or "Womb Cave" because the entrance is the shape of a vulva. The inside of the cave resembles a

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...

. Locally it is also called "The Blaring Rock". Researchers believe that the entrance to the cave was a slit, which was then widened by humans. The entrance to the cave is tall and wide and inside the cave there is a -tall

altar An altar is a Table (furniture), table or platform for the presentation of religion, religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, Church (building), churches, and other places of wo ...

which has been carved. Archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov believes that the cave and altar were used by the

Thracians The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. "The Thracians were an Indo-European people who occupied ...

. There are several Thracian sanctuaries found in Bulgaria. Ovcharov believes that it was used as a fertility shrine for the Thracians. The "cult" places of the Thracians are usually located at the top of mountains and they have running water. There is also constantly flowing water at the Utroba Cave, which flows from the cave to the foothills. There is an opening in the ceiling which allows the light into the cave. The light creates a

phallus A phallus is a penis (especially when erect), an object that resembles a penis, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. In art history a figure with an erect penis is described as ithyphallic. Any object that symbolically—or, more precise ...

shape every day at noon, but it only reaches the altar on one day of the year. In the middle of the day at certain time of year the light which is in the shape of a phallus penetrates deep into the cave all the way to the altar. In February or March the light takes the shape of a phallus and enters a hole at the altar: the light then flickers for 1-2 minutes. The penetrating and flickering light is thought to symbolize fertilization. Even today, there are childless couples who go to the cave hoping it will help them conceive a child.

References

External links

The Rock Womb Cave at NenkovoVideo of the Cave-Womb
{{DEFAULTSORT:Utroba cave Tourist attractions in Kardzhali Province Landforms of Kardzhali Province Prehistoric sites in Bulgaria Caves of Bulgaria Limestone caves

History

See also

References

External links