The relief depicts a majestic horseman above ground level in an almost vertical -high cliff. It is of almost natural size. The horseman, facing right, is thrusting a spear into a lion lying at his horse's feet, and on the left a dog is running after the horseman. The carving of the horseman's halo and garments, as well as the bird in front of the horseman's face, are barely recognizable due to the erosion and bad condition of the monument. The relief is similar to the carbon images found in Saltovo, Soulek, Pliska and Veliki Preslav.
Origin tradition
The meaning and symbolism of the depiction is uncertain, as well its actual masonry tradition and cultural source. In the scholarship the origin of the relief is connected with the Bulgars ethnogenesis – the semi-nomadic equestrian warrior culture from the Eurasian Steppe. Others saw in the relief resemblance to the Sasanian rock relief tradition. The hero-horseman is a common character of Turkic and Iranian-Alanic mythology. It is sometime considered that the horseman represents or is related to the Bulgar deity Tangra, while Vladimir Toporov related it to the Iranian deity Mithra. Others noted a more simple explanation – that the relief represented Khan Tervel, or like previously considered and now rejected, Khan Krum. Some considered it an example of the Thracian horseman – a recurring motif of a deity in the form of a horseman in the Paleo-Balkanic mythology. The motif typically features a caped horseman astride a steed, with a spear poised in his right hand. He is often depicted as slaying a beast with a spear, although this feature is sometime absent. Initially considered by Konstantin Josef Jireček and Karel Škorpil, the assumption was gradually rejected because of differences in the iconographic details, and the relation with the animals. The relief probably incorporates both autochthonous Thracian and the newly arrived Bulgars cultural cults. The monumental size, iconography and the details is generally part of the Bulgar tradition, while the rightward direction and the lion of the Thracian tradition.
Archaeology
In the 1924–35, beneath the relief were found the remnants of a complex which is considered to have been a pagan shrine and a rectangular building, probably the ruler's private dwelling, where the ruler did sacral rituals related to Tangra. At the site was also found a damaged inscription by Khan Omurtag which mentions the deity Tangra. The complex is commonly dated to the second quarter of the ninth century, as the 1970s excavations dated the pottery between 8th and 10th century. Some argue that the earliest buildings were founded after the conversion to Christianity. Thus the pagan temple and the building would have been built on an early Byzantine basilica. To the west of the building was found Christian burial, with golden decorated belt, dated c. 900 AD. Throughout the 20th century, two miles northeast from the relief was found another group of buildings, consisting of 5th-6th century basilica, with inner rectangular structure, which some interpreted as the pagan temple.
Inscriptions
Three partially preserved texts in Medieval Greek, carved in the rock, can be found around the image of the rider. They bear important information regarding the history of Bulgaria in the period. The oldest inscription is the work of Tervel, thus it is considered that the relief was created during his rule or immediately after the Bulgars settled in 680–681 AD. The other inscriptions refer to the Khans Krum and Omurtag who are most likely the ones who ordered the carvings. Inscription I: 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. Inscription II: gold. He gave eighteen gold the ruler soldiers a ruler the Greeks 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 Inscription III: he was raised tore and Omurtag the ruler set by god sent help to me Inscription IV: Khan sybigi Omurtag, ruler from god was and made sacrifice to god Tangra itchurgu boila gold
