Ahtopol Lighthouse 6 Stock Photo

The town lies on the site of an ancient Thracian settlement, with the earliest traces of human settlement dating to the Neolithic. It was probably colonized by the Ancient Greeks around 440-430 BC. According to researchers, the city was founded by Athenians. The Romans called it Peronticus, while the Byzantine leader Agathon reconstructed the town after barbarian invasions and possibly gave it his own name, Agathopolis Greek: Αγαθόπολις. According to other sources, it was named thus as early as 323 BC. Another name it bore anciently was Aulaiouteichos or Alaeouteichos. Arab geographer al-Idrisi mentions Ahtopol in his memoirs as a remarkable hub and famous city.