The legend of the Madara Horseman tells of a young stonecutter commissioned by the Bulgarian Khan to carve the famous rock carving. While working, the stonecutter fell in love with the Khan's daughter. When the stonecutter demanded the Khan's daughter as his reward, the Khan flew into a rage and beheaded the stonecutter. Upon discovering his death, the Khan's daughter threw herself from the rocks in grief, cracking the stone in the process. Their love continues to be commemorated by the crying rock.

1. TTTThe most famous legend of the Madara Horseman is associated with the
creator of this masterpiece. As noted, the name of this brilliant, Bulgarian
artist, gifted with talent from God, remains unknown. Legend has it that
Bulgarian Khan after one of his greatest victories ordered it to be hold forever.
Young lad a stonecutter agreed to complete the task. He strarted work, from dusk
till dawn the blows of steel on stone were heard. The han of Bulgari-
ans himself tailed the work of the young artist. With him and he led his daugh-
ter who has known for her beauty. Often their eyes met and spark of love glowed
between them. This was an impossible love. Terrible laws were in those days, the
dawn of our country, and severely on those who crossed them. The most com-
mon penalty was death. No ordinary man could ask for the hand of
the khan's daughter, it was like a mortal to marry a Goddess.
For long time the two young were hiding their love.
The appointed day came and master had to submit his work to the
great Khan. The Khan was delighted by what he saw and wanted richly to reward
the young man. He offered gold and jewels, but the lad refused. Finally,
the surprised of these denials The Khan said: “Tell me what you want, and I give
you my Khan`s word that you`ll have it!” The most daring words were his answer:
”You great Khan, with you right hand you offer me gold and jewels, but with your
left you`re holding the most beautiful girl in the world- your daughter. I want what`s
in your left arm!”
Death silence occurred after these words. Neither Khan nor his boils
could imagine such a presumption of mortal man. The Khan angrily whipped his
horse and rushed to Pliska with his daughter. She naively believed that her fa-
ther would keep his word and until late at night she was waiting for her beloved, but
he never came. She secretly left theKhan's palace and went to find him. She found
his headless body at the foot of the Madara rocks.
Desperate with the grief heavy on her heart, the girl climbed on the rocks, to
share the fate of her beloved. She stepped forward and flew down.
Even nature was amazed by the power of love! Legend has it that from the pain
the rock cracked and it`s still crying for their love!