This volume provides an account of sporting and gladiatorial games in Thrace. Although written principally in Bulgarian, the useful English language summary (126–45) allows the detail and the illustrations to be more widely understood. The catalogue of inscriptions gives the Greek or Latin epigraphic texts with Bulgarian translation and commentary. The important thing for an international audience is that the texts are accessible.

For sporting activities, the stadium at Plovdiv is the only known venue. The epigraphic evidence for athletic and sporting activity is far richer, with no fewer than 62 inscriptions being recorded, and 16 sculptural representations. The texts of the inscriptions and illustrations of the sculptures are provided. Coins commemorating games from provincial mints are also known, while another section examines sporting accessories — here strigils, strigil holders and weights.

There are three purpose-built amphitheatres in Roman Thrace and these are briefly described. The amphitheatres of Marcianopolis (Devnya) and Diocletianopolis (Hisarya) are unexcavated and undated, though external evidence suggests to the author a Severan date for the former, and a Tetrarchic date for the latter. The Diocletianopolis amphitheatre is one of the latest new constructions in the Roman Empire. It was small and situated within the fortified area. The recently discovered amphitheatre of Serdica (Sofia) was one of the most exciting recent amphitheatre discoveries. Erected in the late third century, it was used until the end of the fourth. Epigraphic evidence for spectacula in Serdica dates to the mid-second century and implies that the city had an earlier building for the purpose. Perhaps these events were held in other buildings, like stadia or theatres. The adaptation of such buildings for amphitheatrical events is a well-known phenomenon in the eastern provinces and is well attested in the theatre at Philippopolis (Plovdiv). There is a great deal of evidence for gladiatorial combat at Augusta Traiana (Stara Zagora). The amphitheatre was probably situated beneath a later square in which temporary facilities for spectacles were inserted. Amphitheatres have been suggested at Deultum (Debelt) and Novae through aerial photography and geophysics.

Twenty-one inscriptions commemorate gladiators or arena events. These include a dedication to Diana commemorating the collection of bears and other live animals for games organised by the emperor, and one of an unnamed individual who travelled widely at his own expense gathering volunteers for the arena in Asia Minor, the Balkans and Dacia. This reminds one of the popularity of the class of gladiator known as Thraex or Thracian. Stone reliefs and small objects of metal and ceramic from the province depicting gladiators are catalogued.

Vagalinski's book is a useful addition to literature on Roman and Hellenistic entertainment, particularly in the area of amphitheatres and spectacula, gathering together a range of evidence from diverse sources, most of which is unfamiliar and much of which is of great interest.