El nom ve de l'arrel eslava de star ("vella") i el nom de la regió medieval de Zagore ("més enllà de les muntanyes [Balcans]" en eslau).[2]
Història
L'assentament original de Tràcia data del segle 5-4 aC, quan es deia Beroe o Beroia.[3] Va ser fundada per Filip II de Macedònia el 342 aC.[4][5][6][7]
↑Women and slaves in Greco-Roman culture: differential equations by Sandra Rae Joshel, Sheila Murnaghan,1998,page 214,"Philip II founded cities at Beroe, Kabyle, and Philippopolis in 342/1, and Aegean-style urban life began to penetrate Thrace".
↑Late Roman villas in the Danube-Balkan region by Lynda Mulvin,2002,page 19,"Other roads went through Beroe (founded by Philip II of Macedon) "
↑Philip of Macedon by Louïza D. Loukopoulou,1980,page 98,"Upriver in the valley between the Rhodope and Haimos Philip founded Beroe (Stara Zagora) and Philippolis (Plovdiv)".
↑The cities in Thrace and Dacia in late antiquity: (studies and materials) by Velizar Iv Velkov,1977,page 128,"Founded by Philipp 11 on the site of an old Thracian settlement, it has existed without interruption from that time".