Съкровищата на България

Bulgaria's Treasures Bulgarian lands had always been a subject to desire. Here, on the crossroad between east and west, many peoples had passed, lived here, conducted battles, made art and honored their gods. For some of them we know more, for others we know less. Thracians are one of those peoples, who created on this land multiple treasures, mythology and their unique culture. Most of the Bulgarian treasures had been found accidentally. They offer a trip in times, when people were drinking wine in horns, and rights were proved by sword. The Panagyurishte golden treasure is a set of nine vessels for drinking, made of pure gold. It belonged to an unknown ruler of the Odrysian tribe of the end of the 4th century BC. It weighs more than 6 kilograms and was used either for feasts, or for religious ceremonies. In all conditions, it was a symbol of a high social status. Four of the rhytons are shaped like heads or as the front part of the bodies of animals – a ram, a goat and a fallow deer. Three of the vessels are jugs shaped like the heads of Amazon females, and their handles are centaurs. The making of the phial is so skillfull, and four circles with 24 ornaments in each of them are engraved. The decoration of the amphora is also very rich – with handles - centaurs, openings - human heads and wonderfully recreated scenes of mythology. The oldest processed gold in the whole world was found near Varna. This is an amazing find, dating back to the Lake Chalcholithic Age. The treasure was found in totally 294 graves, as in each of them there were articles, left to serve in the afterlife. Richly decorated clay vessels, shells and idols made of bone. Used instruments – knives, axes, chisels and symbolically shaped faces made of clay. One of the most splendid burials is probably the one of a priest or a noble leader. The remains belong to a man, about 45 years old, who had worn a golden bracelet on each of his hands and a string of shells and golden beads. Around his neck and his chest there was a golden jewel with gems, looking like a wide collar. This unique find became famous around the world as the Treasure of the Varna Necropolis, and the civilization to which it belongs was named "Varna Culture". The Rogozen Treasure is the largest Thracian treasure ever found. It consists of 165 silver vessels, probably possessed by a local ruler, which had been collected for many years - from the 5th century BC to the 340s BC. The vessels are decorated with scenes of the Thracian religion, as well as scenes of the Greek Mythology – a real evidence of the cultural exchange between the two civilizations. Donators' inscriptions are visible on some of the vessels as well as the names of the artists which had made them. Unique is also the silver Thracian treasure, found near the village of Borovo. It consists of only 5 vessels, but they have very interesting shapes and decorations, which are gilded on some spots. The Valchitran Treasure is the largest golden treasure, ever found in Bulgaria. It dates back to the end of the Bronze Age and consists of 13 articles, with total weight of 12.5 kg of pure gold and natural alloys of silver, copper and iron. Seven of them have the shape of lids and they could have be used as percussions. The four deep cups with handles twisted upwards, most probably, they were used for religious rituals, related to God Dionysus. The most impressive ones are the large vessel looking like a crater and the triple vessel, consisting of three almond pieces, connected one to another. Maybe the priests had made their prophecies using them? In any case, this unique treasure allows us to reach antiquity in a mystical way. We should not speak of gold, and of cultural treasures without mentioning the golden mask of the king of the Odrysian tribe - Teres. It had preserved the individual features of the ruler, made of massive 23-carat gold and weighs about 670 g. These magnificent treasures are presently presented in the largest Bulgarian museums, and often travel for expositions around the world. These are some of the most desired models of the Bulgarian culture in museums around the world. Travelling around the world, they had turned into an emblem of Bulgaria.