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THRACE - THE OLDEST CIVILIZATION
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THRACIAN TOMBS
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Once upon a time the Thracians inhabited Bulgarian lands. Thracian rulers and members of the
nobility were buried in monumental stone tombs, which also served as places for ritual
ceremonies to honor the deceased ruler, with offerings of rich funeral gifts. The tombs
constituted underground temples of heroes, and have thus become known as heroons.
Approximately fifty such tombs have been discovered in Thracian mounds in Bulgaria up to the
present time.
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The Kosmatka Tomb, Kazanlak
In the summer of 2004 a team of Bulgarian
archeologists unearthed a large, intact Thracian
mausoleum dating back from the fifth century BC near
the central Bulgarian town of Shipka. "This is probably
the richest tomb of a Thracian king ever discovered in
Bulgaria. Its style and its making are entirely new to us
as experts," said Georgy Kitov, the head of the team.
"This unique find will broaden our knowledge of the
masterful goldsmith skills of the Thracians", he told
AFP. According to Kitov, the mausoleum "features an
incredible architecture and is laden with golden, silver,
bronze and earthenware objects." The tomb probably
dates back from the times of the dynasty founded by
Seutus III and includes a 13-meter (40-foot) corridor
leading to three rooms, one of them a huge granite
block hollowed out to form a death chamber, its floor
strewn with more than 70 gold, silver, bronze and clay
objects. Inside one of the rooms the team found a
golden crown of oak leaves and acorns, the first such
object found in a Thracian temple. Also found were a
complete bronze body armor adorned with goddesses,
a sword with a gold-studded pommel, crafted ceramics
and three big wine amphoras. The tomb is equipped
with a marble door on the second chamber decorated
with a female head and the God Apollo.
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The big Arsenalka Tomb, Kazanlak
The Kazanlak Tomb in south Bulgaria is famous for its
beautiful wall paintings of the early 3rd century BC, one of the
most unique masterpieces of Early Hellenistic pictorial art.
Despite the small surface containing the decorative friezes,
the unknown artist has created an exceptional work of art.
This tomb was built during the reign of king Seuthes III, either
for him personally or for close relatives among the nobility.
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Sveshtari Tomb
It is situated 2,5 km south-west of
Sveshtari (a village 42 km north-east of
Razgrad). Uncovered during
excavations of a sepulchral mound.
Dating back, in approximation, to the
first half of the 3rd century BC. The
central camera of the vault is rich in
decoration - it is designed as a facade
of a temple with the image of a
horseman, being bestowed with a
golden wreath by a goddess, and a
religious procession; on three of the
walls - a high relief with 10 stone
statues of clad women figures. The
funeral rites, the building technique,
the architectural design and the
decoration, distinguished for
Hellenistic models, provide evidence
that a Thracian ruler has been buried
there.
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Helvetia Tomb, Shipka
On July 29, 1996 a Thracian tomb of the 4th century
BC was uncovered near the town of Shipka, in the
south foothills of the Balkan Range. Large regular
stones were used to build the tomb, situated five
meters underground. The metal part of a Roman
soldier's shoe found at the site indicates that the
tomb may have been plundered as early as in
Roman times. The Shipka Tombs are seven in
total on an area of Central Bulgaria considered to
have been the Valley of the Thracian Kings.
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Satyr on a bronze situla 4th century BC.
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Starosselo Tomb
Teams of Bulgarian archeologists
made phenomenal discoveries in the
summer of year 2000. One of the
major discoveries was the grave of
what is believed to be a Thracian
ruler. The site, at the village of
Starosselo near Plovdiv in southern
Bulgaria, has been dated from the
forth or fifth century BC. The
two-chamber grave is approached by
monumental stairs and a corridor. It
is surrounded by a wall made out of
some 4 000 stone blocks and was
hidden under a 20-meter high mound
of earth. Within, archeologists found
a magnificent trove of relics,
including a large gold funerary
wreath, other gold jewelry, bronze
shields, helmets and swords, and two
sets of silver decorations for horses.
The grave and its surroundings are
also thought to have been an
important religious site for Thracians.
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Steps leading into the Tomb
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