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TPAKHTE
THE THRACIANS

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KIHlraTa ce 1f3gaBa npe3 2008 r. TOBa e 1843-TaTa roglfHa OT HaqanOTO

Ha 6bJIrapCKaTa gbp.IKaBHocT B EBpona (165 r.) If 1327-MaTa roglfHa OT cb3gaBaHeTO
Ha ,I],YHaBCKa EbnrapIDI (681 r.) OT KaH Acnapyx.
EbnrapIDI e HaH-CTapaTa eBponeiicKa gbpJKaBa, CbII.J;eCTByaama
nog egHo H CbIIJ:O liMe nOBeqe OT oceMHageceT BeKa If C'bxpaHeHa
go gHec OT 6bnrapCKaTa HaIJ;IDI.
This book is published in 2008. This is 1843 years after the beginning of Bulgarian
statehood in Europe (165 AD) and
1327 years after the establishment of Danubian Bulgaria (681 AD) by Kan Asparuh.
Bulgaria is the oldest European state existing under the same name for over eighteen
centuries, and preserved by the Bulgarian nation to this day.

113)J;AH11ETO CE OCbIUECTB5IBA
CbC Cb;J:EMCTB11ETO
HA HAIJJ.10HAJIHl15I UEHThP
3A MY3E11, f AJlEP1111
111130EPA311TEJIH11 M3KYCTBA
KbM Ml1Hl1CTEPCTBO HA KYJITYPATA
HA PEI1YEJIMKA EbJIfAPM5I
IIIpocl>. IJ,HH AJleKcaHIJ,'bp <DOJl

THIS EDITION IS SPONSORED

BY THE NATIONAL CENTRE
FOR MUSEUMS, GALLERIES
AND VISUAL ARTS OF THE
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA.

IProfessor Alexander FoI, Dr. Sc.1

AOI". IJ,IlH BaJlepllH <DOJl

Associate Professor Valeria Fol, Dr. Sc.

TPAKJifTE

THE THRACIANS

E'bAZapCKa

Bulgan'an

Bmopo oonbAHeHO U30aHue

Second edition complemented

([Jomozpacftu: PoceH KOJIeB, l.aBAap CTOH:qeB,

11ao Xa,IJ.2KHMJ1111ea, AJIeKceiI CToea,
BanepIDI <DOJI, I1eTKo KOJIea,
XpHCTO CMOJIeROB, lIIoBHua CTaHKOBCKH
TpacftulleH OU3aUH: I1eTbp ll06pea
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KopeKmop: BHoJIeTa AHApeeBa
TeXHUtleC1CU peoalonop: EOlIGf,ll;ap MHxaH:JIOB

Photographers: Rossen Kolev, Chavdar

Stoychev, Ivo Hadjimishev, A1exey Stoev,
Valeria FoI, Petko Kolev,
Christo Smolenov, Jovica Stankovski
Design: Peter Dobrev
Translator: Nedyalka Chakalova
Layout: Bozhidar Mihailov

<DopMaT

8170/100 em
Printer's sheets 26
Obrazovanie i Nauka LTD Printing House

8/70/100

Format

I1e t IaTHH Komi 26

I1eqaTHHIJ:a ,,06pa30BaHHe 11 HayKa" EA,U

TANGRA TanNakRa Publishing

House Ltd., 2008
ISBN 978-954-378-019-8

TAHfPA TaHHaKPa J1K OOA, 2008

ISBN 978-954-378-019-8

BCMqKM ITpaBa sanaseHH. He e paspellleHo

ny6JIIiKyBaHeTo Ha KHHraTa MJIM Ha qaCTM OT
HeR nOA KaKaaTO Ii p;a e <popMa - eJIeKTpOHHa,
MeXaHIilqHa, <pOTOKOITMpHa, npeSaITHC MJIM ITO
APyr HaqMH - 6es HSPHqHOTO ITHCMeHO
pasperneHIie Ha Hs.o;aTeJIHTe.

.-{-

All rights reserved. The publication of the book

or parts of it in any form whatever - electronic,
mechanical, photocopy, transcript or any other
mode - without written publisher's consent is
forbidden.

.....

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TPAKHTE
AAeKcaHobp (fJOA
BaAepUH (fJOA
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Alexander Fol
Valeria Fol

THE THRACIANS

TAHrPA TaHHaKPa 11K OOA, 2008

TANGRA TanNakRa
Publishing House Ltd, 2008

.-,:.

-:"

06m06bJIrapCKaTa epOH,lJ,a~M51 TaHrpa

TaHHaKPa ,lJ,bJIrI1 rO,lJ,I1HII OpraHII3IIpa H rry6JIIIKyBa ITIICMeHII II BemeCTBeHH H3BOplI, MH,lJ,MBM,lJ,yamrn: MeKHITHM 1I3CJIe,lJ,BaHliI5I, KaKTO M
HayQHOrrorryJI5IpHH 11 06pa30BaTeJIHl1 113,lJ,aHH5I, KOHTO ce OTHaC5IT npe,lJ,H BClfqKO KbM
Hen03HaTIITe, npeHe6perBaHIITe 11 cJIa60 IiI3Yt.IeHI1Te CTpaHI1 OT HCTOplI5ITa If KyJITypaTa
Ha Dbllrapl1Te MHa TeXHHTe ,lJ,bp:>KaBII B EBpO-A3lI5I. Ta3I1 HOBa 11 06nmpsa rrp06JIeMaTliIKa 06XBam;a HalJaJIOTO Ha 060c065IBaReTO
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HerOBaTa npapo,!(I1Ha B TIaMl1pO-XIDI,lJ,YKyrnKH5I perlIoH, CTpYKTypaTa sa e,lJ,HO paHHo 06meCTBO OT CB060,lJ,RH xopa, CbCTaBeHO OT po,lJ,OBe 11 no npoecID:l, OTJUflUiTeJIHHTe 6eJIe3H
sa CHJIHa ueHTpami3lipasa BoeHHorrOJrnTI1t.IeCKa BnaCT, K05ITO oCliIryp5IBa BI1COKO pa3BI1TO 60HSO 1I3KYCTBO, 3aHa5ITQHHCKO H CTPOHTeJIRO-yp6am1CTlfqHO MaHcTopCTBO, a TaKa
CbIUO 1'1 xapaKTepl1CTHKlITe sa pem'lTII5I c MOHOTel1CTl1llHa TeH,lJ,eHI:(H5I, 113pa3eHa B rrOt.IMTTa KbM BbpXOBHM5I ypaHI1QeCKliI 60r TaHTpa.
OT ,lJ,bJI60Ka ,lJ,peBHOCT DbJIraplilTe HOC5IT
3HaRIIe 3a liI3MepBaHe Ha BpeMeTO. )J,peBHO6bJIrapCKI15IT KaneH,lJ,ap rrplilTe)KaBa 113KJIlOt.Il1TeJIHa TOQHOCT OT aCTpOHOMMQeCKa H MaTeMaTI1QeCKa rne,lJ,Ha TOt.IKa.
)J,OKa3aHaTa KyJITypHo-nOBe,lJ,eHt.IeCKa
rrplIeMCTBeHOCT Me:>K,lJ,y 6bJIrapCKl1Te ,lJ,bplKaBH, KOI1TO Bb3HI1KBaT B KaBKa3, ,lJ,HeillHa ApMeHl15I, rrOpet.IM5ITa Ha peKHTe )J,OH 11 BOJIra,
B 06JTaCTl1Te Me:>K,lJ,y KaCITI1HCKO H '1epHo MOpe, Cpe,lJ,Ha II IOr0I13TOY:Ha EBporra, KaKTO H
Ha AneHI1HCKHH nonyocTpoB, HaMl1pa HaHIIbJIHOueHeH 113pa3 B )J,yHaBcKa DbJIraplUI
cne,lJ, Benl1KOJIenHaTa rr06e,lJ,a Ha EbJIrapMTe
Ha,lJ, BII3aHTI1HCKaTa apMlI5I npe3 680 r. I1
cKmoQeHl15I Me)K,[ry ,lJ,BeTe ,lJ,bp)KaBH MRpeH
,lJ,OrOBOp npe3 681 r. C Hero BH3aHTI15I rrpH3HaBa 3ary6aTa Ha QaCT OT BJIa,lJ,eHH5ITa CM Ha
DaJIKaRCKMSl IIOJIyOCTpOB, KOMTO CTaBaT ocHOBa 3a <popMHPaHeTO Ha )J,yHaBcKoTo 6bJIrapcKo UapCTBO - e,lJ,HHCTBesaTa 6bJTrapCKa
,lJ,bp)KaBa o~eJISlJIa ,lJ,0 Hallll1 ,lJ,HM.
B npocTpaHcTBoTO Ha , eBpo-a3HHcKoTO
TpMeHe" }l;bp)KaBlITe Ha DbJIrapHTe noeMaT
OCHOBHMTe y,lJ,ap:M Ha 3aBOeBaTeJIR OT li13TOK

For many years the AIl Bulgarian Tangra

TaNakRa Foundation has been organising
and publishing written and material sources,
individual and team research, as well as academic, popular and educational editions
mainly on the unknown, ignored and poorly
studied aspects of the history and culture of
the Bulgarians and their states in Eurasia.
This new and vast range of issues cover the
beginning of the differentiation of the
Bulgarian people in the last centuries of the
first millennium Be, the localisation of it
ancient native land in the Pamir-Hindoku h
region, the structure of an early society of
free people, composed of clans and profe ions the distinctive features of a strong centralised military and political power that
secured highly developed martial art . craft,
construction and urban planning skills a
well as the characteristics of a religion with
monotheistic tendency, manifested in the
worshipping of the supreme Uranian god
Tangra.
Bulgarians have carried knowledge ahout
the measuring of time since the remotest
antiquity. The ancient Bulgarian calendar is
extremely precise from an astronomical and
mathematical point of view.
The proven cultural and behavioural continuity between the Bulgarian states that
emerged in the Caucasus, in the lands of
present-day Armenia, along the Don and
Volga rivers, in the areas between the
Caspian and the Black Sea, Central and
Southeastern Europe, as well as on the
Apennine Peninsula, is best manifested in
Danubian Bulgaria after the magnificent victory of the Bulgarians over the Byzantine
army in 680 AD and the peace treaty signed
between the two states in 681 AD, with
which the Byzantine Empire admitted the
10 s of a part of its lands in the Balkan
Penin ula which formed the basis for the
formation of the Danubian Bulgarian Empire
- the only Bulgarian state that has survived
to our times.
The states of the Bulgarians took the
main blows coming from conquerors from
the East in the space of "Eurasian friction"

PaHHU 6'bA2apcKU npeceAeHUH (VII 8. np. Xp. - VII 8. CA. Xp.) Unpu6AU3umeAHama
mepUmOpLlJ! Ha TpaKume (II-I XUA. np. Xp.)
Early Bulgarian settlements (7'1t century BC - 7'" century AD) and approximate
territ01y of the Thracians (2nd_l" millenium BC)
R CTaBaT rn;HT Ha EBpona cpe~ TIDe. bbJIra- and became a shield of Europe against them.
The Bulgarian dynast Kan Boris (9 th century)
PCKIDlT BJIa,lleTeJI KaH bOpRC I (IX BeK) e
was the farsighted statesman who expressed
np030PJIRBIDIT ,llbp2KaBHlIK, KOHTO H3pa351Ba
his commitment to the work of the authors of
CBOHTa C'bnpH~acTHoCT K'bM ,lleJIOTO Ha C'b3,llaTemne Ha cTapo6bJITapCKaTa a36yKa H JIH- the Old-Bulgarian alphabet and literature, St.
TepaTypa CB. CB. KHpHJI 1'1 MeTO,llllli np113Ha- Cyril and St. Methodius, who have been
Tl1 3a nOKpOBl1TeJIl1 Ha EBpona, 11 Ha TeXHl1Te recognised as patron saints of Europe, and of
the work of their disciples in Bulgaria.
~eHJiIUI B bbJIrapIDI.
KHp~aTa ,llHeC ce H3IIOJI3Ba OT MHJIHThe Cyrillic alphabet is u ed today by
millions of people in Slavic and other counOHHTe xopa B CJIaBHHCKH H B ,llpyrl1 cTpaHH.
MHcTHTyuHOHaJIl1311paHOTo II Me2KJlYHapO,llHO tries. Its institutionalised international recognpH3HaHIiIe ,llOH,lle npe3 2004 r., KoraTO TH 6e nition came in 2004, when it was proclaimed
o6HBeHa 3a e,llHa OT Ol1~HaJIHHTe a36yKH Ha as one of the official alphabets of the
European Union, and the Bulgarian language
EBponeHcKHH Cb103, a 6bJIrapCKIDIT - 3a
- as one of its working languages.
e,lll1H OT HerOBHTe pa60THH e3H~.
In the early 21'1 century, Bulgaria - one
B Ha~aJIOTO Ha XXI BeK bbJIrapIDI, e,llHa
OT HaH-,llpeBHHTe ,llbp2KaBH B EBporra, 3aBOlO- of the most ancient states in Europe - earned
Ba ,llOCTOHHOTO CH MHCTO B rJI06aJIH3Hparn;HH its due place in the globalising world in a
ce CBHT B ,llyxOBHO cbrrepHH~ecTBo C,llpyrH
spiritual contest with other participants in
that process for a place and role in the
y~acTHH~H B T03H npo~ec 3a MHCTO H pOJIH B
06m;HH CBHT Ha yHHBepCaJIHHTe ~OBeIIIKH
shared world of universal human values.
u;eHHOCTH.
The continuity within the frameworks of
IIpHeMcTBeHocTTa B paMKHTe Ha BbTthe internal traditions in the Bulgarian ethnic
lands is combined effectively with borrowings
peIIIHHTe Tpa,llH~HH no 3eMHTe Ha 6bJIrapCKHTe eTHH~eCKH 3eMJIHrn;a ce Cb~eTaBa pe- from the cultures of other peoples and states
3yJITaTHO 11 eeKTHBHo C'bC 3aeMKH OT KyJI- both during the Antiquity and the Middle
Ages, and during the new times and the
TYPRTe Ha ,llpyrH Hap0,llH H cTpaHH KaKTO
npe3 AHTKtIHocTTa H Cpe,llHOBeKOBHeTo
modern age.

....:....

TaKa:Ii npe3 ROBOTO BpeMe R CbBpeMeHHaTa enoxa.

IIpeRM)'I.IJ:ecTBoTo ,ll;a 6bAe "OTBopeH
np030pe:u;" KbM Hati-A06pRTe np0.SlBIi Ha 1I0BelllKOTO TBoplleCTBO n03BOJUlBa Ha 6bJIrapCKaTa KyJITypa Aa BAbXBa )KJfBOT H Ha 3a6paBeHO 3HaHRe 3a CBeTa, xopaTa Ii Her:u;aTa. TaKOBa 3HaHRe, KoeTO ,ll;Hec ce ,ll;enrn:<pPIipa C
e3RKa Ha HaytUIRTe H3CJIeABaHH5I, CKyJITypRO-HCTopFJtleCKOTO pa3n03HaBaHe Ii CbC co:qHaJIHaTa BaJIOpH3aU.H5I, e ,ll;peBRoTpaKlllicKOTO. .D:peBHOTPaKH.ifcKaTa HCTOpH51 rrpe,ll;CTaBJI5IBa 3RalJHTeJIeH H Ba)KeH ,ll;51JI OT pa3BRTHeTO Ha ,ll;peBHaTa HHAoHpaHCKa KYJITypa, KbM
K05lTO ca np:I1I06r:u;eHH H EbJIrapHTe npe3 nepHO,ll;a Ha pa3:U;BeT Ha CBoeTO 06II(eCTBeHOIIOJIIITHlIeCKO 6HTHe II K05lTO Te 060raT5IBaT
C'bC CBOHTe nOCTIDKeHH5I. KynTYPHO-IICTOPHlIeCKaTa 6JIH30CT MeJK,ll;y CTapHTe TpaKH H
palIIllITe E'bJIrapH, OCb:rn;eCTBeHa Ha OCHOBaTa Ha HH,ll;OHpaHCKaTa 06~OCT, ce H35IB5IBa
KaTO HaTpynBaRe Ha ,ll;yXOBHH H MaTepHaJIHH
CTOHROCTH, KoeTO ,ll;aBa nJIO,ll;OBe IIpH <pOpMHpaReTO Ra .D:YHaBCKa EbJIrapH51.
lI13yQaBaHeTO Ha TpaKRHCKHTe rraMeTHH:qH H Ha TpaKMHCKOTO HCTopHlIeCKO 6MTIie B
,ll;HelllHHTe 6bJIrapCKH 3eMli e Haii-Cbr:u;eCTBeHH51T npHHOC KbM MOAepHaTa TpaKOJIOrH5I,
pa3BHTa B PyCH5I, YKpaHHa, MOJIAOBa, PYMbHH5I,EbJIrapH51, rbpU.H5I, TYPu.H5I,MaKeAOHH5I H B HaytIHH U.eHTpOBe B peARu.a eBponeHCKH CTpaHH.
Ta3H KHlITa CbAbp)Ka nOBeqe 3araAKH,
OTKOJIKOTO OTrOBopH Ha 3aAa,ll;eHH BbnpOCM.
EAmI H311e3HaJI aHTHqeH HHAoeBponeHCKH
HapO,ll, OCTaB5I nOCJIaHH51 Ha MHorOCTpaHHaTa
CH KyJITypa, KOHTO ca KOAHpaHH BbB <pOpMHTe, I.J;BeTOBeTe yKpacHTe, TeXHOJIOrIiHTe H
<pYHKu.HHTe Ha H3,ll,eJI:H5I H CTpOeJKH. rOJI5IMaTa TaMua Ha HCTOpHtIeCKH.SI npHHOC Ha TpaKHTe B eBporreMCKaTa H B CBeTOBHaTa KYJITYpa ce HapHqa 0p<peH. TOBa l1IMe e rrapOJIa Ha
e,ll,Ha apHCTOKpaTHqeCKa yCTHa KyJITypa, K05ITO XHJI5IAOJIenm ce H3pa351Ba B 06peAII II CBe:r.u;eHH 3aKJIHHaHH5I. Te rrp06yJK,IJ;aT II03HaHHeTO y nOCBeTeHH51 Qpe3 ,ll;eikTBH5I H MeJIOAeKJIaMHpaHO CJIOBO, 3a,ll,a B,ll;bXHaT 6e3CMbpTHa
eHeprFUI Ha qOBelIlKIDI HHTeJIeKT 3a BeQHO
CbTBOp5IBaHe Ha KpaCOTa H .D:06po.

The advantage of being an "open window" to the best manifestations of human

creativity has given an opportunity to
Bulgarian culture to breathe life into the forgotten knowledge about the world, about
people and things. The ancient Thracian
knowledge is such knowledge, and it is deciphered today with the language of research,
with the cultural-historical identification and
with the social valorisation. Ancient Thracian
history is a substantial and important part in
the development of the ancient Indo-Iranian
culture to which the Bulgarians were also
associated during the period of flourishing of
their social and political life, which they
enriched with their achievements. The cultural and historical closeness between the old
Thracians and the early Bulgarians, achieved
on the basis of the Indo-Iranian community,
was manifested in the form of accumulation
of spiritual and material values, which bore
fruit during the formation of Danubian
Bulgaria.
The study of the Thracian monuments
and of the Thracian historical way of life in
the present-day Bulgarian lands constitutes
the most essential contribution to modern
Thracology, which developed in Rus ia,
Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria,
Greece, Turkey, Macedonia and in research
centres in a number of European countries.
This book contains more enigmas than
answers to questions posed. An ancient IndoEuropean people, which has disappeared,
has left messages of its multifaceted culture,
which have been encoded in the shapes,
colours, decoration, technologies and functions of articles and buildings. The big secret
of the historical contribution of the
Thracians to European and world culture
bears the name of Orpheus. That name is
the password of an aristocratic oral culture,
expressed over the millennia in rites and
sacred spells. They awaken Knowledge in
the initiated person through actions and
through the word of melodeclamation
o as to inspire immortal energy into the
human intellect for eternal creation of
Beauty and Good.

IInPBATA EBPOIIEMCKA ~l1Bl1JI113All;Jffi

THE FIRST EUROPEAN CIVILISATION

Ilpe3 1972 r. Ha 6pera Ha e3epoTo Kpaft

rOJIeMIUI 6'bJIrapCKll npllCTaHllI..U:eH rpa,a: BapHa
(aHT. O,a:ecoc) Ha lJepHo Mope egllH CMa51H
TpaKTopHcT 3arpe6Ba 3JIaTeH :tKe3'bJI II 3JIaTHll
rpHBHM. ApXeOJI03MTe OT BapHeHcKM51 My3eft,
KOMTO TOft nOBMKBa, yCTaHOB51BaT, lIe TpaKTOp'bT e nona,o:HaJI Ha pa3KOIIIHH norpe6eHM5l,
no-cTapll OT OHe3H Ha n'bpBHTe enmeTCKll apaOHM. Ha p'bIJ;eTe Ha BJIaAeTeJIllTe ca
HaH1l3aHM 3JIaTHM rpMBHM, OT lllM5lTa BMC51T no
H51KOJIKO or'bpmU.J;M OT CTOTllI..J;IT 3JIaTHM
M'bHllCTa, gpeXMTe ca 06111MTM C'bC 3JIaTHM
IIJIaCTMHKM, C'bC 3JIaTHll aIIJIMKaI..J;MM ca
yKpaceHll IT TMapITTe Ha rnaBllTe MM. B
rpo60BeTe ca OTKpllTIT yKpallleHM51 OT MIT,a:IT,

.....

In 1972, along the lake near the big Bulgarian

sea port Varna (ancient Odessos) on the Black
Sea, an amazed tractor-driver hit a gold sceptre
and gold bracelets. The archaeologists from the
Varna Museum whom he called found that the
tractor had hit magnificent burials that were older
than the burials of the first Egyptian pharaohs.
The arms of the dynasts were decorated with gold
bracelets, several necklaces of hundreds of gold
beads each were hanging on their necks, gold
plaques were sewn in their clothes, and gold
appliques adorned the tiaras on their heads.
Articles of adornment made of seashells brought
from the Mediterranean Sea were discovered in
the graves, as well as clay vessels evoking adrnira-

l1apcKO-JKpeLf-eCKU 2jJo6
(.M 43) om BapHeHcKU5l
eHeOllwneH HeKpOllOll

Grave of a king-priest
(No. 43) from the
Eneolithic necropolis in
Varna

.:"

3AamHo CbKpOBuU/e
om C. XomHw/a,
BeAUKombpH06cKO,
KbCHa eHeOAumHa enoxa
Gold treasure from the village of Hotnitsa, Veliko
Tumovo district. Late
Eneolithic Age

300.!l'lOpell eAUHell coo om

ceAUU/Ha A'102UAa npu c.
KapaHoBo, HOBo3aeopcKo,
KbCHa eHeOAumHa enoxa
Zoomorphic clay vessel from
a tell near the viLLage of
Karanovo, Nova Zagora district. Late Eneolithic Age

)];OHeCemr OT Cpe,uM3eMHo MOpe, MrJIMHeHM Cb,uoBe, KOMTO npe)];M3BMKBaT Bb3XJil~eHMe c M35I~ecTBoTo Ha opMMTe MCYKpacaTa CM, nOH5IKora Cb~O 3naTHa - e,uHa oT,uaBHa 3a6paBeHa
TeXHOJIOrM5I 3a MHKpycTMpaHe Ha 6naropo,ueH
MeTaJI BrJIMHa.
B T03M HeKponon, pa3nonolKeH BbPXY nOBeqe OT 10 000 M2 nnom, ca M3BbprneHM Mnorpe6eHM5I 6e3 nOKOMHMI.J:M (KeHoTaM). B TID{ ce no5lB51BaT caMO 3naTHM CKMnTpl1, YKparneHM5I H
KpeMbqHM Opb)Klffi. B ,uBe OT rp06HMTe 5lMli ca
OTKpMTM fJIMHeHH M)];OJIM, T. Hap. MaCKM, KOMTO
ca OOpMeHM MCbC 3JIaTHH llJIaCTMHM. Ha qenaTa MM ca nOJIOlKeHM 3naTHM ,ul1a)];eMM, a Ha yrnMTe MM BMC51T 3naTHM 06ewr. 06pa3M Ha 60roBe
JIM CKpHBaT Te3H Hagrp06M5I? .IJ:yxOBeTe Ha nagHami B6MTKM repOM JIM npmoT51BaT KeHOTaHTe
MnM Ha H3qe3HaJIM rrpe,uBogI1TenM?
.IJ:ocera pa3KonaHMTe Ha,u 300 rp06a noKa3BaT CbcnOBHO pa3CJIOeHHe BgMHaMMQHO
06~ecTBo, pbKOBO)];eHO OT :u;ape CpeJIMrII03Ha
BnaCT 11 OT apHcTOKpaTl1. KOHHl1I.J:l1 CKOTOBbgM, npMrnbJIIJ;11 OT ceBepHOqepHOMOpcKMTe
CTenM, MeCTHM lKl1TenM, KOMTO BeKOBe Hapeg
o6pa60TBaT nno,uopO)];HaTa TpaKMMcKa 3eM51,
M3KyCHM MIIHbOPM I1 3aHa51Tql1H - BJIa,uenIJ;11 Ha
MeTana H OrbH51, KaKTO II 6e3CTparnHM MOP51I.J:M

tion with the exquisiteness of their forms and with

their decoration, sometimes also made of gold - a
long-forgotten technology of incrusting precious
metal into clay.
Burials without deceased bodies (cenotaphs)
were performed in that necropolis which spreads
over an area of more than 10,000 m2 They yielded only gold sceptres, articles of adornment and
flint weapons. Clay idols, the so-called masks
shaped with gold plaques, were found in two of
the grave pits. Gold diadems were placed on their
foreheads and gold earrings hung from their ears.
Did these sepulchral monuments hide images of
deities? Were the cenotaphs the last refuge for the
spirits of warriors who had fallen in battle or military leaders who had disappeared?
The more than 300 graves excavated so far
demonstrate the class stratification in a
dynamic society governed by kings who had
religious power and by aristocrats. Horsemenstockbreeders, settlers coming from the
Northern Black Sea steps, indigenous population who for centuries tilled the fertile
Thracian land, skilled miners and craftsmen
who had conquered the metal and the fire, as
well as fearless seamen who deftly steered
their ships by hand, built the first European

10

- MaHCTOpH Ha pollHOTO KopMyBaHe, H3rpaJKJ];aT IIpes V XHJI. rrp. Xp. KpaJ.i BapHa HBJ];pyrH
cpeJ];HII{a OT M3TOQlIIDl J];51JI Ha EaJIKaHCKIDI rroJIyOCTpoB nopBaTa eBporrenCKa UHBMJIM3aUIDI.
T5I ce }J;aTMpa npe3 eHeOJIMTHaTa (xaJIKOJIMTHaTa) enoxa, K05ITO B IOroH3TotIHa EBporra ce
pa3TIOJIara TIpe3 R CJleA V XIDI. np. Xp. IiI rrpeJ];CTaBJI5IBa rrOCTIDKeID:Ie Ha Hali-paHHaTa Co3HaTeJIHa OpraIDi3a.I:I;IDI Ha cOIJ;RyMa BEBpo-A3H51
- cemnua ce IIJIamlpaT IiI YKpeIl5lBaT, BARraT ce
CBeTIiIillIm;a, 3a ,n;a rrpMBJIeKaT H CoxpaH5IT 60.lKeCTBeHaTa eHeprIDI Ha rrOtII-lTaHH He6eCHli
TeJIa, 3aTIOtIBaT Aa ce M3TIHCBaT TIMKTOrpaMH.
HaCThIlBa Co~HHCKOTO caMOOCo3HaBaHe Ha
HHAHBMAa, rpyTIaTa, 06~HOCTra, KOeTO npe,n;Be~aBa eTHoKYJITYPHa KOHCOJIH,lJ.aIJ,IDI. Ilpe3
III HII XHJI. rrp. Xp. TpaKHTe 3arrOl.J:BaT CTa6HJIHO Aa ce 060c065IBaT KaTO eAHH OT Hai1:MHOrOJIIO,n;HHTe HH}J;oeBporrencKH Hapo}J;lI OT

civilisation near Varna and in other settlements in the eastern part of the Balkan
Peninsula in the Sib millennium Be. This civilisation is dated to the Eneolithic (Chalcolithic)
Age, which continued in Southeastern Europe
after the Sib millennium BC as well and was an
achievement of the earliest conscious organisation of the socium in Eurasia: settlements were
planned and fortified, sanctuaries were erected
in order to attract and preserve the divine
energy of worshipped celestial bodies, and pictograms began to be written. The individual,
the group and the community began to gain
real self-awareness, which anticipated ethnic
and cultural consolidation. During the 3'd and
the 2nd millennium BC, the Thracians began to
be steadily differentiated as one of the most
numerous Indo-European peoples from their
Indo-Iranian cultural and linguistic part in the

Thl

the

KaAteflHa Haoepo6Ha
aHmponoAlopHa cmeAa
om c. Heswa, BapHeHCKO,
paHHa 6poH30sa enoxa
Stone funerary
anthropomorphic stele from
the village of Nevsha near
Varna. Early Bronze Age

06U1 nOZAeo K'bAt IOAeAtLlJl

ocmpos c eHeOAUmHOmO
ceAUUJe U fleKponOA
ItpU c. J(ypaHKYAaK
General view of the Large
island with the Eneolithic
settlement and necropolis
near the village of
Dourankoulak

.'

.:~

'[paKume u
TpOJlHCKama BOUHa

Thracians and
the Trojan War

0,

'Jm

lUll

12

MHgoMpaHcKHH MM KyJrrypHOe3MKOB AHJI B

lOrOM3TOQHO KOHTfIHeHTaJIHOTO cpegMme Ha
Ha'IaJIHa IlligoeBpOrrelBal.(IDI.
J.1HgoMpaHCKaTa KyJITypHO-e3MKOBa npMHagJIe:tKHOCT Ha TpaKHTe rrpegcTaBJIHBa egHo
OT Haii-6JIarorrpMHTHMTe yCJIOBMH 3a HCTOpMQeCKaTa cpema Ha 3aBapeHOTO MeCTHo HaceJIeRRe CEbJIrapHTe - Abp2KaBOHOCHTeJIH, K05.lTO ce OCbI.IJ;eCTB5.lBa rrpe3 rrepMoga IV-VII B.
ToraBa EbJIrapMTe gORac5.lT HHgoMpaHcKM
K)'JITYPHo-e3HKoBM Tpa):(MIum, KORTO ce OKa3BaT CMJIeR epaKTop M3a CbxpaH5.lBaHeTO Ha aHTMlIHOTO HacnegcTBo, M3a yCTOll'lMBOTO M3rpaJKgaHe Ha AYHaBCKa EbnrapIDI.
HaMMeHoBaHMeTO TpaKM 3a Hapoga, KORTO
JKMBee npe3 BpeMeTo Ha rrHcaHaTa IfCTOpMH Ha
ceBep OT EJIa):(a, e yrroTpe6eHO 3a rrpbB rrbT OT
OMHp (Hom. II. 2. 844-850). C Hero TOM: HapH'la BOIlliMTe, gOIIlJIIf B rroMo~ Ha TPOH OT 3eMMTe Me)KAY gecHH5.I 6p5.lr Ha XeJIeCnOHTa (gH.
AapgaHeJIM) HgonHoTo Te'IeHHe Ha p. MapMlJ;a
(aRT. Xe6poc). C pa31I1Hp}'IBaHeTo Ha n03HaHMeTO Ha gpeBHHTe EJrnHIf 3a TeXm'ITe Haii-6nH3KH CbceAH eTHOHMMbT TpaKM nOCTeneHHO ce
pa3npocTMpa BbPXY 06Iill1pHaTa TepMTopHH OT
IO)KffiITe KapnaTH go EreiicKo Mope H CeBep03anagHa Mana A3HH. 3aToBa HB Ha'laJIOTO
Ha V B. np. Xp. XepogoT IIHIlle (Her. 5. 3. 1),
'Ie TpaKHllCKMHT Hapog e HaH-rOJI5lM cneg HHglrifCKIDI OT BCM'IKl1 xopa M'Ie aKO Toii ce ynpaBJI5.lBa OT egHoro If e eAHHoAYJIIeH nog
BnaCTTa MY, TOll 6M 6Hn Hen06egMM If MHoro
nO-CMneH OT BCM'lKM HapogIol:.
Ta3M 3eM5.I liMa Hgpyro HMe. B e):(HH 3ana3eH epparMeHT ApHaH (I-II B.) pa3Ka3Ba
(Arrian. Bith. fr. 13), 'le T5.I ce HapH'lana OTHa'laJIO I1epKe, T.e. CKana CKaJIeH BpbX, a noKbCHO 6MJIa HapeqeHa TpaKe Ha HMeTO Ha
HHMepaTa TpaKe, KOHTO ,,6Mna Bema B 6aHHM5.lTa If 6HnKMTe n Morna, OT egHa CTpaHa, ga
OTJIb'lBa cTpagaHMHTa 'lpe3 6IDurn, a OT gpyra
- ga fn npHlI~a . AyMMTe Ha ApMaH oTpa3HBaT y6eAeHocTTa Ha gpeBHHTe HapogH B
IOrOM3TO'lHa EBpona, 'le TpaKMTe ca )J;bJI60KO BHpBamH Mca BCbCT05.lHMe - KaTO CbIllMHCKM BbnlIle6HHII,H - ga 3aCTaB5.lT 60roBeTe ga
M3rrbJIH5.lBaT BOJIHTa MM.

southeastern mainland centre of initi.al IndoEuropeanisation.

The Indo-Iranian cultural and linguistic
belonging of the Thracians was one of the most
favourable conditions for the historic encounter
between the indigenous population and the
Bulgarians who brought with them the tate
structure, which took place in the period
between the 4th and the 7th century. It was at
that time that the Bulgarians brought IndoIranian cultural and linguistic traditions, which
proved to be a strong factor both for the preservation of the ancient heritage and for the stable
establishing of Danubian Bulgaria.
The name Thracians was first used by
Homer to denote the people living to the north
of Hellas at the time of written history (Hom.
Il. 2. 844-850). He used it for the warriors who
had come to help Troy from the lands between
the right shore of the Hellespontos (presentday Dardanelles) and the lower course of the
Maritsa River (ancient Hebros). When the
knowledge of the ancient Greeks about their
closest neighbours increased, the ethnonym
Thracians gradually spread over the vast territory from the Southern Carpathians to the
Aegean Sea and Northwestern Asia Minor.
This is why, Herodotus wrote in the beginning
of the 5th century BC that the Thracian people
was the most numerou after the Indians (Her.
5. 3. 1), and that if that people was ruled by
one person and was united under his rule, it
would be invincible and much stronger than all
other peoples.
This land had another name as well. In a
preserved fragment Arrian (lSI_2nd century) narrates that it was initially called Perke, i.e., rock,
rocky peak (Arrian. Bith. fro 13), and was named
much later Thrake after the name of the nymph
Thrake who was claimed to have been "skilled in
magic spells and herbs, capable of eliminating
pain, on the one hand, and on the other - of
causing it." Arrian's words reflect the conviction
of the ancient peoples in Southeastern Europe
that the Thracians were deeply religious and that
they were capable - like real magicians - of
making the gods fulfil their will.

.-.:.

CIG
8.11

Ma
Roo

Ka,
Tw

.'

CKOA.HO C6emUA.UllJe
6 AI. KaA1.bKbm,
MaAKOlnbpHOOCKO

Rock sanctuary in the

Kamukut locality near Malko
Tumovo

13

rEPOlfTE HA EIIOCA If HA MlfTA

THE HEROES OF THE EPIC TRADITION
AND OF THE MYTH

14

Pa3BMTKeTO Ha M3TOtIHOTO CpeJU13eMHOMOpHe npeg BTopaTa nOJIOBlllia Ha II XKJI. np.

Xp. ce xapaKTepH3Hpa c JIOKaJIHR oc06eHOCTH,
jleMOrpapCKlI H BoeHHOrrOJIHTHqeCKH CbTpeceHM5I, HO MCKYJIT)'pHO-HCTOpHqeCKa rrpHeMcTBeHocT ape3 rrpeXop;HJue CTOJIenr5I OT KpaSI
Ra II MOT HaqaJIOTO Ha I XHJI. np. Xp. Ta3M
npMeMcTBeHocT 3anO'IBa p;a ce npOCJIe;n,SIBa OT
pHrypaTa Ha BJIajleTeJISI, KOllTO e ;n,bp)KaJI B
pbn;eTe CM BeJIMKOJIenHMSI 06pe;n,eH cepBM3 C
Terno OT 12,5 Kf 3JIaTO.
CepBM3'bT e OTKpl1T Kpall c. B'bJIqMTP'bH
npH rp. IlJIeBeH (UeHTparrHa CeBepHa EbJIraPI15I) Hce ;n,aTMpa rrpe3 BTOpaTa rrOJIOBMHa Ha II
mJI. rrp. Xp. TOM ce CbCTOM OT C'bp;OBe Crroxrrynan;M:, OT qanrn: MOT e;n,HH TpM)J.eJIeH Cb;n" CbCTaBeR OT Bo;n,orrJIaBan{l'l: IITMn;M, CBbp3aHM CTPb6lJl1KH npH KOpeMMTe. .HCHO e, 'Ie BJIa;n,eTeJISIT,
paBHonOCTaBeffiIK Ha AraMeMHOH, A.xRn 11 XeKTOp, lIMa rrpasoMOIIJ,IDITa p;a M3BbpDIBa CbC Cb;n,OBeTe Bb3JIli1.5IHIDI CA'b)K)J.OBHa Bo;n,a, KpbB OT
)KepTBOrrpHHeceHO iKHBOTHO (BImO), MeA, MIDlKO
H/HJIH MaCJIHHOBO Macno. TOll e nbpBo~en; 11
H3BbplIIBa rrpeqHCTB~ 06pep; CDC CBern;eHa re'IHOCT BbPXY KaMeHeH H/mm: rJIHHeH OJITap, Ha
KOHTO MO)Ke ;n,a ropH HOIDH, HIDl HanpaBO Bbpxy 3eMSITa rrpe3 orrpe;n,eJIeH p;eH MHa orrpe)J.eJIeHO CBemeHO MSICTO IIO;n, OTKpMTO He6e a If B
rpa)J.eHO CBeUUUiIn;e. BJIa)J.eTeJISIT 6H MOIDJI )J.a
rrOp'bCR o)J.e)K)J,KTe CM CKarrKlI OT Te'IHOCTTa, KOeTO My p;aBa rrpaBOTO )J.a BJIaCTBa rrpe3 HOBM5I
ep;HOrOAmneH n;MKbJI, oCB060;n,eH OT rrperperneHM5ITa CR.
CKHIlTpMTe, 6JISICKaBMTe YKpaCH 3a KOHeTe, napap;HMTe Mb)f{J(H O)J.e)K)J.M 11 BbOpb:>KeHlol5I
OT 6p0H3 M6JIaropo;n,HH MeTaJIM He M3qe3BaT B
TpaKI15I COTMHpaHeTO Ha erroxaTa Ha M11KeHCKHTe n;ape. B ApeBHa EJIa;n,a 11CTOpHqeCKOTO
pa3BHTMe rroeMa BApyra rrOCOKa - BJIaAeHHSITa, p'bKOBOAeHH OT u;ape-)KpeI.J;M, ce rrpeycTpoiiBaT BrpaAOBe-A'bp)KaBH (rrOJIHCH). CaMO BH5IKOH eJIHHCKH 06JIacnr 06peAHTe HB5IpBaHMTa
llJ,e HarrOMH5IT 3a T03H ApeBeH CJIaBeH rrepHOp;.
B TpaK11SI 06a"lJe TaKHBa npOMeHM He HaCTbnBaT. ,[(0 BpeMeTO Ha AJIeKcaHP;bp Bemnrn
CTpaHaTa rrpO)J.bJIJKaBa Aa )K]ffiee B COn;liaJIHOHKOHOMHqeCKaTa Ii IIOJIHTHtfeCKaTa CTpYKTypa,

..;.

The development of the Eastern

Mediterranean during the second half of the 2nd
millennium BC was characterised by local specificities, demographic, military and political turbulence, but also by cultural and historical continuity during the preceding centuries of the late 2nd
and early 1 millennium Be. That continuity
could be traced back to the figure of the ruler
who was holding in his hands a magnificent ritual
set made of gold and weighing 12.5 kg.
The set was discovered near the village of
Vulchitrun, Pleven district (North Central
Bulgaria) and is dated to the second half of the
2nd millennium Be. It consists of vessels with lids,
cups and a tripartite vessel composed of aquatic
birds linked with tiny pipes at their bellies. It is
clear that the dynast, who was of an equal rank
to Agamemnon, Achilles and Hector, was
empowered to perform libations with the vessels,
using rain water, the blood of some sacrificial animal (or wine), honey, milk and/or olive oil. He
was the first priest and performed a purifying rite
with a sacred liquid over a stone and/or clay altar
on which fire could burn, or directly on the earth,
on a pecific day and at a specific sacred place
under the open sky or in a specially built sanctuary. The dynast could also sprinkle his garments
with drops from the liquid, which gave him the
right to rule during the new one-year cycle, having been freed from his tran gressions.
The sceptres, the shining ornamentation of
the horses, the parade male attire and the
weapons made of bronze and precious metals did
not disappear in Thrace with the dying out of the
age of the Mycenaean kings. llistorical development in ancient Greece took another course: the
lands governed by kings-priests were reconstructed into city-states (poleis). Only in some areas of
Hellas the rights and the beliefs were to convey
memories of that glorious ancient period.
However, no such changes occurred in Thrace.
Until the time of Alexander the Great, the land
continued to live with the social, economic and
political structure inherent to Homer's
Mycenaean antiquity of the 2nd millennium Be.
The conservative aristocratic character of society was supported by evidence of the construcSl

.'

rrpIICbIllJI Ha MIIKeHCKaTa OMlIpOBa ;o:peBHOCT

OT II XHJI. rrp. Xp. KOHCepBaTlIBHO aplICTOKpaTIflleCKIDIT XapaKTep Ha 06IIJ,eCTBOTO ce rrO;O:Kperr5I C;o:aHHII 3a CTpOIITeJICTBO Ha pe3II;o:eHJJ;lIlI-CBeTIIJIlIIIJ,a II Ha rrJIaHOBO perYJIIIpaHII ceJIIIIIJ,a, 3a npOII3BO;O:CTBO, BHOC II yrroTpe6a Ha
Opb)KM.5I II CetIRBa MrrMIIJ,HlI II3;o:eJIIDI OT 6JIaropo;o:eH MeTarr ;0:0 MCJIep; Tp05IHCKaTa BoHHa.
OCHOBHIITe paHOHM OT KapTaTa Ha MIIKeHCKa
TpaKlI5I ca pa3rrOJI02KeHlI B CeBep03anap;Ha
MaJIa A3M5I, no CeBepHoereHCKOTO, TIporroHTMHCKOTO (MpaMopHOMOpCKOTO) II 3ana;O:HOtIepHOMOpCKOTO KpaH6pe)KM.e, KaKTO 1I rro TetIeHIDITa Ha rOJIeMMTe I02KHOTpaKMiIcKM peKlI
MapMJJ;a (aHT. Xe6poc), TYHp;2Ka (aHT. TOH30C), MecTa (aHT. HecTOc) II CTpyMa (aHT.
CTpMMOH) 3aep;HO CnpOCTpaHCTBOTO P;O Bapp;ap (aHT. AKCIIOC). H5IKOM 3eMlI no TetIeHIIeTO
Ha )J;OJIHIDI )J;yHaB CbIIJ,O npe;O:CTaBJI5IBaT P;5IJI
OT MMKeHCKaTa TpaKMHCKa 06IIJ,HOCT.
TpaKHTe, KOIITO eJIMHCKM MJIaTMHCKH rroeTlI
II rrp03aHJJ;H HapMtIaT "CIIHOBe Ha 60ra Ha BOHHaTa Apec" MJIlI Ha "ceBepHIDI B5IThp DopeH",
OTMBaT no;o: Tpo5I, 3a ;o:a ce Cpa2KaBaT cpeIIJ,y
AxeMTe Ha CTpaHaTa Ha CBOIITe pop;CTBeHIIJJ;.M.,
Bop;eHlI OT JJ;ap TIpIIaM. TpaKHikKlITe CbI03HlIJJ;II
Ha Tp05IHHTe IIp;BaT, KaKTO ce 1I3pa35IBa OMlIP,
OT "TJIbCTOnOtIBeHaTa TpaKIDI", "MaHKa Ha OBJJ;e ", Te ca "KOHeB'b;O:lI" 1I "KorrIIeHOCJJ;II"'" 6OMIJ,II
Ha KOJIecHIIJJ;lI". 3HaTHII II MOrnIIJ,II, rpaKHHcKHTe B02K;I:(OBe ce n05IB5IBaT BCTaHa Ha Tp05IHIITe C
IJ,HJIOTO BeJIlIKOJIerrIIe Ha 6pOH30BOTO CII BbOPb2KeHHe Mca paBHlf no 6JI5ICbK 1I CJIaBa Ha C'b103HlIJJ;lI If Ha rrpOTlIBHlfJJ;lI. Ha 60HHOTO nOJIe ce
n05IB5IBa TIeifpoH, npep;BOp;lfTeJI Ha TpaKHTe OT

tion of residences-sanctuaries and of planned

regulated settlements for the production, import
and use of weapons and tools, as well as of magnificent objects made of precious metals, before
and after the Trojan War. The principal regions
on the map of Mycenaean Thrace were located
in Northwestern Asia Minor, along the Northern
Aegean, Propontis (Sea of Marmara) and
Western Black Sea coasts, as well as along the
big rivers in Southern Thrace - Maritsa (ancient
Hebros), Toundja (ancient Tonzos), Mesta
(ancient Nestos) and Strouma (ancient Strymon)
- together with the lands all the way to the
Vardar (ancient Axios). Some lands along the
Lower Danube also formed a part of the
Mycenaean Thracian community.
The Thracians, referred to by Greek and
Latin poets and writers as "sons of the war god
Ares" or of the "north wind Boreas", went below
the walls of Troy to fight against the Achaeans on
the side of their relatives led by King Priam. The
Thracian allies of the Trojans came, in the words
of Homer, from the "fat-soiled Thrace", "mother
of sheep", they were "horse-breeders" and
"spear-carriers", "warriors riding chariots." Noble
and powerful, the Thracian noblemen appeared
in the camp of the Trojans with the entire splendour of their bronze weapons, being equal in
glamour and glory both to allies and to adversaries. Peiroos, the leader of the Thracians,
appeared on the battlefield from the "stormy
Hellespontos" (present-day Dardanelles) and
fought against Pyraichmes, who was leading the
"crooked-bowed Paeonians" from the valley of
the Axios river. Of the two Peiroos fell, struck in
aapCKO-JlCpelfeCKU 3Aame1t cep8U3, omKpwn npu c. BoAlfUmpoH, nAe8eHcKo. Om cep8u3a ca 3ana3eHU 13 npeoA1ema C 06Ulo me2AO 12,425 K2 - 20ARA1a 3AamHa KYna, eDHa
eOARA1a U mpu nO-AtaAKU 'laUiU 3a nueHe C eOHa DpoJICKa,
G8a 20AeA1U U nem nO-A1aAKU Kanal1u C AyK08uOHU OpoJICKU
UmpuoeAeH Coo. Bmopama nOAOBUHa Ha II XUA. np. )(p.
Royal-pn'estly gold set discovered near the village of
Vulchitmn, Pleven district, ThiJ1een gold objects with a total
weight of 12.425 kg have been preserved from the set: a large
gold bowl, one large and three smaller cups with a handle for
dn'nking, two large and five smaller lids. and a tripaJtite vessel, Second half of the second millennium Be

15

C'b~
3eAt.

XU"
Bmo.
XUA.
ce Cj
eon,
6110f

6uJll
JlmH

KOJIC.
Aem

,,6YPHO B"bJIHymlIIJ;IDI ce XeneCnOHT" ()J;H. nap,o:aHeJU1), Cpax<aBa ce R IlHpeX"bM, KOtITO rrpe,o:B02K,l.J.a "KpKBOJI"bKJilTe IIeOIDI" OT ,o:omlHaTa Ha
p. AKCROC. OT ,[(BaMaTa na,o:HaJI IIeiipoR, y.rryqeH
BlDpAIITe CMe,I:UIO KOIme, HO BparoBeTe He B3HMaT AocneXlfTe, 0P"b:>KneTO 11 Tpyrra MY, 3al.lJ,OTO
,0:0 Hero CT05IT ,o:pyrapRTe MY c KO.llilll. BP"bn:e.
TexmITe KOCH ca BtIeCaHH Ha OCT"bP nepqeM Ha
TeMeTO. Te oT6JI"bCKBaT Hamrral.l1,HTe AxeM ,0:0ToraBa, AOKaTO Hana,a;aTeJIMTe HaR-ceTHe n065l.rBaT C"bC CTPax:.
HaR-3HaTHH5IT M3Me)K):(y BCMtIKM TpaKJilRCKH.
IT"bpBeHUM npM Tp05I e Pe30c, CMH"bT Ha EiioHeR,
KORTO onma rrpM Tpo5I c rr"bCTpaTa CM KOJIeCHHn:a MCJI"bCKaB 6Mq HanpaBJI5IBa KpaclIBMTe CM
e,a;pR KOHe, nO-6eJIM OT CH5If, 6"bP3M KaTO BlIX"bp.
TOR HOCM rpaManHH 3JIaTHM 0P"bJKH5I. "He no,a;X02K,l.J.aJIM Te - B"b3KJIHKBa OMlip - Ha xopan ,o:a
fl1 HOC5IT, a no-cKopO Ha 6e3CM"bPTHHTe 60fO-

nAa(
6U.tU
'teH
LlAU
c. 1~

the heart by a copper spear, but the enemies did

not take his armour, weapons and body, because
his comrades-in-arms stood next to him with
spears in their hands. Their hair was piled high
on the back of their heads. They repulsed the
attacking Achaeans until the invaders ran away in
fear at long last.
Rhesos, son of Eioneos, was the noblest
among all Thracian aristocrats near Troy. He
went to Troy with his multicoloured chariot and
with a shining whip he guided his beautiful large
horses, whiter than snow and fast as the wind. He
also carried enormous gold weapons. According
to Homer, it did not befit men to carry them, as
they were more appropriate for the immortal
gods. Rhesos brought with him numerous warriors, almost all of them with beautiful weapons.
The poet went on to narrate that they fell asleep,
exhausted by the long and tiring march, Rhesos

TpUOeAeH C1>O am ~{apCKO

JlC.pe'leCKUJl cep6u3, omKpum
npu c. B-bA'IUmpbH,
flAe6eHcKo. Tpume AucmoBUOHO u3jJa6omeHu cboa ca
CB'bjJ3aHU nOAteJICoy CU c
eAeKmpOH06U mp'b6U'IKU.
Te2Ao 1,190 K2
Tripartite vessel from a royal
priestly set ofgold vessels di covered near the village of
Vulchitnm, Pleven district.
The three leaf-like vessels are
interconnected by means of
electron tubes. Weight 1.19 kg

TreG

terri
Pan.
Om.
the:
The
cent
and
allo]
mos
pect.
silve
cal}
plac
with
bonl
p. ]1

KaA!eHeH CKIlI/mbp om
c. JIIOAUH, JlA-16oACKO,
KbCHa 6poH30ea enoxa
Stone sceptre from the village
of Lyulin, Yambol District,
Late Bronze Age

18

3AW

oml

6U3.
'Ium
4,39:

Galt
the I
VesSI
villa,
distr

-;'.

CbKpOBUl/,fe, omKpumo B
3eAtAuu/emo lia c. JIaHaiiom
XumoBo, OMypmazcKo,
Bmopama nOAOBUHa Ha II
XUA. np. Xp. CbKpOBuu/emo
ce CbCl1l0U am cpe6bpHu u
eOHa om eAeKmpoH .IlyHOBUOIl11 nAacmuml, KOW1l0 ca
6UAU npuKfJeneHu Hau--f3epoJlI1lHO Kamo HazpboHuK K'bJn
KO:JKeHa pU3liuLfa, cpe60pHLI
AeH11lU Uno..rycepU'lHU
J1J1aCmllHU. CbKp08uuJemo e
6UAO J1OAO:JKeHO 8 KepaAtU'leH coo 6e3 CAeOLI am nene;t
Will Kocmu (c. 18 - 1, 2:
c. 19 -3,4)
JCKOllKpWn
,lcmoca

~oa
:l.C

~I\.'U.

royal
els dise of
rict.
:els are
nsof
1.19 kg
I

Treasure discovered on the

territory of the village of
Panayot Hitovo near
Omourtag. Second half of
the second millennium Be.
The treasure consists of crescent-shaped silver plaques
and one plaque made of the
allny electron, which were
most probably attached as a
pectoral to a leather cuirass,
silver bands and semi-spherical plaques. The hoard was
placed in a ceramic vesse~
without traces of ash or
bones (p. 18 -1, 2;
p. 19 -3.4)

'11

a
~ village
.trict,

Be". Pesoc ,lJ;OBe)K):(a CbC ce6e CM MRor06pollm

60HUH, BCflllKH CKpacMBR Opb)KJiffi. ,,11 - pa3Ka3Ba rroeTbT - 3aCrraJIM Te, I13HypeHM OT yCMJIHIDI
rrpexo,lJ;, CI1an MPe30c, a KOHeTe CTOeJIM, rrpHBbp3aHH 3a 3a,lJ;HIDI rrpbcTeH Ha KOJIeCHmJ;aTa,
KoraTO JIOBKIDlT ,I:(MoMe,lJ; 11 XHTpIDIT O,lJ;I1ceii ce
BMbKHaJrH BJIarepa MBCKt-IKH IB6MJ1l'r, 3a~OTO
onaCHH 6HJIliI Te3H: HerrpIDITeJrH liI AxeHTe MCKaIDI Aa ce OTbpBaT OT Troe".
B OMFlpOBIDI enoc ca cnOMeHaTM TpaKMTe
KMKOHH 11 .uBaMa TeXHH BO)l(,llOBe - EB<}>eM H
MeHTec, KaKTO liI KHKOHCKIDIT JKpeIJ, Ha AnOJIOH
MapoH, KORTO HarOCTMJI O,lJ;aCeR II ,lJ;PY)KMHaTa
My. MecTo)KHBeJI~aTa Ha KMKoHMTe ce JIOKaJIlI3MpaT Ha lISTOK OT YCTlIeTo Ha p. HecToc (,lJ;H.
MecTa) OKOJIO MapoHe51 rrpM AH. rp. KOMOTHHlI
Ha erefiCKIDI 6p5Ir.
OCBeH Te3l1 BJIa.ueTeJIM eIllflIeCKaTa H
JrHPflllecKaTa Iloe3IDI, KaKTO MpaHHMTe MHTO-

slept, too, and the horses stood tied to the ring at

the back of the chariot, when the deft Diomedes
and the cunning Odysseus crept into the camp
and killed all, because these enemies were dangerous and the Achaeans wished to get rid of
them.
Homer's epic work also mentions the
Thracians-Kikones and two of their leaders Euphemos and Mentes, as well as the Kikoman
priest of Apollo, Maron, who feasted Odysseus
and his companions. The settlementc; of the
Kikones are localised to the east of the mouth of
the Nestos River (present-day Mesta), around
Maroneia near Komotini on the Aegean coast.
In addition to these rulers, epic and lyrical
poetry, as well as the early mythical narratives,
testify to the functioning of other legendary kingdoms in the periods before and after the Trojan
War. Tereus was the king of the Thracians in

19

3AamHa Kyna (KaHmapoc)

am L/apcKO-:JKpe'lecKUJI cepBU3, omKpum npu c. B'bA'1UI1lPbH, JIJleBeHcKo. TecAo
4,395

KZ

Gold bowl (kantharos) from

the royal priestly set ofgold
vessels discovered near the
village of Vulchitrun, Pleven
district. Weight 4.395 kg

5POH306 /w6pue Olll c.

CeJH'IIIHOaO,
na:Jap()J/CuUlKO. 611l0pama
nOi/Of!UHa Ha JI XIIA. IIp. Xp.
JIa6pllcbll! e :maK flO
qapcKo-.7ICpe 1IeCKama ai/Clem
npe1 .I1'LIIKeHCKama enoxa.
A1aJ1K1II1le pa1.11'JepII Ha

Jta6puca (5,2 CAL

OUllAlembp) nOK1l36am.
'Ie e Hocell Kalllo 3HaK

HapanlBI1 yAocTOBepJIBaT epym<QI10Hl1paHeTO Ha

rrpym nereHn;apml uapcTBa BnepJilOAI1Te npeAI1
li CJTeA Tp051HCKan BoMRa. U,ap Ha TpaKHTe B
)l.aBJrnAa (.UJIJT aT <DaKI1Aa BCpeAHa fbPQll51) e
TepeM, )KeHeH 3a TIpoKHa, Abll.l,ep51 Ha aTHHCKH51
uap TIaHAHOH. B MHTa TepeM 06e3QeCTJilJ1 ceCTpa M<!>HJ10Mena HO T51 CH OTMbCTlill3, KaTO 3aeAHO c TIpoKHa y6I1J1a Jil CrOTBI1n3 cmra My
l1TI1C 3a nHprneCTBO Ha 6aruaTa.
HaA OCTpOB HaKcoc BJ1aCTBa TpaKllMCKaTa
MHTI111Ha ,L(HHaCTI151 Ha Jhucypr, Eyrec, CI1KeJI,
XeKeTOp 11 AracaMeH, KOHTO BJIereHD,aTa ca
orrHTHH MOpeXOD,U11 HorraCHH MOpCKl1 pa360MHHUli. B CaJIMRAeCOC (MHAIDl BAH. eBponeMCKa
TYPIJ;IDI Ha llepHOMopCKIDl 6p51r npH llJ1aHHHaTa
CTPaH)l)Ka) uap M)KpeU e <!>JilHeM. Toa ocnelliIBa
D,BaMaTa Cli C11HOBe no )KenaHHe Ha BTopaTa Cli
)KeHa 11 3apaAM TOBa CM Ae51HMe 611J1 HaKa3aH OT
Xapn11HTe, KOHTO rpa6eJ1H xpaHaTa MY, KOJ1QeM

Daulis (a part of Phocis in Central Greece). He

was married to Prokne, daughter of the Athenian
king Pandion. In the myth Tereus raped her sister
Philamele, but she took her revenge by killing together with Prokne - his son Itys and serving
him to Tereus during a feast.
The Thracian mythical dynasty of Lykurgos,
Butes, Sikelos Heketoros and Agasamenes
ruled over the Island of axos. According to
the legend, they were experienced seamen and
dangerous sea brigands. Phineus was king and
priest in Salmydessos (Midia in present-day
European Turkey on the Black Sea coast near
the Strandja Mountain). He blinded both his
ons, obeying the wish of his second wife, and
was punished for that by the Harpies who stole
his food every time he reached for it. However,
"plundering" was also the livelihood of the
inhabitants of Salmydessos. Poetic throes of

20

....

Bronze labrys from the village

of Semchinovo, pazardjik
district, second half of the
second millennium Be. The
labrys was the sign of royalpriestly power during the
Mycenaean Age. The small
size of the labrys (5.2 cm in
diameter) suggests that it was
worn as insignia

CKa.
LLle"

Ine, .
/110'1

Caer
HOil.-

ue9
XIIA.

mOf

KaKI
C8eIT
1I2pa

cepe.
/-Ill 8)
Ha 01

KaAe
paiio
Awn.
RAIU

HUR. ,

utile
CKClAIIO C6eIlIllAIIlL/e

5eAuHIIlClw, ACeIlOfl?paOCKO

Rock sanctuary in Belintash

near Assenovgrad

CAOJlo

06pe.
KU/l1t

Rock
Belin.
Mow
south
The s
largel
MoUl
from
BCu
Chris
sancti
playe.
obser
time I
ritual
of the
regior
for sa
groov.
into tJ
sophi:
rites G
Thrae

.'

,.
'anla
lp.Xp.
6Aacm
oxo..
!l

Pl,

village
fjik
the
:. The
'oyal-

1e
-mall
:m in
. it was

fJaOCKO
intash

CKaAHO-U3Ce'leHO CBemU.llllu-/e ,,5eAUNmaw" B Pooonume, lUI OKO.lIO 30 K./It IOi'OU3mo'mo om AceH06;;pao.

CeemuAulllemo e e()/-IO om
NaLt-ZOAeAwme 6 POGonume
II e YHKIIUOHllpa./lO om III
XU.!l. np. Xp. GO npue.lnm~e
1110 Ho. xpUCmUJlHCm60mo.
Ko.Kmo noee'lemo CKaAHU
ceemU.lIUUla, EeAuNmalu e
lIepaeAo po.!l.Rma II NO. 06cepeamopUR 30. U3AlepeaHe
110. opeAlemo U onpeOe.!l.RHe
Ha o6peOHUR U cmOnaHCK.UR
KaAel-lOap Ha mpaKume am
pm/OHa. /!!:JceleHume B CKaAllme cm'bA6u O..!lmapll,
RAW 30. )/(epmOOnpUHoweHUR U npe'lUCmBaHIUl, y,teu
u l~epHu flOOCKa3eam 30.
C.!LO:JICHllme u mat/HCJlloeJlU
o6peou U BRpeo.HIUl Ha mpaIl.1Ime
Rock-hewn sanctuary in
Belintash in the Rhodope
Mountains, about 30 km
southeast ofAssenovgrad.
The sanctuary is one of the
largest in the Rhodope
Mountains. and it functioned
from the third millennium
BC until the adoption of
Christianity. Like most rock
sanctuaries. Belintash also
played the role of an
observatory for measuring
time and for determining the
ritual and economic calendar
of the Thracians in the
region. The stairs, altars, pits
for sacrifices and ablutions,
grooves and cisterns, hewn
into the rocks. suggest the
sophisticated and mysterious
rites and belieff of the
Thracians

21

CK~

C6el

Ph"

The
Han

Rho

rrOCerHeJI KbM He5l. Ho "rpa6I1TeJICTBO" e 11 rrperrl1TaHl1eTO Ha 06l1TaTeJIl1Te Ha CaJIMllAeCOC.

TIoeTI1QHI1 BOrrJII1 Ha CTapOrpbI.1;Kll JIllPI1I.1;11 orrJIaKBaT Kopa60KpyrneHUllTe rro HerOBlITe 6peroBe, rrOHe:IKe TaM m OQaKBamr TpaKI1 CAbJInI
KOCH, KOI1TO MaMeJII1 Kopa611Te rrpe3 HOllJ,Ta c
JIb)KJIllBli orHbOBe II rH rrJI5IQKOCBaJIll.
TBbpAe rrorryJI5IpeH BCTapOrpbUKaTa 11 B
JIaTI1HCKaTa KHll)KHHHa e )J,HOMeA, MllTl1qHl15IT
uap Ha TpaKllTe EI1CTOHH OT AOJIHOTO TeqeHHe
Ha p. HecToc. ToM: rrpl1Te:IKaBa KOHe QOBeK05IAUI1. )J,110MeA e y6HT OT CaMl15I XepaKbJI, KOM:TO
H3rrbJIH5IBaJI CB05I OCMH rrOABHr, HaJIO:IKeH MY OT
MUKeHCKl15I BJIaAeTeJI EBpHCTeM:. rep05lT HarraAHaJI EHcToHHTe, rrOpa3HJI I.1;ap5I HM, rrpOrOHUJI
OCTaHaJIHTe )KRBH HOTBeJI KOHeTe BMUKeHa.
EAoHHTe OT AOJIHOTO TeqeHHe Ha p. CTpHMOH (AH. CTpyMa) ca U3BeCTHll CbC CB05I rrOBeJIHTeJI 3JIOrrOJIyqHl15I llHKypr, 3a KorOTO ce ro-

ancient Greek lyrical poets lamented the shipwrecked seamen along its coasts, because they
were awaited there by long-haired Thracians
who tricked the ships during the night with fake
fires and plundered them.
Diomedes, the mythical king of the
Thracian tribe of the Bistones along the lower
course of the Nestos River, was very popular in
Greek and Latin literature. He possessed maneating horses. Diomedes was killed by Herakles
himself, who performed his Eighth Labour,
imposed upon him by the Mycenaean ruler
Eurystheus. The hero attacked the Bistones,
killed their king, chased away the survivors and
took the horses to Mycenae. The Edones along
the lower course of the Strymon river were
known with their dynast, the unlucky Lykurgos,
who is discussed in the mythographic and dramaturgical Greek literature. Lykurgos insulted

22

CKa,'lHO-U3CelJeHOmO C6emu.IlUlI/e "XapA'tafi Ka5l" ce HaA'wpa 6 M:lmO'IHUme PoooflU Kpau c. EU6o.IfJ1He, ]V[OMtlU.Il2paocKo. To e U3flO.ll36afiO om Kpa5l fia
eHeO.llUmfiama enoxa
(V XlI,t. np. Xp.) 00 I-II 6.
CA. Xp. GC6ert Kamo KyAmo6
lJeHm'bp, C6emU.IlUUJemo e
U2paeAO pO/Ulma U Ha acmpOHOMU'leCKa o6cepeamo
PUJI 3a onpeOe/UlHe fia paaHoOefiCmBUJlma U C.ll'bHlfecmoeHemama

TIle rock-hewn sanctuary

Harman Kaya is located in
the Eastern Rhodope
Mountains, near the village
of Bivolyane, Momchilgrad
district. It was used since the
end of the Eneolithic Age
(fifth millennium BC) until
the 1"-2'" century AD. In
addition to playing the role
of a cult centre, the sanctuary
also functioned as an astronomical observatory to determine the equinoxes and the
solstices

CKa.llHU HUUlU Kpau 6xooa

Ha nelLJepama, OKO.110 KOJlmo ce e pa36U.IlO CKaAHO-U3Ce'lefiOmO C6emU.IlUu/e
"Xap.lnaH Ka5l"
Rock niches near the
entrance to the cave around
which the rock-hewn sanctuary Hamwn Kaya developed

0"':'

CKOAHO-U3Ce'l.eHO
c6emUAUUfe "Xap.lllGH
J13nlO'lHU Pooonu

KaJl':

The rock-hewn sanctuary

Hannon Kaya in the Eastern
Rhodope Mountains

:6emu-

HODOOO ~e

MOAI0/1380-

.....

l...

~
~
~

]
II 8.
Y.llnlO8
'10 e
~

acm-

mID-

zpa8HIJe-

.....

~
~

'1::

ary
ed in
illage
19rad

'Ice the
Age

until
In
~ role
metuory
astm9 deter1d the

6XOOO
) KORAHO-U3-

Ie

'lround
sonctuveloped

00

:sU
~

is
23

CfieU/eJ-lU. CKUAa C HltWU

Ha mepUmOpURma lta CKaAHOIGCel.leHOfllO Cllemu/uw/e
"Xap_fLWI KU5l ", C. ELl80A>lHe,
A10At'lU,ti:'paOCKO

3AW
0-81

Xp.

Sacred rock with niches on the

territory of the rock-hewn sanctuary Harman Kaya, Bivolyane
village, Momchilgrad discn'ct

3Aar.
AUl.lH
Ka3u

'6<
~

Gold
depo:

IC)

~
~

Kazic

I..l

::c
<:u
~

'6<

&

E-4

24

Yhcel.l
Ha8p
rna'lQ
"XapA
He,M(
Door I
leadin~

theHt
Bivolyl
Marne

.....

.;.'

-va

u
~KaAHO

,W

3AamHa K)ll1a am oYHa6cKWl

0-6 EeAeHe, XlI-Xl 8. np.
Xp.

);l}ute,

~ on the
vn sancivolyane

Gold bowl from the Island of

Belene on the Danube.
l2lh_ll 'h century BC

[stliet

3AarnHa K)lna am CUAt80AU'IHO oenoHupaHe Kpaii c.

Ka3U'IeHe, COUiiCKO
Gold bowl from a symbolic
deposition near the village of
Kazichene, Sofia region

BOpH BMHTorpaCKan HnpaMaryprH4ecKa

eJIHHCKa JIHTepaTypa. nHKypr 06HnHJI ,D,HOHHC,
H3rOHHJI ro HrIJIeHHJI HerOBHTe BaKXaHKH HcaTHpH. EOrbT Bb36ynHJI y nHKypr JIynocT Hu;ap5lT nOC5IKbJI CHHa CH C6panBa, a TOH CaMH5IT
Tp5l6BaJIO na nOfHHe, pa3KbcaH OT KOHe, 3a na
BbpHe Ha IIouaHHU;HTe CH IIJIOnOBeTe Ha 3eM5ITa, OTHeTH HM 3a HerOBO HaKa3aHHe. Cnopen
npyra BepCH5I Bpa3IIpaTa Me.IKJJ:Y nHKypr H,D,HOHHC Y4aCTHe B3eJI HXapOIIC, KOHTO )K}[BeeJI
6JIH30 no XeJIeCIIOHTa. B OTIIJIaTa 3a IIOMOIIJ;Ta
CH XapOIIC IIOJI)'lllIJI OT ,D,HOHHC u;apCTBOTO Ha
nHKypr. EonT HayqHJI Xaponc Ha TaHHHTe 06penH HHa MHCTepHHTe. OT XapOIIC ce P0IJ,HJI
OHarbp, KOHTO ce O)KeHHJI 3a KaJIHOIIa HHacJIenHJI u;apCTBOTO Mn03HaHH5ITa 3a MHCTepHHTe. TexeH CliH e OpeH. B MHTOBeTe "u;apCTBOTO" Ha TpaKHeu;a OpeH 4eCTO ce MeCTH OT
IOr03analJ,Ha TpaKH5I no XeJIeCIIOHTa.

Dionysos, chased him away and captured his

Bacchae and Satyrs. The deity gave madness to
Lykurgos and he hacked his son with an axe,
after which he himself had to die devoured by
horses so as to give back to his subjects the
fruits of the land that had been taken away
from them as a punishment for him. According
to another version, Charops, who lived close to
the Hellespontos, took part in the dispute
between Lykurgos and Dionysos. Charops
received from Dionysos the kingdom of
Lykurgos as a reward for his help. The deity
taught Charops the secret rites and the mysteries. Charops sired Oiagros who married
Kalliope and inherited the kingdom and the
knowledge about the mysteries. Their son was
Orpheus. The "kingdom" of the Thracian
Orpheus often moved in the myths from
Southeastern Thrace to the Hellespontos.

25

M3Ce'leHa 6 cKaAama 8XOOHa 6pama K'bAt 4eHmpaAHarna 'laCln Ha C8emUAUUjemO

"XapJnaH KaJl", c. EU60A-RHe, MO.!l'ltlUA2paOcKO
Door hewn into the rock and
leading to the central part of
the Harman Kaya sanctuary,
Bivolyane village,
Momchilgrad district

APMCTOKPATMTEBOMHM
THE WARRlfOR ARISTOCRATS

romIMaTa MCTop:WleCKa naHopaMa M11KeHCKa TpaKIDI Me)K):{y cpep,aTa Ha II Mcpep,aTa Ha I

XMJI. np. Xp. e 6em13aHa c nOBceMeCTHOTO B
IOrOM3T01.JHa EBpona pa3npocTpaHeHl1e MBbBe)K):{aHe Ha TeXHOJIOrM5ITa Ha )KeJIe3op,06MBa!)KeJIe3006pa6oTKaTa MCp,bp)KaBHO CTpOMTeJICTBO. To 3an01.JBa CTpaK11MCKaTa MTpaKoneJIaCmMCKaTa TaJIaCOKpanU[ (MOpCKO rocnO):lCTBO), KoraTO ce M3npo6Ba eeKTMBHocTTa Ha
~eHTpaJIM3MpaHoTo ynpaBJIeHMe BbB Bpa)K,!J,e6Ha
cpep,a no KpaM6pe)Kll5ITa 11 B6MTKM 3a MOpCKMTe nbTMm:a npe3 XeJIeCnOHTa, MpaMopHO Mope
MEocopa. BbB BbTpelliHOCTTa Ha eBponeMCKa
11 Ha MaJIOa3MMCKa TpaKM5I p,bp)KaBOo6pa3yBaHeTO ce pa3rpbm:a Me)K,!J,y VIII MKpa5I Ha VI Ha4aJIOTO Ha V B. np. Xp. B eTHOCHO (06ID:MHHO) opraHM3MpaHMTe TpaKMMCKM TepMTOpMM
apl1CTOKpa~M5ITa Ha 6poH30BaTa enoxa M30CTaB5I
ep,l1HM4HMTe 60MHM KOJIeCml~IT IT ce npeBpbm:a

The big historical panorama of Mycenaean

Thrace between the middle of the 2nd and the
middle of the 1>l millennium Be was marked with
the ubiquitous spreading and introduction of the
technology of iron mining and iron processing,
and with state-building. It started with the
Thracian and the Thraco-Pelasgian thalassocracy
(marine empire), when the effectiveness of centralised rule was tested in a hostile environment
along the coasts and in battles for the sea routes
across the Hellespontos, the Sea of Marmara and
the Bosporus. In mainland Thrace in Europe and
in Asia Minor the state-forming processes developed between the 8th and the late 6th - early 5th
centuries Be. The Bronze Age aristocracy in the
ethnically (community) organised Thracian territories abandoned the single battle chariots and
turned into a heavily armed cavalry. The warrior
is unthinkable without his horse or the horse

26

. .,:.
",.

Ka.MeHHU KaA'bnU 3a omAU8aHe Ha 6POH308 CKUnm'bp U

6POH308 .Me't om
K'bCH06pOH308ama
enoxa. c. no6um Ka.l1't'bK,
Pa32paocKo
Late Bronze Age :stone
moulds for casting bronze
sceptres and bronze swords,
Pobit Kanzak village,
Razgrad distlict

.'

..

'

CoKp08UUfa U pyOHU Haxoouu4a

Treasures and ore deposits

omAU!nrn'bp U

-..

J:
]
lo..

11'bK,

~
-.
~

Ie

'O!1ze

-..

word~~

J:

BaaOBO

VazrNO

KaBapHa

1II0HKOBO

Vi

Kavarna

ro

PaarpaQ
Razgrad

BAPHA

VARtlA

naHaMOT XlfTOBO
~

CllHAen

Sindel

.g
~

(I.)

:!l
u
~
~
==

f;I;:l

=
E-

27

C'bKp08UUja U A1eCmOflaAtUpauUR

Treasures and finding locations

3Aamo
Gold
~ IloAuAtemaAHo pyeJHo HaxoauUje

Polymetallic ore deposits

8 Mea
Copper

Cpe6po
Sill:er

3.11aJ

EpOH30e HQ'leAHUK Ha
KOHCKa 1030Q om c. CopoHueeo, Bpa'lQHcKo, VII-VI 8.

"SIa

IIp. Xp.

HeKJ.

8.,r

[JAO.

Bronze frontLet of a horse

bridLe from Sofronievo vilLage, Vratsa district. 7"'_(jh
century BC

TpaKUUCKa Kpenocm CbC

CKaAHo Cl3emUAlIUle. C.

28

BTeJKKOBbOpb)KeHa KOHHMIJ;a. BOmIbT He ce

MHCJUl 6es KOHR, HHTO KOH51T - 6es BOHHa. T5IXHaTa HeAeJIRMOCT BKOHHMKa CTaBa KOAOBaTa
H;o:e5l-06pas Ha IJ,ap5l, HO JiI Ha IVlJIa TpaKIDI eM6JIeManIlIeH 06pa3 Ha TPaK.l1l1CKaTa KyJITYPa.
Ap11CTOKpawurra rrOCTerreHHO HanycKa YKperreml're CH IJ.MTaneJIli Ha c-rpaTerHllecKlI rrnaHliHCK11 MeCTa 11 Cb3AaBa HOBa rrOCeml.l.I..l,Ha C11CTeMa, Cb06pa3eHa c HpKAI1Te Ha }J.bp)KaBHOTO
yrrpaBJIeHI1e. HeI1HoTo 5IAPO e T. Hap. KyJIa, "rpaLJ;
B3apOAJ.1lII", KOHTO ce pa3BHBa ByKperreHO CeJIMme. B orpa}J.eHoTo CbC CTeHM HepOPT11cP11KaI..l,MOHHM CbOpb)KeHM5I npOCTpaHCTBO Ha KyJIaTa ca
CbcpeAOTOqeHH BC11l.lKl1 CTorraHCK11, rrpOM3BOLJ;CTBeHH, CbAe6HO-IIO.Jll1TII1leCKI1, AlfiIJIOMarnQeCKlI,
BoeHHorrOAfOTBI1TeJIHll 11 06penHfI AeMCTBH5I, KOliTO u;ap5IT MHerOBaTa rrpOCTa, HO eepeKTHBHa a,u.M.IlliHcTPaI..1,H5I H3BbplIIBaT npeAI1 IIJIaHHpamrre
MJIH crreUlHO HaJIO)KeHH 60iim:l onepau:1IH. B 3acTPoeHaTa IIJIOW; ca BAHfHarn IiI rrOKOliTe Ha BJIaAeTeJISI CbC CBernJIm.n:eTO KbM T5IX 113BbH He51 ca
oepopMeHll HeKporromrre. KoraTo TaKbB KOMIIJIeKC ce rrpeBbpHe Brpa.u, TOM e orrpeAeJI5IH KaTO
ll,apcKJ.1, KaKBlITO ca Ka6lDIe rrpJil }J.H. c. Ka6J.1JIe
AO rp. 5IM60JI (IO)KHa DbJIrapJ.15I) J.1 CeBTOrrOJIliC,
CTOJIlill,aTa Ha CeBT III, AHec Ha AbHOTO Ha 5ISOBlip KorrpHHKa AO rp. Ka3aHJIbK.
ITpe3 TOSH rrepHOA Ha TPaKHHCKaTa nOJIMTliqeCKa 11CTOpM5I, KOHTO ce AaTHpa Me)K)l)' VI HaqaJIOTO Ha V 11 Kpa5I Ha IV - HaqaJIOTO Ha ill
B. rrp. Xp., peJleq>Ho ce OTKp05lBaT COI.l,l1aJIHG-npoepecHOHaJIIDITe CbCJIOBJ.15I J.1 ce rr05IB5IBaT
HOBli, KaTO TOBa Ha H3HOCHTemITe-BHOCI1TeJIHTe. 3a IlOBe4eTO OT T5IX CTapOrpbI..l,KI15IT e3HK I.I..I,e
CTaHe He06xoLJ,HM. BoeHHH KOMaHLJ,lipJil rrOBeYK)J.aT HaeMHli OTp5l)J.I1, TbprOBIJ,H ce OTrrpaB5IT
KbM rra3apMTe BKpaii6pe)KHHTe rpa}J.oBe Hrrpe)J.HMHO KbM DMsaHTHoH, TopeBT11 rrpOJ.1SBe)Kf(aT
Jil3)J.eJIJ.15I OT 6pOHS, )KeJI5I30 M6JIarOpOLJ;HH MeTa11M. PaS)J.BJiI)KBaHeTO rrpe3 TeS11 BeKOBe, KOJ.1TO ca
BpeMe Ha pa3.I..l,BeT J.1 3a eBporreHcKa, 11 3a ManoaSI1HCKa TpaKH5l, He rropa)Kf(a HOBH 06lll,ecTBeHM
OTHOIIlemrn 3aW;OTO He ce cbS}J.aBa Ila3apHO
CTOIlaHCTBO. UapCKaTa liKOHOMHKa rrOMbpYKa
I.I,eH1'pa.Jlli3HpaHIDi MOHOnOJI BbPXY n0611Ba Ha
3bpHeH11 XpamI, epypaJK, 3naTO 11 cpe6po HBbPXY
OTIJIe)K):(aReTO Ha eJII1TIDI cTa.o;a. 3a pa3JIJ.1Ka OT

without the warrior. Their indivisibility in the

Horseman became the code idea-image of the
king and of the entire Thrace as well, an emblematic image of Thracian culture.
The aristocracy gradually left its fortified
citadels in strategically located mountainous
places and created a new settlement system that
met the needs of state rule. Its nucleus was the
so-called tower, a city in its inception, which
developed into a fortified settlement. The space
of the tower, surrounded by fortification construction, concentrates all economic, production,
judicial, political, diplomatic, military-preparatory and ritual actions, which the king and his simple but efficient administration performed prior
to the planned or emergency military operations.
The ruler's residence together with the sanctuary
were also erected in the built-in area, the necropolises were outside the walls. When such a complex was transformed into a city, it was identified
as royal, e.g., as Kabyle near the present-day village of Kabyle, Yambol district in Southern
Bulgaria and Seuthopolis, the capital city of
Seuthes III, which lies now at the bottom of the
Koprinka Dam near the town of Kazanluk.
During that period in the Thracian political
history, which is dated between the 6th or the
beginning of the 5th and the end of the 4th century BC, the social and professional classes
became prominent and new classes appeared,
notably that of the exporters and importers. The
Greek language was to become a necessity for
most of them. Military commanders led formations of mercenaries, merchants set off to the
markets in the coastal cities and predominantly
to Byzantium, goldsmiths and silversmiths produced objects of bronze, iron and precious metals. The animation during those centuries, which
marked a flourishing of Thrace both in Europe
and in Asia Minor, did not generate new social
relations, hecause no market economy was created. The royal economy maintained centralised
monopoly over the yield of cereal crops fodder,
gold and silver, as well as on the breeding of
elite herds. Unlike the Greek poleis slave labour
was restricted mainly to the homes and farms of
the aristocratic class.

Golt
lion
ial if
necn
Duvl
centl

J1AUUCKO. ~OA1'1UA2paOcKo

3Aar

Thracian fortress with rock

sanctuary. IlLiysko village
near Momchilgrad

!V 8.

8ecm

Gola
unkn

.....
.:'.

3AameH npbcmen c Haonuc

-;oipo-

..Sklltodoko ' om n02pe6eHue

7I-VI 6.

6 .. fOA.JlAtama Ato2UAa" B

IIeI<ponoAa npu C. fl,yBaHAu,

fLIOBOU6CKO, V 6. np. Xp.

orse
o vil'Ilo_6'.

COC
C.

JaOCKO

Gold ring bearing the inscription Skutodoko from a burial in the Big Tumulus in the
necropolis near the village of
Duvanli~ Plovdiv region. 5"
century BC
3AameH npbCmeH. om H.eU3-

A1J/CmO,
N6. np. Xp.

6eCnIHO
I

rock

rage

Gold ring, location

unknown. 4'. century BC

eJUIHCKIiTe rrOJIIiCFI, p06CKIDIT TPYA e OrpaIDfl.:IeH

rrraBHO BAOMOBeTe Ii BCTorraHCTBaTa Ha apIiCTOKpaTIiLJ.eCKaTa KJlaca.
ApIicToKpaThT KOHHHK 06aLJ.e OCTaBa IiCTOpMLJ.eCKIi <PYHKIJ,HOHaJIHIDIT HOCMTeJI Ha OCHOBIDr
C'b6IiTIDI Ii npOIJ,ecM. ITo BpeMeTO Ha rrOAeMa Ha
TpaKMM-CKaTa AbpJKaBHOCT ifepapXHLJ.HOTO nOJUITIfKo-aAMlifllIiCTPaTMBHO YCTponcTBo ce 3ana3Ba
Bmlu.eTO Ha u.ap51 HHa HerOBliI51 CbBeT. T03H CbBeT ce CDCTOlil OT LJ.JIeHOBeTe Ha AHHaCTID.lTa HO
OI.I(e rrpe3 V-IV B. rrp. Xp. BHerO ce IT05lB5lBaT
napa..o.l1HaCTHTe (CTpaHIiLJ.HFITe, ycnOpe)l,HI1Te AMHaCTH), KOHTO MoraT )J.a 6bAaT Ii OT )l,pyrIi apFlcTOKpaTw::reCKJiI pOAOBe, a Ii npe)l,CTaBMTeJlli Ha
CJI)'JKe6HID.l emiT, oco6eHO npeBO)l,allll OT CTapOrpbqKl1 e3HK Ii OTfOBOPHH~ 3a TP}']l;OBFITe Ii
BoeHHHTe nOBliIHHOCTH. B IlpHCDCTBMeTO Ha llJIeHOBe Ha CbBen U.ap51T 6bp30 npHKJIlOllBaJI C
BbTPeIlJHOCb)l,e6IDf AeJIa FI B3HMaJI rrOJI1ITI111eCKIi
pemeHID.l a e FI BO)l,HJI AIUIJIOMaTIflleCIGl nperoBOpM, cKpeIDlBaHH CrrOJIyqaBaHHTe )lapOBe OT
KOHe, p0611, IIJIaTOBe I1 rrpeAH BCHqKO OT JIYKC03HH 113AeJIID.l Ii Tpe30pHpaHI1 3JIaTHIi 11 cpe6bpHH MOHenl. Xa3HaTa e 6IiJIa Ii3IJ,5lJIO no)J.
IOPIiCAHKUIDITa Ha uapSI Ii Ha YIIbJIHOMOI.I(eHIiTe
OT Hero mrUa.
V13Me)K,D,y BCIillKIi A'bp)KaBIi, JIOKaJIIi3l1pamr
B06mIipHIiTe TpaKHikKIi 3eMIi, neT ca OHe3Ii,
qIiIiTO )J.HHaCTHqeCKM pO)J.OBe nOJIyqaBaT 3aCJIy)KeHO M5lCTO Bpa3Ka3aHaTa Ii HanHcaHa eBponenCKa HCTOpIDI OT npe)J.pHMCKaTa enoxa.
OT )J.BeTe CTpaHH Ha AOJIHOTO TeqeHIie Ha
.IJ:YHaB aBTOpH Ii apXeOJIOfIiqeCKH A<;tHHH CHryHpaT reTHTe. ITbpBID.lT Ii3pHllHO cnOMeHaT TexeH
BJIaAeTeJI e KOTeJIaC, llIDITO A'bI.I(epSI: MeAa <DIiJU1IT II MaKe)J.OHCKH B3HMa 3a )KeHa, KoraTO B
339 r. np. Xp. CKJIIOtrna CDI03 C6am;a i:r cpem;y
CKFlTIiTe. CrreA KOTeJIaC BJIHTeparypHlI TeKCTOBe HHa)l,llHCIi ca CIIOMeHaTH nOHe ome cen;MHHa HerOBH IIpIieMIDf~ HaH-noII)'IDIPHI15lT
cpeA KOHTO e ApoMHXeT OT Kpa5l Ha IV - HaqaJIOTO Ha III B. np. Xp. TOM IIJIeHSI:Ba HarOCT5lBa
Ii nycKa Ha cB060)J.a CB051 nJIeHHHK 1IH3HMax,
3HaMeHI1TH5l nbJIKOBOn;eIJ, HHaCJIeD;HHK Ha
ArreKCaH)],bp Bemurn:. I1pl1 IIo)J.5lJI6aTa Ha AJIeKcaHApoBaTa HMIIepID.l JIH3HMax nOJIyqaBa rrpaHOTO "n;a yrrpaBmma TpaKH5l". Crrope)], JIereH-

The aristocrat-horseman, however, remained

the functional carrier of the principal events and
processes in history. During the upsurge of the
Thracian state, the hierarchic political and economic structure was preserved in the person of the
king and of his council. This council consisted of
the members of the dynasty, but the paradynasts
(the extraneous, parallel dynasts) appeared in it
already during the 5th -4lb century Be, and they
could belong to other aristocratic families, as well
as representatives of the administrative elite, especially translators from Greek and people responsible for the labour and military conscriptions. In
the presence of members of the council, the king
rapidly expedited the internal judiciary procedures
and adopted political decisions, and he also conducted diplomatic negotiations that were affixed
with the gifts received in the form of horses,
slaves, textiles and above all luxury goods, as well
as gold and silver coins collected as a treasure.
The treasury was entirely under the jurisdiction of
the king and of the persons authorised by him.
There were five among all states localised
in the vast Thracian lands, whose dynastic
families obtained a deserved place in the narrated and written European history from the
pre-Roman Age.
The authors and the archaeological data situate the Getae on both sides of the lower course of
the Danube River. Kotelas was their explicitly
mentioned ruler, whose daughter Meda became
wife of Philip IT of Macedon, when he concluded
an alliance with her father against the Scythians in
339 Be. After Kotelas, literary texts and inscriptions mention at least seven of his successors, the
most popular among them being Dromichaites
from the late 4th - early 3n1 century Be. He captured, feasted and released his nephew
Lysimachos, the famous military leader and successor of Alexander the Great. After Alexander's
empire was divided, Lysimachos acquired the right
"to rule over Thrace. According to the legendary
and instructive story, Dromichaites served his
hostage in gold and silver vessels, while he himself
ate and drank out of vessels made of wood and
hom so as to demonstrate the futility of waging a
war against such a severe warrior as he was.

29

CoKj
'taHG

./Iaml

opyzi
(Hail
Hail-J

np. ),
LfapG,

Thei

Vrat.l
gilt v,

treaSI
turie~

6th ce

the 4
Tribe.

3ana31
meHpl

Ilezac,
475,5 <
Pa32pG

Thepr.

rhyton
Pegasu
weight
/age, R

.:'.'

C'bKp06uU/emo, OmKpUmO Kpail c. P0203eH, Bpa'IaHCKO, c'boopJlCa 165 cpe60pHu U cpe60pHu C n03.llama c'boa U e 6UAO 3aKonaHO a oae flAtU eOI-La 00
apY2a. Co6upaJ-lomo nO'lmu oaa aeKa CoKp06uU/e
(Haii-paHHUJlm Coo e om KpaR Ha VIa. flp. Xp., a
HaU-KoCHUJlm om amopama nOAoaUHa J-la IV B.
np. Xp.) e npUliaOAeJICaAO Ha mpu6aAcKama
l.IapcKa oUHacmufl
The treasure discovered near the village of Rogozen,
Vratsa district, consists of 165 silver and silver with
gilt vessels. It was buries in two adjacent pits. The
treasure had been accumulated for nearly two centuries (the earliest vessel is dated to the end of the
6"' century BC and the latest - to the second half of
the 4' centwy BC), and it belonged to the
Tribal/ian dynasty

Cpe60pHa uaAa C Haonuc,

a Koumo ce co06u/a6am
uJltemo Ha OOPUCKUJl aAaoemeA Komuc I u <,paoom Eeoc, nop8ama nOA06UHa Ha
IVa. np. Xp., P0203eHcKO
C1,KpoBuU/e
Silver phiale with inscription
reporting the name of the
Odrysian ruler Kotys I and
the city of Beos. First half of
the 4,h centwy BC, Rogozen
treasure

LJ.apHaTa nOyl.JlfTeJIHa npHKa3Ka ,I:(pOMllXeT romaBan nneHHHKa CH B3JIaTHH Hcpe6bpHH 6moga, a caM ce xpaHen 11 nHeJI BLJ.bpBeHH HporoBM, 3a LJ.a nOKIDKe 6e3CMMCJIMeTO ga ce BOlOBa
cpemy TaKbB CypOB BOHH KaTO Hero. ApxeoJIorHl.JeCKMTe HaxOLJ.Kl1 Ha Tepl1TOpIDITa Ha reTl1Te
BgHeuIHa EbJIrapIDI, PyMbHl15I, MOJIAOBa 11 YKpaMHa nOKa3BaT, l.Je gpeBHHTe aBTOpl1 He ca
npeYBeJIMl.JHJIl1 60raTCTBOTO Ha LJ.HHaCTIDITa.
MCTOpHl.JeCKH5I Cl1 nogeM 06al.Je reTCKaTa
AMHaCTIDI H3)Kl1B5IBa npl1 Eype611CTa ( 62 - 44 r.
np. Xp.), KoraTO T03H cbBpeMeHHHK Ha raM
IOJIMM I.J;e3ap YCIl5IBa ga 3aKpenM BJIaCTTa CM OT
KapnaTMTe LJ.O l.JepHOMOpCKIDI 6p5Ir Ha lOr OT
XeMyc. TIo TOBa BpeMe reTMTe Bel.Je ca HapHl.JaHH ,I:(aKH MCTOBa HapoAHo l1Me (c Bep05ITHa
eTHMOJIOrIDI "BbJIlJ,H") 3aCTaBaT Ha aBaHClJ,eHaTa
Ha BoeHHOnOJIHTMl.JeCKaTa HCTOpl15I AO 107 r.,
KoraTO Pl1.MCKIDIT MMnepaTOp TPa5IH (98-117 r.)

Archaeological fmds on the territory of the Getae

in present-day Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and
Ukraine show that the ancient authors had not
exaggerated the wealth of the dynasty.
However, the state of the Getae experienced
its historic upsurge under Burebistas ( 62 to 44
BC) when that contemporary of Gaius Julius
Caesar succeeded in consolidating his power
from the Carpathians to the Black Sea and to the
south of the Haemus Mountain. During that time
the Getae were already referred to by the name
of Dacians and with that popular name (with
possible "wolf" etymology) they featured prominently in the military and political history until
107 AD, when the Roman emperor Trajan (98117 AD) conquered the kingdom of their heroic
king Decebalus after two blood-drenched wars.
That victory was immortalised with Trajan's
Forum in Rome, where the famous triumphant

31

3ana3eHama '1acm om 3AameH pumoli C npomoAte Ha

[Je2ac, IV a. np. Xp, me2,AO
475,5 2, C. Ba30Bo,
Pa32paOCKo
The prese/ved pa/t of a gold
rhyton with protome of
Pegasus. 4'" centwy BC,
weight 475.5 g, Vazovo village, Razgrad district

eo
~

to

;t
t:l
I..l

Cpee
'lalU,
xp.J

...

om9
/-lU,

<:

<:

Silve.
whie.

,.t..

tic a1

lC

IU
~

-p

cent"

.,:\ .'

~
~

&
~

Cpe6.
meHO

~~

Xp.f.

Z03eH
Silver
ered ~
The e

E-l

32

Roga;.

saBnaWIBa cnep; p;Be KbpBaBII BOM:HII napCTBOTO

Ha repOH1.J1IIDl HM uap ,I:(eue6an. TaSH n06ep;a e
yneKOBeqeHa Ha TpammmUl <POPYM BPUM, Kbp;eTo ce I1SP:Hra BceHSBeCTHara TPHYM<panHa KOnOHa Cpene<pH 3a ,I:(a.KIDiCIGfTe BOIDrn.
Ha sanap; OT TeqeIDIeTO Ha p. OCKHOC (,lJJi.
I1CKbp) Bp;HelllHa CeBep03an~a EbnrapIDI H
CeBepolI3To~a Cbp6IDI ce npocTHpa TpaKIDI
Ha TpH6amue. TaM, no cpep;HOTo II gonHoTo
TeqeIDIe Ha p. BenHKa MopaBa, HapeqeHO OT
XepOgOT "TpH6anCKO none", e ITbpBOHaqanHOTO cpeAl111J;e Ha CHJIHllTe Tp116anII, KOHTO OT IV
B. rrp. Xp. RaCeTHe pa3IIll1p5IBaT Bnap;eIDUlTa CH
Ha M3TOK. Te ce CnaB5IT ConaCHaTa CM BOM:CKa,
K05ITO qeCTO HaxJlysa go EreM:CKO Mope, 3a Aa
IIJUllIKOCBa ceJlMI:Ua HseMJiI. OT TPH6anCKHTe
Bnap;eTenH H3PHqHO e cnOMeHaT CHpM, qJ1eTO
lIMe ce n05IB5IBa BpaSKasa Ra ApHaH sa noxop;a
Ha AneKcaHAbp MaKegoHcKH KbM ,I:(yHaB.
CHpM nperOBap51 CMaKegoHcKIDI nap qpes CBOH
rrpaTeHl11J;H. TpI16a.JIJITe, CpIDKaBanH ce Beqe YCnelllHO C<Dmmn II rrpH 3aBpbmaHeTO MY OT
CKHTCKIDl noxop; rrpes 339 r. rrp. Xp., :HSJle3m1
cpemy CUHa MY AneKCaH,lJ,bp B 335 r. rrp. Xp. B
pep;oBHo cpIDKemle II cneg6HTKaTa ce OTTefJl5IT
B60eR peg.
MOThmecTBoTo Ha TpH6ancKaTa BbpxyrnKa

TpaKUUCKU nAeMeHa
column with reliefs of the Dacian Wars rises.
Thrace of the Triballoi spread to the west of VI-IV 8. np. Xp.
the Oskios River (present-day Iskar) in today's
Thracian tribes
Northwestern Bulgaria and Northeastern Serbia.
6th _4th century Be
The original settlement of the strong Triballoi
was located there, along the middle and lower
course of the Velika Morava River, which
Herodotus referred to as "Triballian field". Later,
after the 4th century BC, they extended their lands
to the east. They were famous for their dangerous TpaKuiicKO n/tehte
Thracian tribe
army, which often penetrated all the way to the
Aegean Sea to plunder settlements and lands.
OPPJ1CJ1
Odrysai
Syrmos is specifically mentioned among the
Triballian dynasts, his name appears in Arrian's
Ppyzu nAehteHO.
narrative about the march of Alexander of
Other tn'bes
Macedon to the Danube. Syrmos negotiated with CKJ1TJ1
Scythians
the Macedonians through envoys. The Triballoi,
who had already fought successfully against Philip
II when he returned from his Scythian campaign
in 339 BC, opposed his son Alexander in 335 BC rp'bL/xa KO.J/OIlWl
Greek colony
in a regular battle and withdrew in military formation after the battle was over.
MapOHeJl
Maroneia
The power of the Triballian aristocracy and
of its leaders is also proven by the burials in the
TpaKuucKo ce.J/uU/e
Mogilanska Mogila tumulus in Vratsa
Thracian settlement
(Northwestern Bulgaria) and by the precious
Ce6mono.J/uc
grave offerings in them, which included a chariSeuthopolis

.-."

'

..

-:"

11 Ha HefurnTe npeABOA11TeJIM ce AOKa3sa OT norpe6emuITa BMonmaHcKaTa MOrMJIa Brp. BpaU;a (Cesep03anaAHa OoJIrapml) 11 OT CKonIDI MM
HU, POZ03eHCKo C'bKpOBUL/fe
MHBeHTap, KOHTo CoAop)Ka MKOJIeCHMo;a OT
Silver goblet with gilt on
npeAPMMCKaTa enoxa. ITOrpe6eHIDITa ca OT nopwhich a procession offantas- BaTa ITOJIOBIDla Ha N s. np. Xp. 11 y6eAMTeJIHO
tic animals is depicted. 4'"
century Be, Rogozen treasure AOK)'MeHTM{JaT CI1JIaTa Ha Ta3M AJiIHaCTlUl 3a KOHTO ce C'bAH. Mno C'bKpOBMIlJ,eTO OT 165 cpe6opHI1 C'bAa HHKOIi OT KORTO Cn03JIaTa OTKpHTO
npR c. Por03eH, CeBep03anaAHa OoJIrapIDl.
B POAOIDITe Ii no cesepHaTa rrpeArrnammcKa paBRMHa 2KlffieHT oecMTe. THXRaTa BoeHHOnOJIHTMQeCKa Opra:IDl3aO;IDI e cTa6MJIHa OIIJ;e
Cpe6bpHa ifJuaAa c nO:J.Ilarrpe3 V B. np. Xp., OTKoraTO AaTMpaT 11 nopBHTe
meHO yh160, 480-470 z. np.
Xp. Hau-paHHUJlm CbO 8 Po- CSeAeHI1H 3a nJIaHMHCKOTO CBeTl1JImu;e Ha fJIaB203eHCKomo CbKpOBUU{e
HlfH 0p<pliP-recKl1 60r ,l],HOHHC, CHHa Ha BeJIHKaTa 60fHHH-MaMKa. HRKOH o;apcKH HMeHa, 113fSilver phiale with umbo covered with gilt. 480-470 BC
JIe)()J;a, MoraT Aa 60AaT aTPM6YMpaHl1 KoM Ta3H
The earliest vessel in the
AMHaCnrn, HO HaM-AOCTOBepHoTo Cl1 OCTaBa BoRogozen treasure
Cpe6'bpHO zo6eAe (ZOAJlAta

llmua) c n03Aama, IV 8. np.

Xp. 11306pa3eHQ e npOlfecU5l
om ifJaHmaCmU'IHLI JlCllBOm-

ot from pre-Roman times as well. The burials

are dated to the first half of the 4th century BC,
documenting convincingly the power of that
dynasty, which can also be surmised by the
treasure consisting of 165 silver vessels, some of
which with guilt, discovered near the village of
Rogozen in Northwestern Bulgaria.
The Bessi lived in the Rbodope Mountain
and in the plain to the north of it. Their military
and political organisation was stable ever since
the 5th century BC, when the first evidence about
the mountain sanctuary of the principal Orphic
deity Dionysos, son of the Great GoddessMother, is dated. It seems that some royal names
can be attributed to that dynasty, but nevertheless
the name of Vologeses - priest in the sanctuary
and possibly also king - can be most reliably
attested. He led one of the most prolonged
Thracian uprisings against the Romans corning

33

OOpUCKO ljapcmeo
Odrysian kingdom

o Ilpu6Au3umeAfla
mepumopWl Ha
OopucKomo 1.Iapcmeo npu
Tepec (n'bpeama nOAOBUfla
Ha VB. np. Xp.)
Approxi17lale bowularies of
the Odrysian Kingdom at
the time of Teres, first
half of the 5"' Cel/My BC
Pa3LUUpeHUe fla
OopucKomo l/apcmBO npu:
Tenitorial expansion of the
Odrysiall kingdom at the
time of'
o CnapaooK (tl'bp6ama
nOAOBLIHa Ha V B. lip. Xp.)
Sparadokos, first half ofthe
5"' century BC

CUmQAK
(444-424 z. np. Xp.)
Sitalkes (440-424 BC)

Cpe,
rna,

oeoi
oyea
HU n
Poze
Silvf
ratet
griffi
stylis

Be.

Cpe6
.IlU3U
eewl<
Pozo
Silvel
rnettf

centu

. TpaHu1.la fla OopucKomo

1.Iapcmeo npu Komuc I
(383-359 z. np. Xp.)
Border of the Odrysiall
Kingdom at the time of
Kotys I (383-359 BC)

o MaKeooHcKama iJbpJICaea
e'b3/fapRBaflemo fla
(j)uAun II
(359-336 z. np. Xp.)
Macedonia ca. 359 BC, i.e.
the enthroning of Philip II
(359-336 BC)
IlpU

34

JIorec, )KpeIJ, BCBeTIDB1lIl;eTO, a Bep05ITHO M~ap.

TOH nOBe)K,Ua eJ],HO OT Hcrn-rrpOAbillKlITeJIIDlTe
TpaKHHCKH BbCTamI5I cpemy HaCThIIBaIUl1Te B
nOJIyoCTpoBa PHMJUIllli B KpaH Ha I B. np. Xp.
EAOHHTe, 113BeCTIDl ome OT OMHpoBaTa
,Y1.JrnaAa' ClI,apH CM Pe30c BJIaAeHT IOr03anaAHa TpaKIDI no AOJIHOTO relJeHl1e Ha p. CrpYMa C
u.eHTbp IIJIaHIDiaTa ITaHTeH, 60raTa CDC 3naTHH
MCpe6bpH.l1 3aneJKR. M3pa3IITenHM J],aHHH Cb06~aBaT 3a BOeHIDlTe KalJeCTBa Ha Mb)KeTe BpeA
ycneXl1 Ha 60HHOTO none IIpe3 V B. np. Xp. 11 TO
cpemy aTIlIDIHHTe. TeJKKOBbOpb)KeHHTe nexoTMHIJ,H OT Anrna H3ry6BaT MHoro 60H.u.H, rrpeJ],H
J],a OBnaAeHT KJIlOQOBOTO eAoHcKo cpeJ],M1I..{e ,,)J:eBeTTe TIbTH" Ha p. CTpYMa, KbJ],eTO OCHOBaBaT
rpaA AM<j>RnOJTHC.
ATHHCKIDIT MCTOpMK TYKHJlHA (V B. np.
Xp.) cb06maBa, 4.e OAPHCKOTO U.apCTBO e HaHrOJIHMOTO BEBpona Me)l()J;)' AApMaTll4.eCKO H
qepHo Mope. ETHOHHMbT OAPMCM ce OTHaCH 3a
BCH4.KH TpaKH OT ropHoTo Tel.leHHe Ha p. TOH30C (J],H. T)'H}J.)Ka) AO ycmeTo Ha p. Xe6poc C
npHJIe)Ka~I1Te liM 3eMH R MJIOBe OT IIJIaHMHHTe
POAOn.H, CaKap MCTpaH)J)Ka, KaKTO R 3a OHe3H
OT XHHTepJIaHAa Ha CTaporpblI,KJITe KOnOHI1M no
EreHcKo, MpaMopHo R qepHo Mope.
O}J.pliCKaTa Abp2KaBa e 3a6eJIH3aHa OT eJIMHC-

into the Balkan Peninsula at the end of the lSI

century Be.
The Edones were known ever ince Homer's
Iliad with their king Rhesos. They ruled over
Southwestern Thrace, along the lower course of
the Strymon River, with a centre in the Pangaion
Mountain, which was rich in gold and ilver
deposits. There is eloquent evidence about the
warrior qualities of the men in the battlefield in
the Sib century BC, moreover against the
Athenians. The heavily armed infantrymen from
Athens lost many warriors before they could conquer the key Edonian settlement of the "Nine
Roads" on the Strymon river, where they founded
the city of Amphipolis.
The Athenian historian Thucydides (Slh century BC) reported that the Odrysian kingdom was
the biggest in Europe between the Adriatic and
the Black Sea. The ethnonym Odrysae refers to
all Thracians from the upper course of the Tonzos
River (present-day Toundja) near the estuary of
the Hebros River, with the adjacent lands and
parts of the Rhodope, Sakar and Strandja mountains, as well as to the lands from the mainland
Greek colonies along the Aegean Sea, the Sea of
Marmara and the Black Sea.
The Odrysian state was first noticed by the

..

~.

BoeHHu noxoou fla:

Military carnpaigllS of'
-CUmaJlK
Sitalkes
- Komuc I
KotysI
~ 3ael/CUAla

om Komuc I
ZP'b1.lK.Q KOAOHU.Jl BEZeR U
TpaKUiicKU.Jl Xepcoflec
Greek colony in the Aegean
or the Thracian Chersonesos
-tributary to Kotys I

Tp'b1.lKa KOAOHU.Jl
Greek colony
TpaKltucKo f1AeAle
..... 77tracian tribe

IIDl

- TpaKuucKo CeAUllfe
.... Thracian seltlemellt
.... TpaKuiicKa H.aozpo6Hfl
AWZUA.a
Thracian burial mound
ii /l.OA.Alefl

Megalith
TpaKuticKo cbKpOeut4e
Thracian treasure

CKaA)
JlCepm
ceernt

Sacrij.
the ro.
sancll..

-:"

30

IBO npu
JAOBUHa
laries of

om or
"rsr
T}'

BC

Cpe6'bpHa iua/La c 1103Aarna, yKpaceHa c 'temUpu

060UKU A'b808e-ZpuioHU, peOy8aUju ce C'bC cmUAU3upaHU naAAtemu, IV B. np. Xp.,
Poz03eHcKo CbKpoBuUje
Silver phiale wirh gilt, decorated with four pairs of lionsgriffins alternating with
stylised palmettes. 4'}o century
BC Rogozell treasure

180 npu:
of/he
at tire

'n

'1a
'1p. Xp.)
2/f of the

)
IC)

Cpe6bpHa iuoAa, CbC cmuAU3upaHU naAAtemU u '106eUlKU ZAa8U, IV B. np. Xp.,

Poz03eHcKo CpOBUll/e
Silver phiale with stylised palmettes and human heads. 4'10
century Be. Rogozen treasure

;Komo
!UC I
)

rian
leof
C)

'1):J/Ct16a
10 Ha
.)
I BC, i.e.

'hilip II

of

CKaAHo-U3Ce'teHa
:JICepmBeHa RAta
CBemUAuu/e "EeAUHmmu"
Sacrificial pit hewn ill to
the rock of tlte Belintash
sanctuary

35
nuc I
EZeR II

JHec
:Aegeon
ersonesos
I

e
~t

Jund

epel
n03A
BeA
nbp6
np. )
.I110Z1
Silvel

rated
Grea
half <
Mogi
Vrats

ICHTe rmcaTeJIH HaI1-HanpeA l.Jpe3 AeHCTBIDITa Ha

BJIa,u,eTeJUI H Tepec ( 490 - 464 r. rrp. Xp.).
TOH YMeJIO ce B'b3110JI3Ba OT 1l0XOAa Ha llepcHHcKIDI nap ,D,apIDi: I npe3 M3TO"tJRa TpaKH5I, CTapa
llJIaHHHa 11' ,il,yHaB cpe~ CKIITHTe. ITepcH.i1cKaTa
HMllepIDI Ha AxeMemrAcKaTa ,rnrnaCTIDI 3allOl:rBa
eKCllaH3IDITa CM rrpe3 519/514/512 (?) r. rrp. Xp.,
3a Aa BKJIFOqJif B rpaHID..(11Te m nemm qepHoMopCK11 6aceilli. ,D,ap11H 06aqe He MOrnJI Aa ce crrpaBM CbC CKHTCKaTa KOHHMQa BOTKpJifTaTa ceBepHOl-JepHOMOpcKa CTell. KoraTo "Qap5IT Ha u;apeTe"
ce OTApbllBa OT ceBep Ha FOr KbM 113XOAHillI C11
JIYHKT BpatfoHa Ha MpaMopHo Mope 11 Ha [fpoTOIJ;l1Te, Tepec ce Bb3110JI3Ba OT 06pa3yBaJIIDI ce
BoeHHOnOJIHTI1l-JeCKI1 BaKYYM Ha ceBepo113TOK OT
XeMyc, llpHC'beAMH5IBa [crI1Te, KOI1TO M3l1J!ITBaT
Ha rnp6a CM nepcIDi:cKI15I YAap, Mrrpe3 80-Te roAMHH aa V B. rrp. Xp. AOCTlffil ,ItrHaB rrpM AOJIHOTO MY Tel.JeHHe, KaTO 0651B5IBa peKaTa 3a ceBepHa

Greek authors through the actions of its ruler Teres

( 490 to 464 BC). He deftly benefited from the
march of the Persian king Darius I across Eastern
Thrace, the Balkan Range and the Danube against
the Scythians. The Persian Empire of the
Achaemenid dynasty started its expansion in
519/514/512(?) BC so as to include the entire Black
Sea basin in its borders. However, Darius wac;
unable to cope with the Scythian cavalry in the
open Pontic steppes. When the "king of kings"
withdrew from the north to the south towards his
point of departure in the area of the Sea of
Marmara and the Straits, Teres seized the opportunity of the military and political vacuum that had
been formed to the northeast of the Haemus
Mountain, annexed the Getae who had experienced the Persian blow and reached the lower
course of the Danube in the 'eighties of the 5'h century BC and proclaimed the river as his northern

Cpe67,pHa KalW C n03Aam.a,

yKpaceHa c 06e OZ.lle()a.lUtli
u306paJiCeHUfl Ha KOHHUl{U,
HanaoaUju 2AuzaH, IV 6. np.
Xp. nper)cma6eHo e l{apCKO
LleHHocmHO U3numaHue.
KOHHUlCbm, 'memo IWI711e e
yAy'{UAO JiC1l60mHO, e u36paHHUKbm Ha BeAUKama
60211Hfl-.I/WUKa. POZ03eHCKO
CbKp06uu/e

Silver jug with gilt, decorated

with two mirror images of
horsemen attacking a boar.
The scene depicts a royal
value triaL The horseman
whose spear has hit the animal is the warrior chosen by
the Great Goddess-Mother.
4"' century Be. Rogozen
treasure

36

EpOH306a pU3HllLla
?yeLl, TbpZ06UUjKO,

om c.

450-400 z. np. Xp.

Bronze armour from the village of Rouen near
Turgovishte, 45().400 BC

l
.....

CpefibpeH HaKO,1eHHUK C
II03Aama C UJ06paJICeHUe tla
BeAJ./Kilma 6ozw,uh1tauxa,
lI'bp6ama nOAOBUHa Ha IV B.
lip. Xp., MOZU,taHCKama
"WZI/Aa Bpa4a
Silver greave with guilt decorated with an image of the
Great Goddess-Mother. First
half of the 4" century BC,
Mogilanska Mogila tumulus,
Vratsa

3JWmeH 6eHel/, ll'bp6a nOAO6UHa Ha IV 6. np. Xp., mezAO 205 z, MOZUAaHCKama

JlWZUAa Bpa4a
Gold wreath First half of the
4" cemwy BC, weight 205 g.
Mogilanska Mogila tllmulus,
Vratsa
3AamHU o6el/tI, n'bp6a nOAOBUtta Ha IV 6. np. )(p., MozuAaHCKIlma AfOZtlAa Bpalf,a
Gold earrings. First half of
the 4"' century BC,
Mogilanska Mogila tumulus,
Vratsa

3J(ama,
JaAHU
'iHUtlll,
V 6.'np.
ItapCKO
Ill/e.

:Ol1ue e
u36-

:ama

J3eHCKO
~corated

esof
! boar.
oya/
man

he aJ1iosen by
fother.
:en

JnlC.

the vil-

Be

37

38

rpa.mru;a. TOM IlpoHHKBa M,o:bJI60KO Ha lOrml3TOK

AO EM3aHTI10H (AR. J.1cTaH6yJI).
KbM MCJIe,o: cpe,o;aTa Ha V B. rrp. Xp. ce rro5IlHIBaT MCb06m.emuITa 3a CMHOBeTe Ha Tepec
Cnapa.o:oK ( 464 - 444 r. rrp. Xp.) MDrraJIK
( 444 - 424 r. rrp. Xp.). ITo T5IXHO BpeMe OJJ.pMCKOTO ll,apCTBO rrpe,o;CTaBJUIBa TPl1bThJIHMK C
OCHOBa .JllIHIDlTa OT yCTMeTO Ha p. MeCTa B
EreMCKO Mope AO YCTl1eTO Ha p. )l)'HaB BtIepRo
Mope. J.13pMtIHO CBe,o:eHMe 3a MOllJ,Ta Ha OJJ.pMCKaTa uapCKa AllliacnUf ce Cb,lJ,bpJKa BtIH:CJIaTa
3a CbCT051HH:eTO Ha o,o:pMcKaTa xa3Ha, HaM-BllcoKOTO OT KOMTO e 1000 TaJIaHTa, T.e. 260000 Kr B
MeTaJIHM M3)l,emur MMOHen:.
CRTaJIK ce Bb3nOJI3Ba OT ITeJIOnOHeCKaTa
BOMHa Me)K)l,y ATMHa MCnaPTa (431-404 r. rrp.
Xp.) Mce OIlMTBa CbC 150 OOO-Ha apMIDl,o;a OBJIa,o;ee J.13Tolffia MaKe,o;oIDUI MXarrKMJJ;H:tIeCKIDI
norryoCTPoB HO He ycruma JJ.a ce 3a,o;bpJKR BTe3M 3eMl1. CJIe,lJ, CMbpTTa MY B6MTKa cpe~ TpR6amITe 3a ceBep03ana,o:HM5l WIJI Ha OAPllCKOTO
ll,apCTBO HeroBM5lT npHeMHMK CeBT I (424 407/405 r. np. Xp.) 3arrOtIBa eKCnaH3M5l KbM
TpaKMMCKM5l XepcoHec (,lJ,H. nOJIyocTpoB laJIMnOJIH), 3a ,lJ,a ro 3aBJIa,lJ,ee M3a ,lJ,a yCTaHoBM KOHTpOJI Ha,lJ, JKM3HeHO Ba)KHMTe 3a ATHHa MOpCKM
nbTMm;a KbM MOT tIepHo Mope, no KOMTO nOJIllCbT ce cHa6,ll.5IBa CTPaKIDiCKO 11 CKliTCKO JKRTO.
KOTHC I (383-359 r. rrp. Xp.), Bep05ITeH HerOB CRH, HeM3TOlll,llM nbJIKOBOJJ;eIJ, )l,ByJIHqeH
JJ.HIIJIOMaT HCypOB BJIa.o:eTerr, e y6MT no BpeMe
Ha IlHp OT aTHHCKl1 HaeMHHIJ;H: Be)l,Ha OT CBOMTe
KpaMMOpCKH pe3MJJ;eHUH.H: ThKMO BroJJ;HHaTa, B
K05ITO <DMJIHil II e npOBb3rJIaCeH 3a ll,ap Ha MaKe)l,OHM5l. Y6Hi1CTBOTO CJIara KpaFi Ha Te)J(KaTa
BOMRa MeJKJJ:Y AnlHa, K05lTO 6paHH BJIa,o;eHM5lTa
CM BTpaKlIfMCKM5l XepCOHec, 3a )l,a 3arra3M MOPCKHTe rrbTHllJ,a, MKon;rc, qHHTO nJIaHOBe ca noaM6Hll,H03HH, OTKOJIKOTO pearrHH.
<DHJIHII IT MaKe,lJ,oHcKH rrO,lJ,XBallJ,a eKcrraH3H5ITa CH Ha H3TOK OT p. CTPYMa CHaM-,lJ,06paTa
BOMCKa Ha BpeMeTO. Kamc e MbpTbB OnpHCKa
TpaKIDl e rrO)l,erreHa Jill 1pH )l,5lJIa. CrreJJ; crro.rryqIDIBHTe 3aBOeBaHIDl Ha lOr <DHIDIII OTCTPaH5IBa JJ;BaMa OT TPaK:H:HCKHTe IJ,ape Hnpe3 40-Te ro)J;lfilll Ha
IV B. np. Xp. nOKOp5lBa 5lAPOTO Ha O,o;pMCKam
JJ:bpLKaBa, BJIaWJHO OT Kepce6JIem (359 - 341 r.

border. He also penetrated deep into the southeast,

all the way to Byzantiwn (present-day Istanbul).
The evidence about Tere I sons Sparadoko
( 464 - 444 Be) and Sitalkes ( 444 - 424 Be)
al 0 appeared around and after the middle of the
51h century Be. Under their rule, the Odry ian
kingdom was a triangle, its line being the line
from the mouth of the Mesta River in the Aegean
Sea to the Danube estuary in the Black Sea.
Explicit evidence about the might of the Odrysian
royal dynasty is contained in the numbers about
the state of the Odrysian treasury, the highest of
which i 1,000 talents, i.e., 260,000 kg in metal
articles and coins.
Sitalkes benefited from the Peloponnesian
War between Athens and Sparta (431-404 BC)
and tried to conquer Eastern Macedonia and the
Chalkidiki Peninsula with a 150,000-strong army,
but he failed to stay long in these lands. After his
death in the battle against the Triballoi for the
northwestern part of the Odry ian kingdom, his
succe or Seuthes 1(424-407/405 BC) started an
expansion towards the Thracian Chersonesos
(pre ent-day GaIIipoli Peninsula) in order to conquer it and to establish control over the sea
routes to and from the Black Sea that were vitally
important to Athens, along which the polis was
upplied with Thracian and Scythian wheat.
Koty I (383-359 BC), who was probably his
son, an indefatigable military commander, cunning diplomat and tern dynast, was lcil1ed during
a feast by Athenian mercenaries in one of hi seaside re idences precisely in the year in which
Philip n was proclaimed King of Macedon. The
assassination put an end to the severe war
between Athens, which was defending its lands in
the Thracian Cher one 0 0 as to preserve the
sea routes, and Kotys, whose plans tended to be
more ambitious than real.
Philip II of Macedon started his expansion to
the east from the Strymon River, taking with him
the best army at the time. Kotys I wa" dead,
Odrysian Thrace was divided in three parts. After
hi successful conquests to the south, Philip eliminated two of the Thracian kings and in the 'forties of the 4'b century BC he conquered the core
of the Odrysian state over which Kersehleptes

..,:.

CKaAHI

C6emu."

Rock-II
Belima.

3AamH,
oaAHu I

nep6op,
InRUja

2402, ,

IV 6.11/
rna AlOe

Goldju.

vllhe l-.
a flying

the 4'" C
240 g, "
turnulm

Cpe6'bpf
KaHutlKt
f/O.1laAOl

M02uAa
BpaLia

Fircone4 tJo cenlu

Mogila t

:"

l'.

~
o
r)

--

. i

:
I

I
'

CKaAHO-U3Ce'leHO
caemuAUUfe "EeAUHmmU"
Rock-hewn sanctuary
Belintash

3AamHa KaHU'IKa c 02AeoaAHU u306paJICeHUfl /-La Xunep60peiicKUfl AnoAoH 6 AemRUfa KOAecHuqa, me2AO
240 2, n'bjJaa nOAoaUHa /-La
IV 6. np. Xp., M02UAa/-LCKama ht02UAa. Bpal-ja
Gold jug with minnr images
of the Hyperborean Apollo in
u flying chariot. First half of
the 4'" century BC, weight
240 g, Mogilanska Mogila
tumulus, Vratsa

Cpe6vpHa
Ka/-LU'IKa-U/uuwpKa,
Ha'taAOmo Ha IV 6. np. Xp.,
M02UAaHCKama ht02UJla,
Bpaqa
Fircvne-like silver jug. Early
4'" centwy BC, Mogilanska
Mogila turnulus. Vratsa

39

3AameH Ha2poOHIIK. am EaUloaa At02UAa, c. JJyeaHAuti.

IIAoaouacKo. KpaR Ha Va.
np. Xp.
Gold peCJoral from the
Bashova Mogila tumulus,
Duvanlii village, Plovdiv
region. Late 5" century BC
3Aame/-l /-laZp"br)/-lUK om
Apa6aoJICWlcKama At02UAa,
J{yaaHAuti, llAoaouacKo.
Kp{U/. Ha Va. np. Xp.

(359-341 BC), son of Kotys I, ruled. The

rrp. Xp.), CRH Ha KOTIlc 1. MaKeAOHCKaTa BOMCKa
Macedonian army penetrated along the valleys of
npmillKBa no AOJIHHl1Te Ha Xe6poc IT TOHsoc AO
the Hebros and Tonzos to the Odrysian royal city
OApITCKIDl.uapCKM rpa):( Ka6HJle IT AO ITyJInYAeBa
(AH. ITJIOBAHB) - rpa.n:a Ha ce):(eMTe XbJIMa.
of Kabyle and to Pulpudeva (present-day
Plovdiv) - the city on the seven hills.
MaKeAOHCKOTO BJIa,ll;HtIeCTBO BTpaKIDr ce
H3pa351Ba 06atIe CaMO BrrplICbCTBITeTO Ha IDIKOJIThe Macedonian rule in Thrace, however,
KO rapmnOHa. CeBT, HapeqeH Tpem ( 330 consi ted only in the presence of everal garrisons.
302/301 HJIl1 297 r. np. Xp.), BepmlTeH CHH Ha
Seuthes III ( 330-302/301 or 297 BC), probable
son of Kotys 1, completely preserved his indeKOTHC I, HanbJIHO 3ana3Ba CaMOCTOSITeJIHOCTTa
cn cpemy MaKeAOHCKMTe HaMeCTHHIJ.M BTpaKIDI pendence against the Macedonian invaders in
M HellHITTe Oqm-UHaJIHM BJIaAeTeJIH KaKTO rrpMThrace and its official rulers both in Alexander's
)IillBe Ha ArreKcaHAbp, TaKa M CJIe):( CMbpTTa My
lifetime and after his death in 323 Be. The
B323 r. np. Xp. OApMcKaTa Abp2KaBa YCT05lBa Ha Odrysian state withstood the Celtic invasion in
KeJITCKOTO HarneCTBHe rrpes 280-279 r. rrp. Xp.,
280-279 BC, which was born in Central Europe
KoeTO ce sap3)K,[J.a BI.J.eHTPaJIHa EBpona 11 ce
and spread to the southeast during the 3rd century
pa3BliXpSI BlOroM3ToKa rrpe3 III B. np. Xp. KeJIT- Be. Celtic groups organised a kingdom of their
CKI1 rpyrrn OpraHH3RpaT BTpa.KIDl CBoe UapCTBO, own in 'Thrace, which existed until about the
KOeTO npoCbI.I.J.eCTByBa AOKbM 20-Te ro):J.lffiH Ha
'twenties of the 3rd century BC, when it was
III B. np. Xp., KoraTO e ymrruolKeHo OT TpaKMTe. destroyed by the Thracians.

40

Gold pectoral from the

Arabadjiyska tumulus.
Duvanlii village, Plovdiv
region. Late 5" century BC
Cpe61,plla rftua/w c npunoe/-l
6 /,{-eHm'bpa n03AmneH AleoaAboH c u306paJlCeHUe lIa
JlCeHCKa Z/lG6a, HatWAomo
Ha N 6. np. Xp., M02UAanCKama RW2uAa, BpaLla
Silver phiale in the centre of
which a gilded medallion
with the image of a female
head is soldered. Early 4"
century BC, Mogilanska
Mogila tumulus, Vratsa
3AamHu HaZp'bOHUK, U6YAU
u aUCJIUjU YKpaUleHuR am
MyUlo611l{a Af02U/la, c. J{yBaHAui/, nAOBOllBCKO, KpaR
Ha Vl- Hall. tla Ve. np. Xp.
Gold pectora~ fibulae and
pendants from the
Moushovitsa tumuhls,
Duvalllii village, Plovdiv
region. Late 6" - early 5'
century BC

neU,

zapc
CKO.
3a U
K'bAI
AlGU,
l{e, K
u

tt3.

RleJIC
moc
Cave
Kaya
was~

Greaz
herS,
obsell
ment
sumrr.

..

-;'.,

Ea/..Iluii,
/a.

5,

Be
uAa,
I,

BC
noeH
ne/ia
no
1aH-

re of
n
ale

th

16yAU
Jnl

ay-

paR

'. Xp.
nd

neUlepa-<:6emUAUUle "TaHeapO'bK /(aJr", K'bpOJICaAUiiCKO. lleulepama e cAyJICeAa

3a U31lOBflCMaHe /ia K)lAma
K'I}/"', BeAuKama 6oeUWIAWLIKa U HeUHUfl CUH-C/l'bHlie, KaKmo U 3a Ha6AIOoeHue
U U3//'1ep8aHe /ia ape//'lemo
Jl'leJICoy 311/1'lIIOmO U A.Rtn/iOrno C.lI1>HI/ecmoeHe
Cave-sanctuary Tangardik
Kaya near Kurdjali, The cave
was used for the cult of the
Great Goddess-Mother and
her Son-Sun, as well as for
observation and measurement of the time belWeen the
summer and winter solstice

-..

l-..

~
~

-..

.~

00

:s

i
r.l

j"'

41

CTPAHATA HA

MD~POCTTA

THE LAND OF WISDOM

II1MeTo OpeH ce cpeJIJ.a 3a npbB JIbT B

e.o.liH parMeHT Ha IOIKHoHTamrHCIGIH errIiHCKH.
JIOeT CTpaHlillK 116H.K npe3 VI B. rrp. Xp. Ii e
npHJl.p)T)KeHo OT onpe.o.erreHMeTO ,,6rreCT5IIIJ;O
H3BeCTHIDiT". 3aJIliCbT OTpa35IBa e.o.Ha MHoroBeKOBHa yCTHa Tpa.o.I:UJ,HH .o.a ce CJIaBli o606meHHHT 06pa3 Ha rroeTa rreBeI.J" KOHTO Cli aKOMJIaHZpa Ha Jmpa (KIiTapa), HO e Ii JIpOplilJ,aTeJI,
JIeqliTerr, yqliTeJI, I.J,ap II )KpeI.J,. "EJIeCT5IIIJ;O 1i3BeCTHIDIT" e MIiCJIeH OT ErrliHIiTe KaTO HOCIITeJI Ha Ta31i MlICIi5I cpe.o. XopaTa Ii e e.o.liHO.o.YIlIHO JIpe.o.JIOtIeTeH 06pa3/ li.o.e5I npe.o. .o.pyrl1
MliTliqHIi TpaIGIHCKIi neBI.J,II II noeTII, KaKBIiTO
ca TaMlipliC, EBMOrrJI, OCHOBaTerr51T Ha EJIeBCIiHCKIiTe MlICTepIII1, JII1H Ii My3eH.
JIlITepaTYPHO-IiJIOCOCKOTO npe;nJIOtIlITaHlie KbM MeTa<pOpHqJIIDI 06pa3 Ha OpeH BKaqeCTBOTO MY Ha yqMTerr 3a CbIIJ;HOCTIa Ha KocMOca 60rOBeTe H xopaTa, ce ;nbJl)KH Ha TPaK.Iritc-

The name of Orpheus occuned for the fIrst

time in a fragment by the South Italic Greek
poet-wanderer Ibykos during the 6th century BC
and was accompanied by the defmition of the
"brilliantly famous." The record reflects a cenruries-old oral tradition of praising the summarised image of the poet-singer who sang to his
own accompaniment on the lyre (guitar) and was
also oracle, healer, teacher, king and priest. The
"brilliantly famous" was perceived by the Greeks
as someone who brought that mission among the
people and was the unanimously preferred
image/idea over other mythical Thracian singers
and poets, notably Thamyris, Eumolpo , the
founder of the Eleusinian mysteries, Linos and
Musaeos.
The literary-philosophical preference for the
metaphoric image of Orpheus in his capacity of
teacher about the nature of the Co mos, the gods
,J~uoHueOB eepBU3", "aem

42

"An(
oml

om P0203eHeKomo ebKpoBuU/e. Cpe6bpeH eepBU3, U3nOA3BaH B PIIOHUCOBU 06peou, n'bp8Q nOAOBUHa Ha

IVB. np. Xp.

AnoJ

'Dionysiae set" - part of the

Rogozen treasure. Silver set
used in Dionysiac rites. First

muer
zpaBI
CUH!c

BUU/(
nOA.3
meHt

Hall

half of the 4th century BC

"Apo.
Rogo<
used I

Son-5
inscrij

vant (
on thf
of the

""-

==....,........

= = =......- - - - -

.
tr.

"

,,:'.

KaTa BHpa-06pe;WOCT, on03HaTa II OIDiCaHa OT

emrnCKH noern MIIMCaTerrM. T5I e oTlIpaBeHa
K'bM 60ra, ClIHa Ha BemIKaTa 60rMHH-MaHKa, B
ABaTa MY 06pa3a: 3eMeH - ;:::I;llOIDIC, MCJI'bH'lIeB AnorroH. B5IpaTa ce KpellM Ha yrrOBamIeTO, ~e
,,60r'bT YMHpa pa3K'bCaH", 3a JJ:a ce pO}J;M HaHOBO
II 3a JJ:a 1I0CTaBM Ha~arro Ha BClflIKH He6eCHH,
rrpRpOJJ:IDI lI'lIOBellIKM JJ;m<Jlli Ha CMbpTIa II B'b3KpeCeHMeTO. TaK'bB e TPanUkKlI5lT 3arpe:Fi-;:::I;ao-IlliC, 60r'bT Ha Op<l>ei-i. ETO 3aII.(0 BeJIlIHCKH5I
MIlT nOeT'bT npopMII,aTerr comO e pa3K'bCaH KaTO
CB051 60r OT TpaKJI:fu<.lI BaKXa:HKH, JKPHD,M Ha ;:::I;MOIlliC, 3a na M3ThpIIlI CTPanaHMeTO MY. )KPlfi.O'ITe
ca TaTJMPaHH, 3a JJ:a 6'bne pa3II03HaBaHa OTrOBOpHOCTIa MBMHaTa MM, KaKTO Ka3BaT cTaporp'bl(KHTe aBTOpM. YrrOBamIeTO BHOBOTO pIDKJJ:aHe npeBp'bn:r;a Op<pei1: BaHTporrOJJ:eMOH (IiOrry60r), rrpllJJ:06llJI 6e3CM'bprne, 6e3 JJ:a e 60)KeCTBeR IIO ecrecTBoTO CM. AHTPonOJJ:eMOH'bT e "nocpe}lHHK" Me~ xopaTa II 60roBeTe, HO HeroBoTo
llocpenmrqeCTBO He e <pB3M'lIeCKo. To e lIHTeJIeKTYaJIHO II RpaBcrBeHo, 3a JJ:a OTHaC5I MOJI6MTe Ha
CMbPTHIITe II 3a JJ:a lIM JJ:oHaC5I llOCJIaHM5ITa Ha
6e3cM'bpnmTe. ITo T03M II'bT ce oepoPM5IT H06pa3HTe Ha .n;pynr yqHTeml B0p<PH1IeCKaTa B5Ipa B
6e3CM'bpTHeTO. 3aJIMOKCMC e crrOMeHaT OT ,,6an:r;aTa Ha MCTOpMHTa" XepoJJ:oT rrpe3 V B. np. Xp.
KaTO l(ap, lKpeu; MytrnTerr Ha remTe, "HaH-ClIpaBeJJ:JIMBMTe, HaH-rrpaBe,nHMTe M3Me)K,D:y BCM'lIKM
TpaKM". KaTo 0p<pei1: 3aJIMOKCMC e aHTP0no,neMOH MHerOBOTO MHTeJIeKTYaJIHO rrocpeJJ:HM'lIeCTBO e orrnCaHO KaTO apHCTOKpaTM'lIeCKO yqeHMe,
cm
70" U3-

)6Ha
[the
.set
First

"AnOAOH08 cep8u3': 'lacm

om Poe03eHcKomo C'bKPO8U14e. Cpe6'bpen cep8U3, U3nO.A38Uft 8 06peou, nOC8emeHU Ha CUHa-CA'bHije U
AnOAOH, n'bpBa nOAOBUHa
Ha N 8. np. Xp. B'bPXY ycmuemo Ha KaHU'lKama e
epaBupaH Haonuc "Komuc,
CUH!cAYJlCUmeA Ha AnoAoH"

"Apollo's set" - part of the

Rogozen treasure. SiLver set
used in rites dedicated to the
Son-Sun and Apollo. An
inscription Kotys, son/servant of Apollo is engraved
on the jug's mouth. First haLf
o[ the 4fh century BC

and the people was due to the Thracian faith and

rituality, learned and described by Greek poets
and writers. It was addressed to the god who was
the Son of the Great Goddess-Mother, in his two
images: terrestrial - Dionysos, and solar - Apollo.
The faith rested on the inner conviction that "the
god died dismembered" so as to be reborn and to
mark the beginning of all celestial, natural and
human cycles of death and resurrection. Such is
the Thracian zagreus-Dionysos, the god of
Orpheus. Thi is why, in the Greek myth the
poet-oracle was also dismemhered as his god by
Thracian Bacchae, priestesses of Dionysos, so
that he would be able to experience his suffering.
The priestesses are tattooed and in this way it
would be possihle to discern their responsibility
and their guilt, as the ancient Greek authors said.
The faith in the new birth transformed Orpheus
into an anthropodaimon (man-god) who acquired
immortality without being divine in his nature.
The anthropodaimon is a "mediator" between the
humans and the gods, but his mediation is not
physical. It i intellectual and moral, 0 as to take
the prayers of the mortals and to bring to them
the messages of the immortals. The images of
other teachers in the Orphic faith in immortality
were also formed in this way. Zalrnoxis was mentioned by the "father of history" Herodotus in the
5'h century Be as a king, priest and teacher of the
Getae, "the most just and the most righteous
among all Thracians." Just as Orpheus, zalmoxis
is also anthropodaimon and his intellectual media-

f;
I

I (

43

3.wnlHa AlUCKa, 1l0Cllla6eHa

AiRcmomo /la ?/IaBaJlla
Ha nO?pe6aH OOPIlCK/I B.IIaoenzeA-OpUK 6 /11O?1I,IUma

Ha

CaemU4ama -

,,flo IUHanla
u

Ita nzpaK/IllC/wme llape ,

Ka3aH.II'bIUKO. KpaR IIU V-

Ha'la,lOmO Ha

IV B. IIp. Xp.

Gold mask at the place of

the head of an Odrysian
Orphic dynast huried in the
Svetitsata tumulus in the
Valley of the Thracian Kings
near Kazanluk. Late 5'" early 4'h century BC

KoeTo BbBe)KjXa anenTlne B6e3CMbpn'leTO Ha

)J,yxa. CnopeJl e)J,Ha OT )J,BeTe BepCI1J1 Ha XepoJJ:oT
3arrMOKCHC He e MecreH uap, a e OTIilllbJI npH
r enfTe, CJIeJJ: KaTo 6HJI H3BeCTHO BpeMe po6 Ha
TIwrarop. Ta311 Bpb3Ka e HeJJ:oKa3yeMa, HO OT
KYJIT)'pHO-l1CTOpWlecKo rne)J,Hme e HanbJIHO OIIpaB)J,aHa, nOHe)Ke 0TPa35IBa )J,OKa3aHaTa npl1eMCTBeHocr Me)K)J,y opq>HLJeCKaTa B5Ipa Ha TpaKHTe
11 TIHTaropOBaTa epI1JIoc0<pH5I 3a crpoe)Ka Ha
KocMoca H 3a 6e3CMbpTl1eTO. TpaKH5I e CM51TaHa
3a "cTpaHa Ha MbJJ:pocTTa", 3amOTO cnopeJJ:
eJlIIHCKaTa B113H5I "CeBepbT e IIOCOKaTa Ha MbJJ:pocTIa". Ha ceBep BTpaKU5! HOTBb)J, He51' ce pa3nope)f()J,a CHHbT Ha BeJlHKaTa 60rUH5I-MaliKa B
CJlbHlIeBH5I CH 06pa3, XJmep6opei1cKIDIT AnoJIOH, omlUeTBOpeHJ1e Ha CBeTJIOTO rrp03peHl1e,
JJ:oKaTo HerOBH5IT yqeHHK Opepei1 ce npeBpbll(a B
)'lIMTeJI no TI03HaHl1e, T.e. B yq:wre.n no 6e3CMbpT11e. nellHTeJI Ha T5IJIOTO 11 Ha JJ:YllIaTa c, Opepei1

tion is described as aristocratic teaching that initiates the adepts into the immortality of the spirit.
According to one of the two versions of
Herodotus, Zalmoxis was not a local king, hut he
went to the Getae after he served for a while as a
slave of Pythagoras. This link cannot be proven,
but from a cultural-historical point of view it is
fully justified hecause it reflects the proven continuity between the Orphic faith of the Thracians
and the Pythagorean philosophy on the structure
of the Cosmos and on immortality.
Thrace was considered to be the "land of
wisdom" because according to the Greek vision
"the North is the direction of wisdom." The Son
of the Great Goddess-Mother ruled in the north,
in Thrace and beyond it, in his solar image, the
Hyperborean Apollo personification of the bright
insight while his disciple Orpheus turned into a
teacher of Knowledge, i.e., into a teacher of

44

Hac),
HO

llape
mpal
6 Cel

800zt

KOIlI-

Haor.
KAem

Sepel
HO

UAt ;

Camc
nomo
CpeObpeH 'lGKO.lleI-tI-tIlK C
/103,wma C 1I:lOopaJICel-tue Ha
BeAUKwna fi0211f/.Jl-Azaz:iKU,

l1'bpBama

lip. Xp.,

110/IOIIWlCl

/la IV 8.

M02l1AaHCKama

.;t1021/Aa, BpalJa

Silver greave with guilt decorated with an image of the

Great Goddess-Mother. First
half of the 4" century BC,
MogiLanska Mogila tumulu.f,

Vratsa

EnuA

co6cn

KpaR
Tnscri
tempi

the pG
king ~
Seutho
merge

the Kc
Kazar.
the oa
wife o.
Hebro
andS.
ny in (
Epime
Late 4

Haonu.
om 2p.
(OH.2p

ce onw
2POHUlJ
.al/ONUC

CmpOHG
(OI-t.2p.
Py.M'bH~

BaplLa)
Komuc
HO J 6.'
lnscript,
city of l
Balchik
descripli
detenni,
Dionyso
side, the
(pres. M
Romani
Varna) ,

KingKo
Late Tn I

....

"

.:'.'

).

e
gs

Ita
,.,
'a.

'0'rst
'.J.SJ

Haol1uc, OmKpUm 6 XpaMa

fla BeAUKume 60z08e 8
LlapcKUfl 080peLi fla
mpaKUUCKUJl LJap Ce8m III
a Ceam0I10AUC, ceca 1100
800ume Ha Jl308UP
KonpuHKa, Ka3aHAbUlKo.
Haamlcbm I1peOCma8AJlBa
KAemBa Ha lJapuLia
EepeHuKa, c'bnpyea
fla Ce8m III, U CUHOBeme
UAt Xe6pa3eA.J1'l, Tepec,
CamoK, CaoaAa U meXHllnle
110mOA1LJU omHOCflO
EnUA1eft U 1te?08ama
c06cmBeHocm.
KpaR fla IV 6. np. Xp.
Inscription discovered in the
temple of the Great Gods in
the palace of the Thracian
king Seuthes III in
Seuthopolis, currently suhmerged under the waters of
the Koprinka Dam near
Kazanluk. The inscription is
the oath of Queen Berenika,
wife of Seuthes III, their sons
Hebrizelmis, Teres, Satokos
and Sadalas, and their progeny in connection with
Epimenes and its ownership.
Late 4'" century BC

Ha()nuc-oeKpem
om cp. )J,lloHllconoAuc
(Oft. cp. EaA'lllK). B meKcma
ce onUC8am ollpeoeAeHume
cpaHULJU MeJICoy
)J,IIOHuconoAuc, O/"fl eOHa
cmpafla, cp. KaAamuc
(Oft. "p. MaHzapUfl,
PyAt"bHUfl), Doecoc (on "p.
BapHa) U 3eMume fla lJap
Komllc /11, om opyza. KpaJl
fla I 8. np. Xp.
Inscription-decree from the
city of Dionysopolis (pres.
Balchik). The text is a
description of the boundaries
determined between
Dionysopolis, on the one
side. the city of Kallatis
(pres. Mangalia in
Romania), Ddessos (pres.
Varna) and the lands of
King Kotys lIl, on the other.
Late 7" centuf)' BC

.......

...

~
~
~

......~
~

.......

~
~

.~

rJ:J.

;$
U

a::~
~
~

r-==
45

Cpe6bPHll KaHUIlKll om Poeo3eHCKOmO CbKp06uU{e, HIl KORmo mpu nbmu e npeocma6eHll 6umKllma AfeJICoy XepalCb.lL u aAfa30HCKama /,{apuL{-a J1noAuma, IV 6. np. Xp.
Silver jug from the Rogozen
treasure on which the scene
of the fight between Herakles
and the Amazonian queen
Hippolyte is depicted three
times. 4' century BC

Cpel
JlCeHl

e cn,
rftua,
opyz
mpa.
Didu
6UHa
Silve
of Al
tione
the p
Allot
the 7
Didyl
the 4

46

OBJIa,o,sma CMeJIOJ],eKJIaMllpaHeTO Ha CBeIIJ:eHH

CJIOBa R CMJ3HKaTa ClI wmaTa JKHBa B. M'bpTBa
npMP0J],a. C HeroBoTo HMe ome IIpe3 JJ.PeBHOCTra
e Ha30BaHO yqeHlle, pa3JIWlHO OT oJIHMIIHi.icKaTa
B5Ipa. TOBa e Opq>B.3M'bT. Bb3llliKH3JI rrpe3 II XllJI.
IIp. Xp. BCpeJ],H3eMHOMOpHeTO Ha 6a3aTa Ha
npeJ],Hoa3HaTCKH iii erHIIeTCKI1 BHJ)BaHH5I, 0P<!>H3MDT e pa311pOCTpaHeH OT KpHT Ha ceBep BBeaTID!, TecaJIIDI, <DoIrn;lJ;a CAerrq>H, lthTOqaa MaKeJ],OHIDI H TpaKlil5l, no ocrpoBHTe CaMOTpaKH,
JIeMHoc, HaKcoc Ii Tacoc. 3apa}J,R pa3JIIfqHaTa
lICTOpHllecKa c'bJ],6a Ha TpaKH Ii EJIliHll 0P<!>R-qeCKaTa B.Hpa BrpanoBeTe-J],'bpJKaBIi Ha Enap;a ce
npeBp'bma BmlTepaTypHo-<!>IDIOcoq>cKa J],OKTpllHa CIIHTaropeiicKH KopeHH, J],OKaTO BTpaKIDI R
BJJ.Pyrn lOrOR3TO'IHoeBponeiicKB. HeJIB.TepaTypHH
06meCTBa Ii 06mHOCTR T5I ce li3ITOB5I)J;Ba BYCTHaTa q>OJIKJIOpHa 06pe)J;HOCT p;o yrB'bpJK,JJ;aBaHeTo
Ha XPliCTH5IHCTBOTO.
ApxeOJIOIW-IeCKH, 1111CMeHR, emrrpaq>cIrn, HYMH3MaTR'leCKH H eTHOJIOrH'lecm J],aHHH o-qeJYrnBaT ,ll;BeTe paBHHma Ha 1pamHCKIDI Opq>H3'bM.
Hap0JJ;HOTO HMaCOBOTO ce OCHOBaBaT Ha ,MRCTepHarrHH5I eHTj'cHaThM" (entJwusiasmos), Ha 06ce6eHoCTTa, K05lTO B'bBe)K}J,a 60ra B'bB BHJ)Bam;IDI.
ApHCTOKpaTHlleCKOTO paBHHIIJ:e e Bp;'bXHOBeHO OT
"MRCTepliaJIlIIDI eKCTa3" (ekstasis), c JJ.Pyrn JJ.YMB.,

immortality. "Healer of the body and of the

oul," Orpheus conquered all living and non-living Nature with his melodeclamation of sacred
words. A teaching different from the Olympic
faith was given his name already back during the
antiquity, namely Orphism. Having emerged in
the 2nd millennium BC in the Mediterranean on
the basis of beliefs in Western Asia and Egypt,
Orphism wa widespread from Crete in the north
to Boeotia, Thessaly, Phocis with Delphi, Eastern
Macedonia and Tbrace, as well as on the islands
of Samothrace, Lemnos, Naxos and Thasos. On
account of the different historical fate of
Thracians and Greeks, the Orphic faith in the
city-states of Hellas turned into a literary-philoophical doctrine with Pythagorean roots, whereas in Thrace and in other non-literary societies
and communities in Southeastern Europe it was
professed in the oral folkloric rituals until
Christianity became the dominant religion.
Archaeological, written, epigraphic and ethnological data outline the two levels of Thracian
Orphism. The popular and the mass elements
were based on the "mysterial enthusiasm" (enthousiasmos), on the obsession that brings the deity
into the believer. The aristocratic level is inspired
by the "mysterial ecstasy" (ekstasis), i.e., by the

't'-

Cpe6bpHa KaHa c u306paJlCeHue HIl 06e KOAecHUL{-u, mezAenu om AemlLU{U Kone u

KapaHu om KOilUXUlKU. B
eOHama KOAecHu/,{a e Ano.110ft, a 6 opyzama - ApmeAfUoa, !V 6. np. Xp,
P0203eHCKo C'bKp06uU{e
Silver jug on which two charioes pulled by winged horses
and driven by female charioteers are depicted. Apollo is
in one of the chariots and
Artemis in the other. 4th century Be. Rogozen treasure

Cpe61
!V 6.
CbKpO
Ha op
eeHAl
Ha. O.
cmpal
u306p
mUilal
p'bKa t
Ha JlCU
maob
Silver,
BC,R,
attackl
diamel
Min-or
riding,
appeal
scene.
embral
with 01
other h
bowar

0:'.0

\ ""

'0:0lU-

~s

Cpe6'bpHa jua.lla c u306paJlCeHUe Ha AB2e, 'memo UMe

e CnOAteHamO B Haonuc Ha
juaAama, UXepaKM. B
OPY2 Haonuc e c'b06UfeHO
mpaKuucKomo .IlUliHO uAte
Didukaimo, Bmopama no.lloBUHa Ha IV B. np. Xp.

"-

~
....

~
:;:
~

~
-.
"o::t::

......

Silver phiale with the image

of Auge whose name is mentioned in an inscription on
the phiale, and Herakles.
Another inscription mentions
the 7hracian personal name
Didykaimos. Second half of
the 4'" century BC

~
.~

~
0

C'-l

<
r

ce~2-

2rs

os
~n-

Cpe6'bpHa KaHa c n03Aama,

IV B. np. Xp., P0203eHCKO
C'bKp08UUfe. jJuaMempaAHo
Ha Op'bJICKama e npeocma8eH AM, Kat/mo Hanaoa C'bPHa. 02.1leOa.llHO om oBeme
cmpaHU Ha ma3U c14eHa e
u:w6pa3eHa 602UHR, JlXHaAa
mU'taUfa A'b8W1a. C eOHama
p'bKa e npe2'bpHaAa UlUJlma
Ila JlCU80mHOmo, a c opY2ama O'bpJlCU A'bK U cmpe.lla
Silver jug with gilt. 4,h century
Be, Rogozen treasure. A lion
attacking a deer is presented
diametrically on the handle.
Mirror images of a goddess
riding a running lioness
appear on both sides of that
scene. The goddess is
embracing the animal's head
with one arm and in her
other hand she is holding a
bow and arrows

OT B'b3,D,lITaHeTO Ha rrOCBeTeHIDI K'bM 60ra. EHTYCliaCTMHtIHHTe mqmaI!U1 ce Ha,lJ.5IBaT 601KeCTBeHan 06ce6eHOCT ,D,a rn rrpeqnCTli, ,D,a rn oCB060)J,II OT 3JIOTO. EKCTaTlilIHlITe ca y6e,D,eIlli, qe ~e
rrOCTlITHaT lVIJIOCTHO A)'XOBHO R RHTeJIeKryaJIHO
6e3CMbpnle. KaKTO C'b06~aBaT CTaporp'b~KRTe
Ha6JIIO,D,aTeml, "TpaKRTe ce 06e3CMbpT5IBaT"
qpe3 06pe,D,Hli rrpaKTRKR li CBe~eHO MeJIO,D,eKJIaMlIpaHO CJIOBO (MOJIHTBR). OCBeH TOBa Te crra3BaT Te1KKR R3liCKBaHIDI 3a rr'bJIHO B'b3Abp1KaHlie.
.IJ:BeTe paBIlli~a Ha BHpan ca OTpa3eHR B
JIliTeparypHaTa Tpa,D,lill;liH rrpe3 rp'bKO-pliMCKaTa
,D,peBHOCT li ca perliCTplipaHli ,D,OpR rrpe3 60-Te
rO,D,liHli Ha IV B. KoraTO ce 06p'b~a K'bM liMrrepaTOp IOJIliaH OTCT'bIIHliK, li306JIliqaBaMKli He~mCTaTa HeOplirliHaJIHOCT Ha e3liQeCTBOTO, rpliropMM Ha3liaHcKR IIliTa OTK'b,D,e R)l;Ba HerOBoTO,
Ha PliMCKliH BJIa)l;eTeJI, "YMeIllie Aa 6'bAe rrOCBeTeH li ,D,a 6'b,D,e 06ce6eH. He e JIli OT TpaKRTe?"
(Greg. Nazian. Contra Julianem imperatorem 1).
EKCTaTMqHOTO rrOCBe~eHRe B6e3CM'bpTHOCT
e rrepcoHmJmll;lipaHo OT 3aJIMOKCMC. XepoAoT
o6HcHHBa yrroBaHlieTo BYQliTeJIH Cp;yMliTe, qe
"reTMTe BHPBaT, qe ce 06e3CM'bpTHBaT" li qe
OTliBaT rrpli Hero, KaTO ce rrO,D,rOTBHT C'bC CBe~eH JIomc (Her. 4.94.1). I1JIaToH AOrr'bJIBa pa3Ka3a Co6HcHeHlieTo, qe ,,3aJIMOKCliCoBliTe JIeqn-

elevation of the initiated individual to the deity.

The enthusiasmic believers hoped that the divine
obsession would purify them and would deliver
them from evil. The ecstatic believers were convinced that they would attain overall spiritual and
intellectual immortality. As the ancient Greek
observers noted, "the Thracians attained immortality" by ritual practices and sacred melodeclamation of words (prayers). In addition, they abided by severe requirements of total abstinence.
The two levels of faith were reflected in the
literary tradition during the Graeco-Roman antiquity and were registered even during the 'sixties
of the 4th century. In addressing Emperor Julian
the Apostate and in denouncing the impure nonoriginality of Paganism, Gregorius of Nazianzus
asked about the origin of his - of the Roman
ruler - "ability to be initiated and to be possessed.
Is it not from the Thracians?" (Greg. Nazian.
Contra Julianem imperatorem 1).
The ecstatic initiation in immortality is personified by Zalmoxis. Herodotus explains the
trust in the Teacher with the words that the
"Getae believed that they were immortalised"
and that they went to him by preparing themselves with a sacred logos (Her. 4.94.1). Plato
added to the narrative the explanation that the

47

TeJIH" BH)'lllaBaT TOBa H3iKHB5.1BaHe c HaneBH

(eno.n;al1:) HnocTHraT He.n;eJIHMOCTTa Ha T5.1JIOTO 11
Ha .n;yrnaTa (Plat. Charm. 156d-157c), T.e. paBHoBeCHeTO Me)K)J,y llJIbT H.n;yx, Me)f()ly TJIeHHO H
HeTJIeHHO.CTaporpbIJ;KaTa MeTa<}>opHtnIOCT o6alie He MO)Ke )J,a liMa H306pa3HTeJIeH eKBHBaJIeHT
BYCTHaTa TPaKl'IHCKa KYJITYPa. 3aTOBa H306pa1KeHIDI Ha Op<}>ei1: He ce nOHBHBaT BTpaKlUI .n;o
BpeMeTO Ha rpbKO-PHMCKIDI CIlliKpeTIl3bM Me)l(JJ:j I MIII B., KoraTO JOJK}{OJJ:jHaBCKHTe 3eMI1 CTaBaT PliMCKH rrpOBI1HIJ;MH. B rrpe,1J.HMrrepaTOpCKaTa erroxa 06pa3bT Ha YlIHTeJI5.l e aHI1KOHI1l1eH,
HO He 11 a6CTPaKTeH, 3aI.IJ;OTO e Bbl1JIbTeH B1103MJ.J;H.5.lTa 11 <}>~H.5.lTa Ha IJ;ap5l Op<pHK. B CbCTOIDUIeTO Ha ,eHTYCHa3bM" JJ:HOilllCOBHTe BaKXaHKH. o6pegHo BbBe)l(,lJ;aT :lKePTBonpHHacIDIIDI 60r B
nyxa 11 BT5.lJIOTO CR. .uOKaTO ce OCBo60,lJ;5lT OT Hero, Te M311bJIH5lBaT CBeI.IJ;eHO)J,ei1:CTBReTO, CKOeTO
ro pa3l1JIeHHBaT B 06pa3a MY Ha )J(epTBeHO )l(H-

"healers of Zalmoxis" suggested that experience

with chants (epodai) and attained the indivisibility
of the body and of the soul (Plat. Chann. 156d157c), i.e., the balance between flesh and spirit,
between mortal and immortal.
However, the ancient Greek metaphoric
expression cannot have a pictorial equivalent in
the oral TIuacian culture. Therefore, no images
of Orpheus appeared in TIuace until the time of
the Graeco-Roman syncretism between the 1st
and the 3rd century, when the Southern Danubian
lands became Roman provinces. During the preImperial Age, the image of the Teacher was aniconic but not abstract, being incarnated in the
position and function of the Orphic king.
The Dionysiac Bacchae in the state of "enthusiasm" ritually introduced the deity offered as a
sacrifice into their spirit and body. Until they
freed themselves from it, they performed the

FemCfwma qapcKa cp06HIIl{a I1pU c. C6eU{apu. Pa3cpaocKo, Ha'laAOmO Ha ill

6. np. Xp. naAlemHUK 1100
3aKpUAama Ha UNESCO
Getic royal tomb near
the village of Sveshtari,
Razgrad district. Early 3'"
century Be. Monument
under UNESCO protection

48

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49

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50

BOTHO. Ml1ToJIorH3HpaHoTo y611t-IcTBO Ha neBel.l,a

Op<peM Te 113ITbJllliIBaT KaTO IKpI1l.l,M. Ha Be.rrnKaTa 60rmrn-MaMKa, 3a KaKBlITO r.l1 onpep;emr TaryHpOBKaTa HM. TOBa ce 1I3HCHHBa OT 06pa3a Ha
Be.rrM.KaTa 60rmur-MaMKa CKHqypli KOCH O<pOpMeHJil KaTO 3Ml1H HJlbBOBe. TOM YKpacHBa HaKoJleHIDIK OT cpe6po Cn03naTa, OTKpM.T B60raTIDI
lIHBeHTap Ha norpe6eIDleTO Ha TPaKIDicKM. TPH6a.rrcKM. ,lJ,HHaCT BMornnaHcKaTa MOrl-rna BbB
BpaIJ,a, CeBep03ana,lJ,Ha DbnrapM, ,lJ,aTMpaHO B
nopBaTa nOJlOBHHa Ha IV B. np. Xp. YCIIOpe,lJ,HHTe HBHl.I,H BbPXY ,lJ,HCHaTa 6Y3a Ha BeJlHKaTa 60rHHH-MaMKa ca IIpHK aHaJIOr Ha MeHa,lJ,Hl.reCKHTe
TaTYHpoBKH Ha TpaKM.H:KHTe OT arnqeCKHTe Ba30IIHCHH Cll,eHR RnOCOtIBaT CaKpaJIHaTa HM pOM
Ha R3II'bJIHlITeJIKH Ha BOJIHTa Ha 60rnHHTa.
CTPa60H OIIHCBa 6ecmne npR3HBIDl BHKOBe Ha
MHMOBeTe 6ID<OBe, IIHCbKa Ha <pneMTHTe, ThTeHa
Ha TliMITamrre R Me,lJ,HIDl 60H Ha KHMBaJII.ITe C
KORTO ce ornaCffi3a mepOfaMHOTO 2KePTBonpl1HocwreJIHO TaH:HCTBO Ha PaBHOilOCTaBemrre 60rOBe Mai1Ka HCMH-CnbHl.I,e/OroH. ITo T03H noBO,lJ, CTpa60H C006IIJ.aBa, LIe MY3ID<aTa e no npoM.3XO,lJ, TPaKHffCKa M. MaJIOa3HHCKa. TH B'b3HllKBa
KaTO Ml1CTepHaJIHO 3ByqeHe Ha npa3HMl.I,HTe B
qeCT Ha TpaKHi:iCKHTe BeJlI1KH 60rmrn-MaMKH
EeH,lJ,H,D;a HKOTI1TO. OT Te3M 06pe,lJ,H
npOH3XO)l()l,aT II 0P<PHlIeCKHTe MI1CTepMH (Strab.
10.3.16-18 c Il030BaBaHe Ha Aeschyl. Fr. 71).
)KepTBOIlpIDIOCM.TenHaTa Ml1CTepManHa 06pe,lJ,HOCT He CaMO 3BYLJ.-H. B IJ,BeTOBe, KORTO ca
llJIaM1>D;H (Plat. Tim. 67c), TH. Ha30BaBa Op<peH C
op<pH.lffioc. T0311 l.I,BHT e OITHCaH OT ITJIaTOH KaTO COqeTaHHe OT qepHO, tIepBeHO II 6Hno (Plat.
Tim. 68c). TaKHBa ca 11 HaCHTeHHTe 6arpM Ha
)KepTBonpHHoCHTeJIHHH 06pe,D;, BKOHTO AHOHl1c-3arpeH YMllpa II HaHOBO ce pa)K,D;a KaTO AHoHHc-Ca6a311M OT CBew;eHllH. CH 6paK CBeJIHKaTa 60rllHH-MaHKa. DOr'bT IIpeMHHaBa npe3 LIepBeHOTO (cM'bpTTa), LIepHoTo (rp06'bT-yTp06a) H
6HJIOTO (HOBOTO paJK,1J,aHe OTBb,lJ,). TOBa ca op<pHqeCKHTe IJ,BeTOBe, KOHTO Ha30BaBaT OCHOBHIDI
3a yqeHHeTo-BHpa D;HK'bJl )l{JrnoT-CMbpT-Ee3CM1>pTHOCT.
TpaKl1ikKaTa op<PHLIecKa Bce.rreHa e ,D;eCeTCTeIIeHHa. Bemu{aTa 60rnHH-Mafu<.a /KocMoc!IIJIaHl1Ha e BIIOKOH (nopBa CTerreH), cne,D;

sacred act with which they dismembered him in

his image of a sacrificial animal. They performed
the mythologised murder of the singer Orpheus as
priestesses of the Great Goddess-Mother, as their
tattoo defines them. This becomes clear from the
image of the Great Goddess-Mother with strands
of hair shaped like snakes and lions. It decorates a
silver greave with gilt that was discovered among
the rich grave goods in the burial of a 1bracian
Triballian dynast in the Mogilanska Mogila tumuIus in Vratsa in Northwestern Bulgaria, dated to
the flrst half of the 4th century BC The parallel
strips on the right cheek of the Great GoddessMother are a direct analogue of the Maenadic tattoos of the Thracian women from the scenes of
Attic vase-painting, and indicate their sacral role
of executors of the will of the Goddess.
Strabo describes the frenzied appealing cries
of the mimes-bulls, the shrieking sounds of the
flute , the rumbling of the typmani and the brass
sound of the cymbals that resounded during the
hierogamous sacrificial mystery of two gods in
equal position: Mother and Son/Sun-Fire. In this
connection, Strabo reports that the music was
from Thrace and Asia Minor. It occurred as a
mysterial sound of the festivities in honour of the
1bracian Great Goddesses-Mothers Bendis and
Kotytto. The Orphic mysteries also originate from
these rites (Strab. 10.3.16-18, with reference to
Aeschyl. Fr. 71).
The sacrif1cial mysterial rites did not resound
only. In colours that are flames (Plat Tim. 67c) it
referred to Orpheus as orphninos. Plato describes
that colour as a combination of black, red and
white (Plat. Tim. 68c). Such were also the intense
colours of the sacrificial rite in which DionysosZagreus died so as to be reborn as DionysosSabazios from his sacred marriage with the Great
Goddess-Mother. The deity passed through the
red (death), black (grave-womb) and white (new
birth Beyond). These are the Orphic colours that
name the life-Death-Immortality cycle that is
fundamental for the teaching-faith.
The Thracian Orphic Universe has ten
degrees. The Great Goddess-Mother/
CosmosiMountain is in a state of rest (frrst
degree), then she stirs and self-conceives ( econd

....

Xp
3D)

Xu
Te.
fur

of

.:'..

Xpa.l/1. 6 .I/1.0cUAama XOPU-

30Hm npu c. Cmapoce.ll,

XucapcKo
Temple in the HO/izont
tumulus near the village
of Starosel, Hissar area

51

TOBa TPeIIBa 11 CaM03aqeBa (BTopa CTerreH), ll3HOCBa nno.ua (TpeTa CTerreH) HpaJK.ua 602KeCTBeHID! CH CHH (qeTBbpTa CTeneH). T03H 60)KeCTBeH CllH e HOC11TeJI Ha l.I,enOCTHoCTTa BKOCMOca, T.e. llMa COJIapHa (cnbHqeBa) 11 XTOHllqHa
(3eMHa) rrp11po.ua. Toll: e CJIbHl.I,e, HO HOIDH
llJIll KpbB. C11HbT-CJIbHl.I,e ce Bb3BllC5fBa Ha xopll30HTa (neTa cTerreH), 0611KaIT5f 11 3aUBll)KBa
KocMoca (wecTa cTerreH) HBnll3a BcBern:eH06paqHa Bpb3Ka CBeJIIIKaTa 60rMH5f-Mall:Ka (ceUMa
cTeneH). OT T03H aKT ce paJK,lJ;a qe.uOTO Ha 60roBeTe-paBHonocTaBeH11l.1,ll (ocMa cTeneH). To e l.I,ap5fT-)Kpel.l" KOll:TO ype2K,Ua CBeTa Ha xopaTa (.ueBeTa CTeneH) HCJIeu TOBa Bn113a BCllMBOJIllqHa
CBern:eH06paqHa Bpb3Ka CBenl1KaTa 60rMH5fMall:Ka (ueceTa CTerreH), 3a ua CTaHe 6e3CMbpTeH
MOCllrypll HOBID! KOCMllqeCKll l.I,llKbJI. Xepo.uOT
llueHTM<pHl.I,llpa Ta3ll rrpeUCTaBa B TPaKMll:CKaTa
qeTBOpKa 60rOBe (TeTPa.ua) ApTeMl1ua, ).:(llOHllC,

degree), carries her child (third degree) and gives

birth to her divine Son (fourth degree). This
divine Son is the bearer of the wholeness in the
Cosmos, i.e., he had both solar and chthonic
nature. He is Sun, but also fire or blood. The
Son/Son rises in the horizon (fifth degree), makes
a round and sets the Cosmos in motion (sixth
degree), and engages in a sacred marital relation
with the Great Goddess-Mother (seventh
degree). The child of the deities of an equal
standing is born from that act (eighth degree). He
is the king-priest who arranges the human world
(ninth degree) and then engages in a symbolic
sacred marital relation with the Great GoddessMother (tenth degree) so as to become immortal
and to secure the new cosmic cycle.
Herodotus identifies that notion in the
Thracian tetrad of deities: Artemis, Dionysos,
Ares and Hermes (Her. 5.7). Artemis is the

3AameH npbcmeH om c E'3epOBO, IIAOBOUBCKO, nbpBa

nOAOBUHa Ha V 6. np. Xp.
HaOnucbm e ua mpaKui1cKU
e3UK c ?PblJKU 6YK611

Gold ring from the village of

Ezerovo, Plovdiv distnct.
First half of the 5,h century
Be. The inscription on the
ring is in the Thracian language with Greek characters

52

.....

--:0."

!/

Apec 11 XepMec (Her. 5.7). ApTeMJI,D,a e cTaporPbIJ,Irn rrpeBog-03HatleHl1e Ha TPaKJ.1i:fcKaTa BeJIl1Ka 60rIDUl-Mafu<a, KOHTO e CaMl15lT KOCMOC. TeoHl1MbT ,1],110Hl1C Ha30BaBa Cl1Ha if BXTOHl1tIHaTa
MY Xl1IIOCTa3a. HocwremIT Ha BHpaTa BgBeTe 60)KeeTBa e HapetleH Apec, "pogeHl1HT BTpaKIDI"
eJIHHCKl1 60r Ha BOHHaTa ,,3apagl1 CaMaTa BOHHa". TOM e IIOJJXOg~ 3a opepl1lleCKlf BJIageTeJI,
rrOHe)KC OT 0MHP HaceTHe rrpHcMa 06Pa3H Ha
TPaKl1l1CKl1 IJ,ape, KaKBHTO ca AKaMaHT (Akama )
HPC30C BTParc,[{MjITa Ha EBpI1Ill1)J;. B Apec e
BJIO)KCH 06pa3bT Ha tlegOTo Ha CHHa Ha BeJrnKaTa 60rmrn-MaHKa. TpaKHMcKIDlT Apec, 3a pa3JIHKa OT OJIl1MIIHl1:CKIDI e B3aBHCl1MOCT OT XepMec.
Tpanll1CKlITe nape 3aKJIeBaT XepMec CBOH npaPO,u:m'CJI HTl1epanl1lleCKOTO HatlanO B:m:eporaMHHTa, 3a Aa rH Cb3gaBa KaTO pO)K6H Ha CHHa. 3aTOBa u,ap5IT Ha TpaKJITe Ogpl1CH KOTHC I (3 3359 r. rrp. Xp.) ce CaMoonpegeJIH BeAIrn OT CBOI1Te Ha,r:u:I.HCI1 KaTO , tle)J.O (M CJl)'JIUITCJI) Ha ArroJIOH". HeroB no-KbceH IJ,apCTBeH npHeMliliK ce
HapJ.llla BopepatlecKl1 nOCBeTl1TeJIHH HagrmcH
,,(qego) Ha XeJIHOC MHa TlrraHHHaTa MaifKa' 11 c
Ta3M geKJIapau,ID1 HanbJIHO nOTBbp)K)J;aBa PaBHOrrOCTaBeHOCTTa Ha )KeHCKOTO HHa Mb)KJ(OTQ
mpBOHatlano. Il,apeTe-CJI)')KHTeJIM Ha CIrna-60r B
CJIbHtleBIDI MY 06pa3 cb6HpaT IIOCJIeAOBaTeJIMTe
CM BM30JIl1paHH IIOMeI.I.J,eHIDI, B3aTBOpeHl1 CBeTMJIMI.I.J,a MgOPM Bnog3eMHH 3aJIM. TaM BJIageTeJUIT,
KOHTO e MBHpBaHIDIT ".>KMB OpepeH", )"IHTeJIJIT B
n03HaHHe 3a 6e3cMbpTHOCT, IIOCBeI.I.J,aBa Mb)Ke
apMCToKpaTM, 6e3 Opb)KHH, 06JIeqeHH BJIeHeHH
oge)K)J;H. Te ce yqaT ga MbJIqaT Mga ce ynoBaBaT
BCHJIaTa Ha BetIHaTa I1HTeJIeK1j'aJIHa eHeprIDI.
TaKOBa 3aTBopeHo apHCTOKpaTHtleCKO yqeHHe,
CbqeT'dHO CoTKpHTa, MaCOBa 06pe}J,HOCT, He ce
H)'IK,lJ,ae OT lliRpOKO OCTbITHa JIHTeparypa, HHTO
OT illICaHl1 3aKOHOBM HOpMH, KaKBIITO 113MCKBa
L{HHaMHtlHOTO 06I.I.J,eCTBO Ha emrnCKl1Te rpagOBegbPJKaBl1. ETO 3aI.I.J,0 TPaKHHCKHTe TeKCTOBe CbC
CTaporpbIJ;KE 6yKBM npegCTaBJIJIBaT CaKpa.rnrn
epOPMYJIM Ha Bce oI.I.J,e Hepa3fap;aHIDI e3l1K Ha
apl1CTOKpaTI1Te BOI1HH, KOHTO MoraT 06aqe ga
113pa35IT II03HlJ,IDITa HBOJIHTa CII Ha CTaporpbIJ,Kl1
e3HK BoepHD.l1aJIHl1 Ha)J.IIl1CI1. HeJIIITeparypHOCTTa e 3HaK 3a CbW.ecTBYBaHeTO Ha TaifHo 3HaHHe,
Ha cKpHTa MbgpOCT.

ancient Greek translation-designation of the

Thracian Great Goddess-Mother, who is the
Cosmos itself. The theonym Dionysos is the
name for her Son in his chthonic hypostasis. The
carrier of the faith in the two deities is called
Ares, the Greek god of war "for the sake of war
itself' and "born in Thrace." He is suitable a an
Orphic dynast, because after Homer he
assumed the images of Thracian kings, notably
Akamas and Rhesos in the tragedy by Euripides.
Ares embodies the image of the child of the
Great Goddess-Mother. The Thracian Ares,
unlike the Olympian deity of the same name i
dependent on Hermes. The Thracian king put
an oath upon Hermes, their progenitor, the ithyphallic beginning in the hierogamy, so as to create them as children of the Son.
This is why, the king of the Thracian Odry ae Kotys I (383-359 BC) identified himself
in one of his inscriptions as 'son (and servant) of
Apollo. A later successor of hi referred to himelf as "(son) of Helios and of the MountainMother' in Orphic votive inscriptions and with
that declaration he fully confirmed the equal po ition of the female and of male original principle.
The kings-servants to the Son-God in his olar
image gathered their followers in isolated premises, in closed sanctuaries and even in underground
halls. There the ruler, who was also believed to be
the "living Orpheus", the teacher in the knowledge about immortality, initiated men-aristocrats
who were unarmed and wore linen garments.
They learned to be silent and to have faith in the
power of the eternal intellectual energy.
Such a closed aristocratic teaching, combined with open rites on a mass scale, did not
need either a widely acce sible literature or
written laws which were required by the dynamic society of the Greek city-states. Thi is why
the Thracian texts written using Greek character represented sacral formulae in the till
undeciphered language of the warrior-ari tocrats, who were nevertheless able to expre
their position and their will in Greek in official
in criptions. The non-literary character of the
Thracians is a sign of the existence of a secret
knowledge and of a secret wisdom.

53

CBEmEHJITE MECTA
THE SACRED PLACES

54

,IJ,0 c. TaTyJI, MOMLIlmrpaACKO, MOHOJIIITHa

CKaJIa e M3MJIaHa KaTO rrpeceLIeHa rrl1paMMAa c
06II:(a BI1COl Uma 4,50 M. en TP.H CTpamr TR ce 113D;IITa Ha)]; AbJI60Kl1 KaHbOHH, a LIeTBbpTaTa, OTKbAeTO e AOCTbTlHa, e nperpaAeHa c KpenOCTHa
CTeHa. ITo T03M HaLIMH ce 06pa3j'Ba CBeI.IJ;eHaTa
TepHTOpH Ha eAHH OT Haii-A06pe 3ana3eHl1Te
CKanHO-H3CeLIeHI1 xpaMOBH KOMIIJIeKCI1, OTKpHT
Aocera BIOrOH3ToLIHa EBpona HBMana A3IDl.
B lO)KHaTa CTeRa Ra xpaMa e 113ceLIeHa 3aCBOAeHa HHIlla, BLIHTO OCROBa e H3AbJI6aH CMMBOJIMLIeH rp06. KbM CKaJIHaTa nl1paMl1p;a BOP;5JT cep;eM CTbnana, CJIep; KOHTO TPR6Ba p;a ce 113KaLIaT
OII:(e qenrpIi, 3a p;a ce p;OCTIITHe p;o 3aCBop;eHara
Hl1IIla Cp,pyr CHMBOJIMLJ:eH rp06. Ha B'bpXa Ha
mrpaMmlaTa e M3P;bJI6aH T.Hap. capKoepar, 3aXJIynBaH CKaMeHHa rrJIOLIa. Ha P;bHOTO MY 06aQe
e oepopMeH OTBOP 3a OTTMqaHe Ha TeLIHOCT no
yJIeil KbM OTBeCHHTe CKaJIH Ha KaHbOHa. CBRTOTO MCTO HP;Ocera e nOLJ:IITaHo. XopaTa OT
OKOJIHOCTIa BJIJJBaT, LIe 6IDllillTe KpaM CKaJIaTa
ca HaH-JIeKOBIITM. IToCJIep;HOTO )l(epTBonp11HOweHHe Ha OBeH Ha Bbpxa M: e H3BbprneHO rrpe3
1995 r., Ha p;eH5J Ha CB. reopm, 6 Mail.
ApxeoaCTpOHOMlflIeCKlITe H3CJIep;BaHH, Ii3BbprneHJiI Ra 06eKTa, nOKa3BaT, LIe H3CliLIaHIDITa
HMaT Bpb3Ka CHa6JIlOp;eHH Ha eceHHOTO paBHop;eHCTBl1e MHa 3l1MHOTO CJIbHI.J,eCTOeHe rrpep;M
nOBeQe OT 3000 ro,ll,Mlill. T03M 113BOP; nop;Kpen
Te3aTa, LIe BTaryJI e H3BbpnmaHa CJIO)K}Ia 06peAHOCT KOTO HaH-BepOH-THO e CbOTHaCRHa
KbM CJIbHLIeBIDI KaJIeHAap. TIbpBHTe JIbLIH Ha
CJIbHueTO, prormall.I,O ce Bp;eH CJIeA 3HMHOTO
CJIbHlJ,eCToeHe, orpRBaT OTXJIyrreHH "capKoepar". KpbBTa OT JKepTBOrrpHHorneHHeTo Ha
Bbpxa Ha CKanaTa ce e CT~aJIa KaKTO rro rOJIeMl1 yJIet1:, 3a na rrpoIDIKHe B3eM5lTa, TaKa 11
npe3 OTBopa Ha P;bHOTO Ha capKoepara, 3a na rroKane B3aCBOAeHaTa Hlfwa C"rp06a".
CJIbHI.J;eTO orpRBa rp06a Ha AbHOTO Ha 3acBOJJ;eHaTa IDIIIIa eJJ;Ba KoraTO CBeTl1JIOTO e Ha 3aHI1K. ToraBa HBrrpaBObrbJIHaTa HHllla Ha 3anaJJ;HaTa CTeHa Ha CKaJIaTa-IIHpaMlfp;a rrpOHlfKBaT JIbLIH. BepORTHO BTa3M Hlfwa ca rrOCTaBRHl1
CBell.I,eHlfTe rrpeJJ;MeTH-rrOCpenHID.I.H (BOTRBHlf
epHrypKfI, CbJJ;oBe KbpIIl111 p,p.) MeJKAY xopaTa M
60ra. Te MaTepu.a..JllI3RpaT MOJIHTBM Ii H3rrpar.u;aT

A monolithic rock is hewn to resemble a truncated pyramid with a total height of 4.50 m near
the village of Tatoul, in the area of MamchiIovgrad. It rises over deep canyons on three sides and
is barred by a fortification wall on the fourth side
from where it is accessible. 1bis is how the sacred
territory of one of the best preserved temple complexes hewn into the rocks was fonned, discovered
to this moment in Southeastern Europe and in Asia
Minor. A vaulted niche is hewn into the southern
wall of the temple and a symbolic grave is dug into
the floor of the niche. Seven steps lead to the rock
pyramid, and then four more steps need to be
climbed to reach the vaulted niche with another
symbolic grave. The a-called sarcophagus is hewn
on the top of the pyramid and is covered by a stone
slab. There is an aperture on its bottom, which is
shaped in such a way as to allow liquids to drain
along a groove to the vertical cliffs of the canyon.
The acred place is worshipped to this day. The
local people believe that the herbs growing near the
rock have the greatest healing effect. The most
recent sacrifice of a ram on its top was performed
in 1995, on St. George' Day (6 May).
The archaeoastronomic tudies performed
on the site show that hewings into the rock there
are related to observations of the autumn equinox and of the winter solstice more than 3,000
years ago. This conclusion upports the theory
that complex rites were performed in Tatoul,
which were probably connected with the solar
calendar. The first rays of the sun born on the
day after the winter solstice shone on the opened
"sarcophagus." The blood from the sacrifice on
top of the rock drained both along the big
groove so a to soak into the ground and through
the aperture on the bottom of the sarcophagus so
as to drip in the vaulted niche with the "grave."
The sun illuminated the grave on the bottom of the vaulted niche only just before sunset.
Its rays penetrated then into the rectangular
niche in the western wall of the rock-pyramid as
well. That niche was probably used for placing
in it the sacred medjator objects (votive figurines, vessels, towels, etc.) between humans
and the deity. They materialised prayers and
sent messages that the believers had faith in the

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Sa
TOl

Ta

.:".'

CKaAHO-U3Ce'leHO cBernUAUuJe npu c. TarnyA, KbpOJlCaAUUCKO (cmp. 55, 56)

Sanctuary hewn into the
rocks near the village of
Tatoui, Kurdjali district

rrocnamrn, qe B51pBaIJ..J;MTe ce yrroBaBaT BHOBOTO

p(l)K,lJ;aHe Ha CnbHu;eTO Ha CJIeABaIJ..J;OTO YTPO.
B rpyHToBaTa CKMa Ha 3arraA OT xpaMa e
M3Abn6aHO OrpOMHO xpaHMnMIJ..J;e BKarrKOBMAHa
<pOpMa CrrpaBObrbneH OTBOp. B TaKoBa CbOPb)KeHMe, HapeqeHO Ha cTapOrpbUKM e3MK rreTpoMa, ce CbxpaH5lBaT CBeIJ..J;eHM rrpeAMeTM-rrocpeAHMUM 11 rnMHeHM MnM KaMeHHl1 rrJIOQKl1 CM3rrMCaHl1 Ha T5IX 60)KeCTBeHl1 cnOBa. Te ca 113B(l)K,lJ;aHM 11 rrpOqMTaHl1 OT )KpeUl1Te BTOqHO orrpeAeneHM 06peAM. Bb3MO)KH0 e BbB 11 OKono TaKbB
rromeMeH 06eKT 06peAHO Aa ce e 11311rpaBMO
HOBOTO pa)KAaHe Ha Uap51-)Kpeu OT YTP06aTa Ha
Benl1KaTa 60rHH5l-MaHKa/rrnaHl1Ha.
B POAOrrl1Te ca orrl1camr HaA 40 M3KycTBeHo
M3AbJI6aHl1 CKMHI1 rreIJ..J;epM-YTP0611. H51K0l1 OT
T5IX l1MaT OTBOp Ha rroKp11Ba, KOHTO e 3aTBap51H
c rrJIoqa. KoraTo rrOKpI1BHaTa rrnOQa e 6I1JIa OTMeCTBaHa, HaC51AMl1Te OKOJIO CTeHaTa Ha CKMHO-M3CeqeHaTa KaMepa 0PMUM ca rrpI1CbCTBMM
Ha BeJIMKOTO TaHHcTBo Ha CbTBOpeHl1eTO - CbeAl1H5lBaHeTO Ha CnbHqeBOTO CbC 3eMHOTO HaqaJIO. OT ABeTe CTPaHM Ha OTBopa Ha rrOKpMBa Ha
CKMHaTa yTp06a ca 113AbJI6aHl1 nema 3a AbpBeHa TI-06pa3Ha KOHCTPYKUI15l. Bep051THO Ha He51 e
6I1no 3aKaQBaHO )KepTBOrrpl1HaC51HOTO )KMBOTHO,
3a Aa rrOKaI15lT BbTpe BrreIJ..J;epaTa KarrKl1 KpbB

new birth of the Sun on the next morning.

A large drop-shaped depository with rectangular apertures is dug into the bedrock to the
west of the temple. Such a depository, which
bore the name of petroma, was used for keeping
sacred mediator objects and clay or stone tablets
with divine words written on them. They were
taken out and read by the priests during precisely specified rites. It is possible that the new birth
of the king-priest from the womb of the Great
Goddess-Mother/Mountain was ritually enacted
in or around such an underground site.
More than 40 artificially hewn rock caveswombs have been described in the Rhodope
Mountains. Some of them are with an aperture
on the roof, which was closed with a slab.
When the roof slab was removed, the Orphic
mystes seated along the wall of the chamber
hewn into the rock attended the great mystery
of the creation: the union of the solar and terrestrial principles. Beds for a wooden V-shaped
construction were dug on both sides of the
aperture on the roof of the rock womb. It was
probably used for suspending the animal
offered as a sacrifice on it, so that drops of
blood could fall into the cave together with the
ray of light penetrating into it. In this way, the

55

56

3aeJJ:HO c rrpOHHKBaIll,IDl BHe5I JIbq CBeTJIllHa.

TaKa CIllibT BJ1H3a BCBeIll,eH 6paK c BeJIllKaTa
6ormrn.-MaHKa B,lJ,BeTe Cll npeBbIInbIll,emrnCJ1bHtleBOTO (CBeTJIl1HHOTO) 11 XTOHlifllHOTO
(KbpBaBOTo). ,D,a rrpl1CbCTBaT Ha TOBa MHCTepHanHO 0p<pHlIeCKo nOCBeIll,eHl1e BTaHHHTe Ha
CbTBOpeHl1eTO Ha KocMoca HMaT rrpano caMO
Mb)Ke apl1CToKpaTl1, BOJJ:emI OT CBOH ~I1TeJI
KbM 6e3cMbpmeTo. BCl{lll(R OCTaHam1 yqaCTBaT
BMaCOBI1 <paKeJIHH HOIll,HH lIIecTBIDl, Bb3JIIDlHIDl
H2KepTBOnpHHOlIIeHIDl, H3BbplIIBaHH 110
MHOr06poHmITe OJITapH H2KepTBeHI1.U11 B
CKanHHTe xpaMOBI1 KOMllJIeKCH.
Do OTBeCHH CKaJIH BWIJIOTO Cpe,lJ,H3eMHOMOpl1e 11 BMana A3IDI MoraT na ce Bl1MT H3ceqeHM HI1IillI. BPoJJ:oI1HTe 06aQe Te ca JJ:eceTKH
XHJI5IJJ:l1. OTroBop Ha Bbrrpoca 3amO XHJI5JJ:H Mb)Ke ca 6aJIaHCI1paJII1 BbPXY JJ:bpBeHI1 CTbJI6H H
CKeJIeTa HJIH ca BHCeJIff Ha Bb2KeTa Me2KJJ:Y 3eM5ITa 11 He6eTo Tp5I6Ba ,lJ,a ce TbPCR B110CBeTHTeJIHaTa 06peWIoCT, 3a,IJ,bJ12Kl1TeJIHa 3a BceKll MJIaJJ:e2K, Koi1TO CTaBa Mb)K. ,D,bJI6aemm CKaJIHa HHma, TOM 110Ka3Ba He CaMO CMeJIOCT HJIOBKOCT,
HO KytlaCTBa BCbTBOpeHHeTO, B5IpBaHO BMOMeHTa, BKonTO CJIbl!UeTO e orp5Bano munaTa.
B Po.uOI1HTe, BTpaKIDI, KaKTO HBCpe.uH3eMHOMopneTO 11 BMana A3IDI MoraT JJ:a ce BH-

Son engaged in a sacred marriage with the

Great Goddess-Mother in her two incarnations:
solar (light) and chthonic (blood). The privilege
to attend that mysterial Orphic initiation in the
secrets of the creation of the Cosmos was given
only to male aristocrat who were led to immortality by their teacher. All the others participated on a mass scale in night processions with
torches, libations and sacrifices performed on
the numerous altars and sacrificial places in the
rock temple complexes.
Niches cut into vertical rocks can be seen
throughout the entire Mediterranean region and
in Asia Minor but they are tens of thousands in
the Rhodope Mountains. The answer to the question why thousands of men performed a balancing
act on wooden ladders or hung suspended on
ropes between heaven and earth should be sought
in the initiation rites that were mandatory for
every youth before he became a man. By digging
a rock niche, he demonstrated not only courage
and dexterity, but participated also in the creation
that was believed to occur when the sun illuminated the niche.
Rock tombs can be seen in the Rhodopes, in
Thrace, as well as in the Mediterranean and in
Asia Minor. Although many of them are badly

......

.'

, j

E02amu mpaKUt{CKU
HeKponOAU
Rich Thracian

necropoleis

o
ft

Tpaoo6e
Cities
HeKpOnO/lU
Necropoleis

MT CKaJIHI1 rp06HI1QI1. BbTIpeKI1 l.J:e MHoro OT

TIDC ca CI1JIHO pa3pyrneHI1, 3arra3eHI1Te OJITapH H
yJIeIi BCKaJIIiTe OKOJIO TIDC IiJI10CTpI1paT rrorpe6aJIHa 06pe.o;HOCT Ii nOMHHaJIHI1 npaKTI1KIi C
)KepTBOnpI1HOIIIemrn Ii Bb3JIIDlHIDI. H5IKOIi OT
rp06HI1QI1Te ca BrpynIi, a KbM OJITapHTe Ha
Bbpxa Ha CKaJIaTa, BK05ITO ca I13.o;bJI6aHH, BOMT
CTbJI6H, KoraTo CTbTIaJIaTa ca ce Ii3TpHBaJIH,
CTbJI6aTa e 6HJIa .uy6JIHpaHa. TaKI1Ba rp06HI1QIi
He ca 6HJIH 3aTpynBaHI1 no.o; MOrHJIHH HaCHTIH.
BXO.o;bT HM e 6IiJI 3aTBap5IH CTIJIOl.J:a. Bep05ITHO
MbpTBIDlT e TIpeCT05IBaJI BT5IX H3BeCTHO BpeMe,
MI1CJIeHO 3a He06xo.o;I1MO, 3a.ua H3BbpBH TOR
CB05I rrbT KbM OTBb.u. CJIe.u TOBa T5IJIOTO e 6HJIO
rrpeTIOrpe6BaHO Ha .upyro M5ICTO. I1MeHHo .o;OKaTO e 6HJI Brp06HH.QaTa-XpaM, 6JII13KI1Te MY H3KaqBaJIH CTbJI6HTe .uo Bbpxa Ha CKaJIaTa, Kb.o;eTO H3BbPIIIBaJII1 KbpBaBH Ii Bb3JIIDlTeJIHH 06pe.o;HH .o;eRcTBIDl 3a 06e3CMbpT5IBaHeTO MY.

destroyed, the preserved altars and grooves in

the rocks around them illustrate burial rites and
commemoration practices with sacrifices and
libations. Some of the tombs are in groups, and
stairs hewn into the rock lead to the altars on
its top. When the stairs became worn out, they
were hewn in another place. Such tombs were
not covered with tumular embankments. Their
entrance was closed with a slab. The deceased
was probably left in them for a while - a time
perceived to be needed for his journey to the
World Beyond. Then the body was buried in
another place. While he was in the tomb-temple, his relatives and close associates climbed
the stairs to the top of the rock and performed
there blood sacrifices and libation rites for his
immortalisation.
The deities with an equal standing were
worshipped in some of the most important

57

jI,eama ceeU(eHU U1s0pa

llpeo nell-/epama-c6emUAuu/e
TaH2apObK KaR,
KbpOJICaAUUCKo

e.
~

The two sacred springs in

front of the Tangarlik Kaya
cave-sanctuary.
Kurdjali district

to
~
<::

~
~

e.
~

&
~
<::

Cl:l

n02Aeo om CKQAHO-U1CetieHa neU.(epa-ymp06a Kb.JI1 ce.110 Ostieso, KbPOJ/CaJlUUCKO

~~

=-

View from a rock-hewn cavewomb near the village of

Ovchevo. Kurdjali district

E-c

58

C
)I'

0
K

.-,Z.

ya

'le-

ce:KO

'ave-

CKaAHO-U3Ce'leHa neu,epa-

ympo6a, c, 06 1e60,
KbPO:>/CU/LU UCKO
1

Rock-hewn cave-womb,
Ovchevo village,
Kurdjali district

PaBHonoCTaBeHliTe 60rOBe ca lJ:eCTBaHH B

eAHH OT HaH:-Ba)KHHTe rro MeCTOrrOJIO)Kemle M
BOTHBeH MaTepMaJI TorrOCH Ha yCTHaTa B5lpa,
KaKBHTO ca CKaJIHHTe CBeTHJIMma ITO ITJIaHMHCKH BbpXOBe. I13BOAbT ce rrOTBbp)K)l,aBa HOT apxeOaCTpOHOMHlJ:eCKH Ha6moueHH51. BXOAHH51T
OTBOp Ha rremepaTa TaarapUbK Ka5l BKapCTOBH5I pHA I1JIHHHu;a rrpH rp. KbpU)Kamr, lO)KHa
ObnrapIUI, e BbB anHlJ:eCKa opMa. B UbHOTO e
H3Cel.feH OJITap. TIo CpeAaTa Ha fanepH5ITa ca
oopMeHH UBe 30HH CeJIHrrCOBIIUHO CeqeHMe,
TaBaHbT HaA T5IX - KaTO KynOJI. B Te3II 30HII ca
pefIICTpMpaHII yCMJIBaHe Ha 3BYKa II peBep6epaIJ;H5I Ha HHCKIITe (XTOHW.fHHTe) TOHOBe. TIpM
3IIMHOTO CJIbHIJ;eCTOeHe 3a rrepHOAa Me)KAY 2000
H 1000 r. rrp. Xp. CJIbHl.feBH5IT JIbq ITpOHIIKBaJI
rro ITJIaUHe AO OJITapa. B TOBa xHeporaMHO CBeTHJIMme-06cepBaTOplI5l ce Ha6mouaBa He caMO
Hall-KbCH5IT, HO - ITpII JI5lTHOTO CJIbHueCToeHe HHall-AbJIrH5IT ueH. Ha Te3II AHM ryK Ol.feBH,D;HO
ce e MllCJIeJI MHCTepHaJIHO-rrOCBeTIITeJIHH5IT CBemeH 6paK Me)KUY BeJIHKaTa 60rHH5I-MallKa (rremepHa yTpo6a) HCHHbT-CJIbHIJ;e (CBeTJIHHeH
JIbq). TIO,D;06HM pe3yJITaTH ca rrOJIyqemI rrpM
rrpoylJ:BaHH5lTa Ha CKaJIHOTO CBenWHme Ha aKpOITOJIa Ha TpaKIIH:CKH5l u;apCKII rpa,D; Ka6MJIe.
rJIaBHOTO TpaKHH:CKO CBeTIIJIHme, KpbrJIO,

places for the oral faith in terms of their location and votive material, such as the rock sanctuaries on mountain peaks. This conclusion is
confirmed by archaeoastronomical observations
as well. The entrance to the Tangardik Kaya
cave in the Ilinitsa karst ridge near the town of
Kurdjali in Southern Bulgaria is in phallic
shape, with an altar hewn in its bottom. Two
zones with ellipsoid cross-section are shaped in
the middle of the gallery and the ceiling above
them resembles a dome. Amplification of the
sound is registered in these zones and reverberation of the low (chthonic) tones. During the
winter solstice for the period between 2000 and
1000 BC, the sunrays penetrated to the altar at
noon. That hierogamous sanctuary-observatory
marked the shortest day in winter and the
longest day during the summer solstice. These
were obviously the days for the mysterial-initiational sacred marriage between the Great
Goddess-Mother (the womb of the cave) and
the Son-Sun (ray of light). Similar results were
also obtained during the studies of the rock
sanctuary of the acropolis of the Thracian royal
city of Kabyle.
The main Thracian sanctuary, round and
without a roof, was dedicated to Dionysos-

59

c
P

R
R

60

6e3 rrOKpHB, e rrOCBeTeHO Ha ~0Illic-Ca6a3IDi.

To e OilllCBaHO MHoroKpaTHO CJTeA XepO,lJ;OT, HO
HaM-113tIeprraTe.n:eH pa3Ka3 e OCTaBIDI KbCHOaHTHl.{l{IDlT aBTOp MaKp06IDt (Macrob. Sat. I 18.810). Crrope,lJ; HeroBIDI TeKCT TO ce H3)J;ID'aJIO Ha
IIJIaHHHCKIDI BpbX 3IUIMHCOC. TaM TPaIillHCKlliI.T
eJIHo-60r 6mI rrOqwfaH AeHeM KaTO Arr0J10HCnbHI..J:e, HomeM - KaTO )J.HOIlliC-OIDH. )l(peu:wre
rrpopoKyBaJIl1 HDO CJTbINeBMTe J1b~lI1, rra,lJ;aIlI,l1
BbPXY OJ1Tapa Bu;eHThpa Ha poTOH,lJ;aTa, Hrro
rrJ1aMbWITe, KOlITO ce CTPeJ1BanH OT 3arraJIeHIDI
BbPXY Hero Of'bH KbM HOIII.HOTO He6e. IloHe)Ke
Zilmi 0 e epopMa Ha HMeTO Zalmoxis, TOIIOllliMbT e HaCl1TeH CbC 3Hal.J:emreTO Ha TPaKIDfCKaTa
,lJ;yMa 3aJIMOC (zalmos) B CMHCbJ1 Ha 3aID,MTa Ha
CB~TO M5lCTO, KYTTOJ1, BpbX. TOBa 03Hal.J:aBa, tie
CBeTHJ1l1meTO Ha Ca6a3l1:H e cbrpaneHo Ha "HailBHCOKIDJ HHan-3aIII.HTeH BpbX Ha B5IpaTa", Ha
Bbpxa 3aJIMOKCl1c/3HJ1MllCOC, l.J:Hero CI1MBOJTHO
Ha3BaHMe pa3Kpl'IBa HaH-BMCOKaTa ,lJ;OKTPl1HaJIHa
rr03mJ,IDI Ha reTCKIDI aHTPorrOneMoH.
"Hali-Bl1coKIDIT BpbX" Ha opepHl.J:eCKaTa B~pa
e H306pa3eH 11 BbPXY aTMtIeCKH KpaTep OT cpe,lJ;aTa Ha V B. rrp. Xp., KORTO ce cbxpa~a BEepmill. CI(eHaTa npe,lJ;CTaB~ Opepen, Ce,lJ;HaJI Ha CKaJIeH BpbX M 3a06l1KOrreH OT qeTHpHMa
TpaKMlicKI1 apl1CTOKparn BOHHH. TOM aKOMIIa-

Sabazios. It bas been described many times

after Herodotus, but the most exhaustive narrative ba been left by the Late Antiquity author
Macrobius (Macrob. Sat. I 18.8-10). According
to his text, the sanctuary rose on the mountain
peak Zilmissos. There the Thracian unique
deity was worshipped as Apollo-Sun during the
day and as Dionysos-Fire during the night. The
priests also prophesied by the sunrays falling on
the altar in the centre of the rotunda and by the
flames darting from the fire lit upon it to the
night sky. And as Zilrnissos is a form of the
name Zalmoxis, the toponym is imbued with
the meaning of the Thracian word zalmos with
the meaning of protection of a sacred place,
dome or peak. This means that the sanctuary of
Sabazios was built on the "highest and most
protected peak of the faith", on the peak
Zalmoxis/Zilmissos, whose symbolic name
reveals the highest doctrinal position of the
Getic anthropodaimon.
The "highest peak" of the Orphic faith also
appears on an Attic krateros dated to the midS'h century BC, currently in Berlin. The scene
depicts Orpheus seated on a rocky mountain
peak, surrounded by four Thracian warriorsaristocrats. He accompanies on hi lyre hymns

....

CKaAHO-U3Ce'leHa neL/.{epaympo6a 6 pai'.ioHa Ha C. OR'le80, Kopo~aAuucKO

Rock-hewn cave-womb near

Ovchevo village,
Kurdjali district

"

..

.~

CKaAHa T-IUUla, l/!3mo'IHu

Pooonu
Rock niche, Eastem
Rhodope Mountains

l'B-

~ar

mrpa Ha nJrpa XI1MHOBH CJTOBa K'bM XemlOC, KbM

Eora-CrrbHUe. Opei1 )'lIlITemrr no MbgpOCT M
6e3CMbpTMe, BJTaAee CMeJTO,lleKJIaManIBHlr HaneBM wmaTa }Kl1Ba MMbpTBa rrpHP0,lla.
HaCl1nBaHeTo Ha MOrMJTH e ep;Ha OT Hai1pa3rrpOCTpaHeHl1Te 06peAHM rrpaKTl1KM BEBpoA3ID1 MB CpeP;T13eMHOMopHeTO. HeMHaTa rrmma
Ha rpaHHll,aTa MeiK,lly V-IV 11 III XlfJT. rrp. Xp.,
Me:IKAY eHeOJIloITHaTa 11 6poH30BaTa erroxa, ce
P;bJDKM Ha OCb3HaBaHeTO Ha YHMBepCaJTHaTa
Mp;e51 3a IlbpBOHaQarrHH51 XbJTM Ha CbTBOpeHl1eTO. 2Kl1BOTbT 3anOt-lEa TaM, 3aII.J,OTO Ha Bbpxa ce
CpeII.J,aT Ii Cbe,lll1lUJBaT KOCMMQeCKl1Te CTHXHl1
3eM51 (CKaJIa), Bb3AYX, Bop;a MOrbH (fpbMoTeBMI.J,H HCBeTKaBHUH). Ta3H IiAeSI e BJIO:IKeHa MB
IDlpaMl1p;IiTe B ErMIIeT OT enoxaTa Ha CTapOTO
I.J,apCTBO (OK. 2600 - OK. 2100 r. rrp. Xp.), MI1CJIeHH CBpbX, Ha KOi1TO IIpe6llBaBa 60:IKeCTBeHaTa
)fQffiOTOCb3AaBaII.J,aTa He6eCHa CHJIa, 06rbpHaJIa
AOJlliHaTa Ha BemilKaTa peKa HmI.
HaCHTlbT MOJKe p;a IiMa CHMBOJIHOTO 3Hat.Iemre Ha 60JKHe npMCbCTBMe, Aa cKplffia CaKpaJIHM
rrOMemeHIDl 3a .I13IIOB5IABaHe Ha B51paTa, ,lla e H
Hawpo611e. BbB BCJft.IKl1 CJT)'lIal1 06aQe MOfHJIaTa npe,llCTaBJI5lBa crepeoMeTJ)MlleH MO,lleJI Ha
KocMoca, KOMTO e o6pa3ysaH OT KpbfJIaTa H ocHOBa HOT BepTHKaJTHJirSI H CTpOe)K, M3BbplUBaH

in praise of Helios, the Sun-God. Orpheus, the

teacher in wisdom and immortality, controlled
the entire living and non-living Nature with his
melodeclamative chants.
The piling of tumular embankments was
one of the most widespread ritual practices in
Eurasia and in the Mediterranean. Its appearance between the 5'h_4'h and the 3rd millennium
BC, between the Eneolithic and the Bronze
Age, was due to the awareness of the universal
idea about the primordial hill of creation. Life
began there, because the cosmic elements Earth
(Rock), Air, Water and Fire (Thunder and
Lightning) met and joined on the peak. This
idea was also introduced in the pyramids in
Egypt from the age of the Old Kingdom (ca.
2600 to ca. 2100 BC), perceived as a peak that
was the abode of the divine life-creating celestial force embracing the valley of the great Nile.
The embankment could have the ymbolic
meaning of divine presence hiding sacral chambers for professing the faith, and it couJd also be
a sepulchral construction. In any case, however,
the turnulus represented a tereometric model of
the Cosmos, formed by its round base and by its
vertical construction, performed as a ritual act
involving sacrifice, libations and prayers-hymns.

61

CK~tHO-U3Ce'leHU cmlut6u,
600eUIU KbAt U3Ce'leHU 6
cKaAlIme JtAtU 3a JlCepm60npliHOUIeHUR U 6b3AURHUJl,
c. 06'1e60, KbPOJICGAULlCKO

Rock-hewn stairs leading to

pits for sacrifices
and libations, cut into the
rocks, Ovchevo village,
Kurdjali district

62

~:.

"

.:'.

u,
J-

:51,

KaTO pHTyaJIeH aKT C)KepTBOnpHHOlIIeHHe, Bb3- The hypothetical vertical line "from the bottom
JIIDIIUI5l HMOJIHTBH-XlIMHll. MHcJIeHaTa OTBeCHa upwards" linked the Lower, Middle and Upper
Lands, designated one after another with ritual
JIHHIDl "OT,D,OJIy - Harape" CBbp3Ba .oOJIHaTa,
Cpe,D,HaTa HfopHaTa 3eM5I, KOHTO ca 0603Halla- pits below the zero level of the terrain, with conBaHli e,D,Ha CJIe,D, p;pyra C06pep;HH 5lMM nop; HYJIe- structions and/or burials in the embankment and
with the em1h peak on which a round or rectanBaTa JIHHIDI Ha TepeHa, C'bC C'bOp'b)KeHIDI H/MJIM
norpe6emrn BHaCHna 11 C'bC 3eMJIeHIDl BpbX, Kb- gular sanctuary often rose, being marked with
p;eTO qeCTO ce H3,D,Hra CBeTMJIm:u;e, Kp'brJIO HJIH
decorative slabs, images or pieces of rock.
Man appeared in the cosmic model when
npaBO'bIDJIHO, 04epTaBaHO CnJIOl.J.H OT )'Kpaca,
he was called by the Teacher, by the king11306pIDKeHIDI HJIH CKaJIHl1 KbCOBe.
qOBeK'bT ce nOHBHBa BKOCMHlIeCKIDI MOp;eJI priest, so as to be initiated in the mystery of the
sacred marriage of the Great Godde s-Mother
TOraBa, KoraTO e npH30BaH OT YtIHTeJI5l, OT IJ;ato her Son - Sun/Fire, i.e., in the hierogamou
p~J-)KpeIJ;, p;a 6bp;e TIOCBeTeH BTaifficTBoTO Ha
CBeI.D;eHIDI 6paK Ha BeJrnKaTa 60rnH5I-Ma.fu<a CDC death-new birth, perceived and interpreted a a
sanctuary below a tumulus.
Clllia H- Cn'bHlJ,e/OIDH, T.e. B XHepOraMHaTa
Herodotus narrates (Her. 5. 8. 1) that the
CMbpT-HOBO pIDKAaHe, BHPBaHa 11 Ml1CJIeHa B
Thracians laid three days the deceased "happy
nOAMOrnJIHO CBeTHJlMllJ,e.
Xepop;OT pa3Ka3Ba (Her. 5. 8. 1) lie TpaKH- daimonian' aristocrat to rest, and fea ted by
slaying all kinds of animal and offering them as
Te TpM ,D,lll1 H3JIaraT YMPeJIIDI w:aCTJIHBOp;eMOHa sacrifice having first lamented the decea ed.
JrnK H rrOCHqaHKM: BCHKaKBM: )KepTBH, ce yrOIII,aBaT, KaTO ca ro OIIJIaKBaJIl1 npe)J;H TOBa. Crre.o:
Then he was buried after he was cremated or
was buried in the ground in some other way.
TOBa fO norpe6BaT, KaTO ro 113rapHT IDIH rrpocTO ra 3apaBHT ITO IDIKaKbB ,D,pyr HaqHH B3eM5ISubsequently, all kinds of contests were organTa. A KaTO HaCMruIT MOrI1JIa, ype)K)J;aT BCHKaK'bB ised after the tumular embankment was piled,
whereby the biggest prises for the contests were
BM.o: C'bCTe3aHHH. IlpH TOBa HaM-rOJIeMHTe Harpa.o:H 3a e,nHH060pCTBOTO ce OIIpep;eJIHT cnopep;
determined according to his importance. This
3Ha4eHHeTO MY. TOBa OIIl1CaHHe CbOTBeTCTBa Ha description corresponds to Horner's in Books 23
OMHpOBOTO B 23 H 24 neceH Ha "ItlJIrra.u:a", KOH- and 24 of The Iliad praising in song the funeral
of Patroklos that was organised by Achilles and
TO B'b3ruIBaT IIorpe6eHHeTO Ha IlaTpoK'bJI, ycTpoeHO OT AXllJI, 11 rrpeMHHaBaHeTO MY BaHTpo- his transition to the status of anthropodaimon.
For the Thracians-aristocrats that status was
nop;eMOHeH cTaTyT. 3a TpaKHTe apHCTOKpaTM
specifically indicated by Herodotus, who
T03H cTaTyT e H3p114HO rrOCOlleH OT XepO,lJ,OT,
KOHTO HapHl.J.a IIOKOMHHIJ;HTe "w:aCTJIHBo.o:eMOH- referred to the deceased as "happy dairnonians",
i.e., individuals blessed to be anthropodaimons
Hll", T.e. IIOJIYl.J.HJIH 6JIarOp;aTTa .o:a 6'b,naT 60roin their death, the so-called heroes.
TJOBeUH BCMbpITa CH., T. Hap. xepOH.
The culture-behaviour was built on the faith
KyJITYPaTa-rrOBe,D,eHHe ce rpa.u:11 Ha BHpaTa
BbB Be4Hocrra Ha MH,lJ,llBHJJ:yarmaTa IffiTeJIeKTY- in the eternity of the individual intellectual
aJIHa eHepnrn, nOCTIDKI1Ma IIpM CJIHBaHeTO H C
energy that was attainable when it fused with
KOCMI14eCKaTa. 3aTOBa HBCHTJKH yCMJIIDI aa
the cosmic energy. Therefore, all efforts of the
rpaKHHCKHTeapXl1TeKTH,KaMeHOp;eJIIJ;H,BaHTeThracian architects, stonecutters, culptors and
JIM MJKI1BOnHC~ ca Cbcpe,nOT04eHH He TOJIKOBa painters were focused not so much on urban
Brpa,noycrpOMCTBOTO, KOJlKOTO BxpaMOBeTe Ha development, but on the temples of the rulers in
their residential centres and on the sacrali ation
BJIa.o:eTeJIHTe Bpe3I1AeHUHaJIH.HTe HM IJ;eliTpOBe
MBCaKpaJIM3HpaHeTO Ha roJIeMH IIJlOIl.(H CnOA- of large areas with sacred buildings below the
tumuli, notably as the "Valley of the Thracian
MorIDIHH CBelIJ,eHli rrocrpOMKM, KaKBaTO e ",lJ,0JIllliaTa Ha rpaKHHCKHTe u;ape" Ha 3ana,u OT rp.
Kings" to the west of the town of Kazanluk,
Ka3aHJIbK. B HeH ca pa3rrOJI02KeHll: eAIDI OT HaM- where orne of the most famous and for the

63

64

H3BeCTIDfTe H HaM-BneqaTJUlBalI.:(M 3aCera rrpOM3BeAeHIDl Ha T]JaxIDlCKMTe CTP0J.fTenH: CBeTIDIMIJJ.a, MJ.fCTepMaJ1HH 3aJ1H, rp06HJ.f~I1-XepOOHM.
B XpaMa nOA HaCHna Ha MOrHnaTa IIIYIIlMaHeu; npl1 rp. llIl1nKa (UeHTpanHa lO:IKHa
DbnrapIDI), tmH:TO CTpOe)K ce AaTHpa BKpaH Ha
V - HaqanOTO Ha IV B. np. Xp., CnbHqeBIDIT
nbq e MaTepHanl13HpaH BKOJIOHa. TR cBbp3Ba
GnbHqeBIDI AHCK OT Kynona Co;eHTbpa Ha nOAa
Ha KpbrnoTO nOMeru;eHHe. CeAMaTa CTeneH Ha
op<pHtleCKaTa BRpa, Ha K051TO DOIDTCrrbHne/OIDH ce CJlliBa c BenHKaTa 6ornIDIMafu<.a, e npenoTBbpAeHa OT ceAeMTe
nceBAOKOnOHJiI BrpaAeHH BCTeHaTa Ha KOIllepoBl1,1l.HOTO nOMeIJJ.em1e. Ta3J.f qHCTa apXJ.fTeKrypHa a6crpaK~IDI IloKa3Ba, qe BRpBaLUM.Te BoP<pHqeCKIDI KocMorpa.o:eJK BH3yaJ1J.f3J.fpaT B5IpBaHM.Te
60JKeCTBeHl1 CHnM He CaHTponOMop<pHH 06pa311,
a qpe3 xpaMOBe-MoAenH.
)J,eceTcTeneHHIDIT op<pHqeCKH KOCMOC e apXM.TeKrypHo Bb3IIp0J.f3BeAeH BABa OT AHec HaH:H3BeCTHJiTe TpaKJ:II1:cKH 06eKTH. EAJ:IHH5lT e MHCTepM.aJ1HOTO CBeTM.JImIJ,e rrpM c. CTapocen, XMcapcKO, UeHTpaJ1Ha IOiKHa DbnrapIDI. To ce
CbCTOM. OT rrapMHo CT'bJI6Hru:e CbC crpaffiiqJlli
IlnOII~MKl'I 3a aKnaMawrn npaBObIDnHO BXO}J,HO
IlOMeru;eHHe c IlO.rryu;mIlffiJJ:PHtIHO nOKpHTHe H

.....

time being the most impressive works of the

Thracian builders are located: sanctuaries, mysterial halls and tombs-heroons.
The sun ray is materialised in a column in
the temple below the embankment of the
Shoushmanets tumulus near the town of Shipka
in South Central Bulgaria, whose construction is
dated to the late 5th - early 41h century Be. The
column links the solar disc on the dome with the
centre on the floor of the round chamber. The
seventh degree of the Orphic faith, during which
the God-Sun/Fire blends with the Great GoddessMother, is reconfirmed by the seven pseudocolumns that are built into the wall of the beehive-like chamber. lbis pure architectural
abstraction shows that the believers in the Orphic
cosmic construction visualised the divine forces in
which they believed through temples-models and
not through anthropomorphic images.
The ten-degree Orphic Cosmos is architecturally reproduced in two of the most famous
Thracian buildings today. One of them is the
mysterial sanctuary near the village of Starosel,
Hissar area, in South Central Bulgaria. It consists of a parade staircase with lateral platforms
for acclamations, a rectangular antechamber
with a semi-cylindrical cover and a vaulted

CBeU/eHa CKaAa Kpau

xpahta ItpU c. CmapoceA,
XucapCKO. Kpail HeR, /too
ht02UAa, e onu(pumo
n02pe6enue !W
o6e3C.l~t'bpmeH Bxpahta
apucmoKpam OpifJUK
Sacred rock near the temple
close to the village of
Starosel, Hissar area. The
burial of an Orphic aristocrat
who had been immortalised
in the temple is discovered
under a tumulus near the
rock

Tl

la,

'.'

'.

fp06Hw/a 8 paUOHa Ha
c. CmapoceA, XucapcKo
Tomb in the area of the village of Starosel near Hissar

'Tlple
he
tocrat
Used
-ed
1e

:rcyrrOJIHa KaMepa Cp;MaMeTbp 5,48 M. HeMHIDIT

IJ,OKbJI P;O CBO)J,a e pa3)J,eJIeH Ha nJIOCKOCTll OT 10
nCeBp;OKOJIOHM. BeJIHqeCTBeHM51T rpap;e)K OT
Kpa51 Ha V - HaqaJIOTO Ha IV B. np. Xp. e BKOnaH BXbJIM, p;OnbJIHMTeJIHO HaCI-maH KaTO MOflma, K051TO e orpaAeHa CKpenll)J,a c p;bJI)KllHa
241 MHHa MeCTa CbC 3ana3eHa BHCOqMHa )J,O 3
M. T51 e ll3)J,llrHaTa OT MJIaHH 6JIOKOBe 6e3
cnollKa. B CKJIOHOBeTe Ha XbJIMa ca M3CeqeHM
CKaJIHM 06pep;HM nJIoru,ap;KM. B CeBepHM51 KpaM
Ha MOrMJIaTa e M3pa6oTeHa rOJI51Ma BaHa, KOHTO
Hall-Bep051THO e cJIyJKeJIa 3a npMroTBHHeTo Ha
BMHO, KoeTO e 6MJIO CBeru,eHaTa HanMTKa no BpeMe Ha MaCOBaTa MMCTepMaJIHa 06pep;HOCT no
nJIaHMHCKMTe CKJIOHOBe OKOJIO MOrMJIaTa.
B Hall-rOJIeMllH nO)J,MOrMJIeH xpaM BlOroM3TOQHa EBpona e M3BbpB51BaH nbT KbM 6e3cMbpTMeTo. CJIep;MTe OT no-cTapo CKaJIHO-M3CeQeHO CBeTMJIMru,e OKOJIO xpaMa Mnop; MOfMJIHH:5l
MY HaCMn nOKa3BaT, Qe TOM e M3rpap;eH BxapaKTepHaTa sa II MHaQaJIOTO Ha I XMJI. rrp. Xp.
CKaJIHO-MeraJIMTHa cpep;a. IJ,apHT MapllcToKpaTMTe opqmIJ,M OT )J,HHaCTMQeCKOTO ceMellcTBo ca
"npeKpaQBaJIM B OTBb)J,", KoraTO TeJIaTa MM ca
6mm BHaC51HM BKyrrOJIHaTa KaMepa, Kb)J,eTO Te
6MJIM B51pBaHM BCMMBOJIMQHa cBeru,eH06paQHa
Bpb3Ka CBeJIMKaTa 60fMHH-MallKa Ha nOJIyQM-

chamber, 5.48 m in diameter. Its plinth up to the

vault is divided into panels by ten pseudocolumns. The majestic construction from the late
5th - early 4th century BC is dug into a hill that
had been accumulated additionally as a mound
surrounded by a 241 m long stone construction
that had preserved height of up to 3 m in some
places. It is erected from hewn stone blocks
without mortar. Rock ritual platforms are hewn
into the slopes of the hill. In the northern end of
the tumulus, there is a large tub that was most
probably used for making wine that was the
sacred drink during the mass mysterial rites on
the mountain slopes around the tumulus.
The journey to immortality was made in the
largest temple covered by a tumulus in
Southeastern Europe. The traces of an older
rock-hewn sanctuary near the temple and below
its tumular embankment show that it was built
in the rock-megalithic environment that was
characteristic of the 2nd and the beginning of the
1'I millennium Be. The king and the Orphicsaristocrats from the dynastic family "stepped
into the World Beyond" when their bodies were
brought into the vaulted chamber where the
faith in them was a faith in a symbolic hierogamous relation of the Great Goddess-Mother at

65

(JJpeCKU 6 IC)InoAHomo noAteUjeHue Ha Zp06HUL/ama npu

c. AAeKCaHOp06o, XacK06CKO
Frescoes in the vaulted
chamber in the tomb near
the village ofAlexandrovo,
Haskovo district

66

Jll:[ .[(eceTaTa CTeneH OT KocMocrpoeJKa. TaKa

Te ce 06e3CM'bpnmaT. ,UeceTTe IJCeB;O;OKOJIOIlli,
KOHTO 06paMtffiaT KOlliepoBH;D;HaTa KaMepa Ha
xpaMa, nOKa3BaT, qe M'bpTBIDIT e nOCTHTHarr
HaH:-BMCOKaTa CTerreH l:l e CTaHarr 60rOt.IOBeK.
T5IJIOTO MY npecTo51Barro BxpaMa, CJIe;o; KoeTO e
6l:lJIO rrorpe6BaHo B6Jill30CT .[(0 Hero.
,UeceTCTeneHHaTa KOCMJiIqeCKa no;o;pe.[(6a e
IIJIaCTIlt.IHO rrpeACTaBeHa JiI BreTCKaTa AJiIHaCTH"tIeCKa rp061lliu;a rrpJiI c. CBemapJiI, CeBepOJiI3TO"tIHa E'bJIraplffi AaTliIpaHa BHaqarrOTO Ha ill B. np.
Xp. CBemapCKaTa rp06HJiIIJ;a e KOJIOCaJIHO C'b0p'b)KeHMe, H3rpa;o;eHo OT MJIaHH 6JIOKOBe CrrpeIJ;M3Ha TeXllliKa. TIOKpJiITl1eTO e c rroJIYlU'l1II'lH.[pH"tIeH CBO;o;, pa3rrpoCTpaHeHa epopMa BeBporreacKID! IOrml3ToK 11 BMarra A311iI, KOHTO e rrpe.[(IIot.Il1TaHa rrpe3 BpeMeTo Ha C'brp~aHeTo Ha rrocTPOH:KaTa. BXO.[(HIDIT KOPMOp e AbJI'br 4 M, IIllipOK e 1,88 Me BMCOK 2,28 M. KoraTo ce MMHe
no;o; Bxo;o;a, )'KpaceH c 6Mt.IM rnaBH, p03eTH MrnpJIHH.[(H, ce BJIM3a BrrpeMBep11e. B)lHCHO ce pa3Kpl:lBa ,npyro nOMemelllie, pa3IJOJIO:lKeHO aClIMeTPJiIqHO crrpHMO u;eHTPamIaTa oc Ha rrocrpofucaTa,
KoeTO e CJIYlKlUlo 3a rrOJIaraae Ha ;o;apoBe. rp06RaTa KaMepa e l:lMJl03aHTHa C'bC CBOMTe 4,45 M
BHCOt.ImIa Ha nOJIyu;H.JllIH.[(bpa R 3,92 M}J;bJI2KRHa Ha Ha,[(JI'b)l(Hl{Te CTeHM. B HeH ce C'b.[('bpJKa

...

the tenth degree of the construction of the

Cosmos. This is how they were immortalised.
The ten pseudo-columns framing the beehivelike chamber of the temple indicate that the
deceased had attained the highest degree and
had become anthropodaimon. His body was left
for a certain time in the temple and was subsequently buried near it.
The ten-degree cosmic structure is also rendered in plastic forms in the Getic dynastic tomb
near the village of Sveshtari in ortheastern
Bulgaria, dated to the beginning of the 3rd century
Be. The tomb in Sveshtari is a colossal construction built of hewn blocks using precise technology.
It is covered by a semi-cylindrical vault - a widespread form in Southeastern Europe and in Asia
Minor, which was a preferred option at the time
when the building was erected. The entrance corridor was 4 m long, 1.88 m wide and 2.28 m high.
The entrance decorated with bull's heads, rosettes
and garlands leads to an antechamber. Another
chamber is seen to the right, asymmetrical with
respect to the central axis of the building, in which
the grave offerings were placed. The burial chamber is impressive with its 4.45 m height of the
semi-cylinder and 3.92 m length of its longitudinal
walls. It is an eloquent demonstration of the

'.'

.:'..

nOAfe!l

npu

K06CKO

rear

ovo,

XpMCTOMaTl1llHaTa RJIlOCTPanIDI Ha TPaKJ1MCKaTa

0p<pMLleCKa TeTP~a, K051TO pasBlrna AeKaAaTa.
,D,eceT KapRaTMAH CpaSJIWurn: mn~a, HO C
eAHaKBa JIOTOCOBa <pOpMa Ha 06JIeKJIOTO CH ca
paSnOJIO)KeHH BTpH rpynH. qeTHpH CT05lT cpemy BXOAa MnOAllHpaT CKaJIaTOCa CH HCpasnepeHHTe CH p'b.u;e COTBOpeHH AJIaHH apXHTPaBa,
<ppHsa OT TpMrJm<pH HMeTOllH, HKOpHHSa. B
C'blIJ,aTa nasa ca SaCTaHarrH MmeCTTe Apym: KapMaTMAII - no TpM Ha BCJlKa OT ABeTe HaAJI'b)KHM
CTeHH. HaA qeTIIpIITe .u;eHTparrHH, OT KOpHH3a
AO nOJIy.u;HJIHHAPHqHIDI CBOA, e pasnOJIO)KeH JIlOHeT'bT CHeAOB'bpmeHllil CTeHonHC. BemlKaTa
60rMH5I-Mat"iKa, CJIeABaHa OT qeTHpH CJI~llTeJI
KH CAapOBe, nOAHaC5I K'bM .u;apCTBeHllil KOHHHK
SJIaTeH BeHe.u;, sa Aa ro nOJIOIKH Ha maBaTa MY.
TIoA06eH aKT e Ms06paseH MB'bPXY TpaKHticKH
.u;apcKM SJIaTHM IIp'bCTeHH. 3aA MS5lIUHO HapHcyBaHIDI KOH ce BIDK)l.aT ABaMa Op'b)KeHoc.u;H.
TIpeA <pacaAaTa Ha rp06mnJ:aTa, BnpeAABepHeTO
HBCTpaHHqHOTO nOMeru;eHIIe ca HaMepeHH
CKeJIeTMTe Ha 6 JKepTBOnpHHeceHH KOH5I. B'bTpe
B Hawp06HeTo pOAeHM51T OT CBelIJ,eHIDI 6paK
CHH, nOKot"iHIDIT .u;ap-)Kpe.u;, e B'bBe)KIJ:aH BcaHa
CM OT BeJIMKaTa 60rl1H5I-Mat"iKa, 3a Aa MHHe Ha
AeceTaTa CTeneH II BJIeSe B6e3CM'bpTMeTO CM.
<!>0PMYJIaTa 4+3+351 nOTB'bp)KIJ:aBa.

Thracian Orphic tetrad that develops the decade.

Ten caryatids with different faces but with
identical lotus-like shape of their garments
appear in three groups. Four caryatids are standing opposite the entrance and are supporting
with their raised hands, spread with open palms,
the architrave, the frieze of triglyphs and
metopes, and the cornice. The six other caryatids
- three on each of the two longitudinal walls are standing in the same posture. The lunette
with the unfinished mural painting is above the
four central caryatids, from the cornice to the
semi-cylindrical vault. The Great GoddessMother, followed by four female attendants
bringing gifts, is extending a gold wreath to the
royal horseman to place it on his head. A similar
act is depicted on Thracian royal gold rings as
well. Two arms-bearers are seen behind the
exquisitely painted horse. The skeletons of six
horses offered as a sacrifice were found in front
of the tomb's fac;ade and in the lateral chamber.
Inside the sepulchral monument, the son born
from the sacred marriage, the deceased kingpriest, is initiated into his rank by the Great
Goddess-Mother so as to pass to the tenth
degree and to enter his immortality. The formula
4+3+3 confirms this.

67

...

. :~~-~.~~ ~
....."/ ..

68

IIOAMOnmHItrre C'b0pbJKeHIDI 6MXa MOnUI

The constructions underneath the tumulus
Aa H3II'bJIHKBaT H<PYHKIJ;IDITa Ha CBeI.Il,emr MeCTa could also perform the function of sacred places
3a Ml1CTepHaJIHO IIOCBemeIDI.e. HIDi-r0JIeMIDlT
for my terial initiation. The biggest similar com3aCera OTKpHT rroA06eH KOMIlJIeKC BTpaxIDI C'b- plex in Thrace discovered so far was also found
mO ce HaMI1pa B"JJ:OJII1HaTa Ha TpaKHH:CKHTe
in the "Valley of the Thracian Kings" - below
u;ape" IlOA HaCHrra Ha T.Hap. OCTpywa MOrlIJIa.
the embankment of the so-called Ostrousha
2
Tol1 rrOKpI1Ba OKOJIO 100 M HBKJIIOt.IBa eAHO
mound. It covers an area of about 100 m2 and
Kp'brJIO HneT IIpaBO'br'bJTHIl[ rrOMeI.Il,eHI1.sI KOHcomprises one round and five rectangular chamTO ca 113IlOJI3BaHI1 01' IV B. IIp. Xp. AO IV B. CJI.
hers that were used between the 41b century Be
Xp. ED;HO 01' T.sIX He e Hpa3pymaBaHO. MOHoml- and the 41b century AD. One of them was not
TeH rpaIDI.TeH 6JIOK, o<l>opMeH KaTO capKoepar, e even destroyed. A monolithic granite block
rrOJIO)KeH B'bPXY 113AHrHaTa IlJIOI.Il,a;o,Ka c BXOA
shaped like a sarcophagus was placed over the
OTK'bM ;o,bJITaTa IO)KHa CTeHa. 01' Cbml1K rpaHH- elevated platform with an entrance from the long
TeH 6JIOK B'bTpe e MOAellllpaHO MaCl1BHO JIo)Ke,
southern wall. A massive bed was modelled from
KOeTO H3II'bJIBa IIO'4TH wmOTO npOCTpaHCTBO.
that same granite block inside and it filled almost
TaBaHbT, KOiITO TIn'bTHO ce crrycKa BaA JIOJKeTO, the entire space. The ceiling that descends solidly
e KaCeTb'4:eH c UeHThp 01' CJI'bH'4eB Kp'bf, trn:HTO over the hed is in the form of cassettes with a
oceM JI'b'4a rrpeACTaBJIKBaT TPI1'bf'bJIHl1u;H. B Ka- centre of a solar circle whose eight rays are triancenITe Ha TaBaHa c <ppecKO TeXHI1Ka ca rrpe,o;cgles. Human figures, animals and plants are
TaBeHl1 xopa, JKI1BOTIDI HpaCTeHIDl, KOHTO 3a
depicted in fresco technique in the cassettes on
c'b2KaneHRe ca CIDIHO nOBpe;o,eHI1. B IDlKOH 01'
the ceiling, but they are unfortunately severely
<pI1rypHTe ce pa3n03HaBaT H306paJKemrn Ha )Ke- damaged. Some of the figures could be identified
Ha (BemIKaTa 60fHIDI-MaMKa?) 1'1 Ha Apec (?),
as female (of the Great Goddess-Mother?) and
KOeTO, aKO ce IIOTB'bPAH, 6H 6l1Jl0 eABO 01'
of Ares (?), which - if confirmed - would be one
Hal1-IlO;IJ,XOWIIUHTe IlPHC'bCTBl1K Ha 60fOBe Bxe- of the most appropriate presences of deities in
pOOH Ha uap 01' 0APHcKaTa AHHaCTl1K. B TaKbB
the heroon of a king from the Odrysian dynasty.
xepOOH CHTYPHO e 3aBbpillBaJIa XOAOBaTa JIHHIDI That heroon was probably the end of the course

':

"<t:,

.~

EortHa CL/eHa, npeGCma6eHa

HaG 6Xooa Ha KYnoilHomo
nOAleu-/eHue Ha Zp06HUL/ama
npu c. AAeKcaH()p060,
XaCK06CKO
Battle scene depicted above
the entrance to the vaulted
chamber of the tomb near
the village of Alexandrovo,
Haskovo district

Ka3aHA1JUIKa ZP06HuL/a
zp. Ka3aHA1JK. llaAlemllUK
1100 3aKpuAama HG
U ESCO

Kazanluk tomb near the

town of Kazanluk.
Monument under UNESCO
protection

'.'

~
~ . . i:-~

" ..~
"I:.~

:,,'-.':
.

.-.'.I

;~ ~:.~

.. '.

..

':

lBeHa

rna
Ilfatna

JOve
'ted
~ar

Iva,

I,

'/UK

S'co

69

70

of the sacred initiation actions and the place for

Ha IIoCBenneJIHwre cBe~eHoAeikTBlm R ce e
the communion-vision with the Son's doctrinal
~ano 06l.l..(}'BaHeTO-BHAeHHe c AOK1pHHanmm Cm! Ha Cmm, c aH1poIIoAeMoHa.
son, with the anthropodaimon.
The tetrad is narrated in a pictorial language
Te1paAaTa e pa3Ka3aHa Ha 11306pa3RTeJIeH
e3I1K c qeTRpJITe CM nepcoHliq,I1KaqmJ, HO HB
with its four personifications, but also in its
AeikTBHeTO CR KaTo MOAYJI KOiITO np0l13BeJK,lla action as a module producing the ten-degree cosAeceTCTeneHHIDI KOCMRqeCKH IJ;HKbJI 3a 6e3mic cycle of the immortality of the Son's son. In
addition to the tomb near the village of
CMbPTl1eTO Ha CHHa Ha CRHa. OCBeH Brp06HI1Sveshtari, such a narrative has been depicted in
IJ,aTa npR c. CBem;apH TaKbB pa3Ka3 e npeAcTaanother monument as well, which is also under
BeH HBeARH Apyr naMeTHI1K, KOHTO C'bm;O e
UNESCO protection. This is the tomb in the
nop, 3aKpRJIaTa Ha IOHECKO. TOBa e rp06HI1IJ,aTa Brp. Ka3aHJIbK, AaTRpaHa npe3 KbCHM IV town of KazanIuk, dated to the late 4th or early
3rd century Be.
I1JIR paHHIDI III B. np. Xp.
The tomb in Kazanluk is built of bricks. It
rp06HI1IJ,aTa BKa3aHJIbK e nocTpoeHa OT
TyxJII1. T5J e A'bJIfa 7,50 M, BKORTO KYJIOJIHaTa is 7.50 m long, its central vaulted chamber
being 2.60 ill in diameter and 3.20 m high. The
IJ,eHTpaJIHa KaMepa e BMeCTeHa CARaMeTbp
tomb is a masterpiece of Hellenistic painting.
2,60 R CBRCOllHHa 3,20 M. rp06mm;aTa e
The first and the second chambers of the tomb
rneAhoBbp Ha emmHCTlfqeCKan JKKBorrnc.
II'bpBaTa HBTopan KaMepa Ha rp06HI1IJ,aTa ca are covered with frescoes. Battle scenes can be
IIOKpHTI1 c q,pecKH. Ha ABaTa ropmi q,pR3a Ha seen in the two upper friezes of the first chamber. The central figures in both friezes are two
nbpBoTo IIOMellJ,eHHe ca npeAcTaBeHH 60HHH
CIJ,eHH. UeHTpaJIHO M5JCTO H BABaTa q,pH3a ca
pairs of warriors followed by soldiers on foot
ABe ABOHKJiI BOmIJiI, CJIep,BaHH OT neum R KOHand on horseback. Their flying short cloaks
HR BOMHRIJ,H. Pa3B5JBa~I1Te ce KbCH HaMeTKR
(chlamydes) are red, and their protective
(XJIaMHP,H) ca qepBeHH, OIJ,BeTeHOTO C)KbJITO
weaponry painted yellow suggests gilt.
npep,IIa3HO BbOpb)KeHHe BHyrnaBa II03JIan.
The main figures depicted in the scene of
B Ta311 06CTaHOBKa Ha 60HHI1 peMHHI1CIl,eH- the so-called funerary feast stand out in that
atmosphere of battle reminiscences compleIJ,HI1, KORTO ce AOnbJIBaT OT 6aTanHHTe CIJ,eHH
mented by the battle scenes in the corridor of
BbB BXOAHIDI KOPHAOp, ce OTKp05lBaT fnaBIDITe
q,lifYPR, H3lliiCaHH BMI13aHCIl,eHa Ha T.Hap. IIOf- the entrance - the Great Goddess-Mother can
pe6anHO yro~eHI1e - BeJlliKaTa 60mIDI-MaMKa e be discerned by her clothing, but also by the
pa3II03HaBaeMa ITO 06neKJIOTO H, HO R no fJIaBa- Sphinx' head on the front left leg of her throne.
Wearing a wreath herself, she has crowned the
Ta Ha Cq,HRKC BbPXY npeAHIDI AeceH .JI5JB KpaK
deceased ruler as well with a wreath and he has
Ha TPOHa H. BeHIJ,eHocHa, TH e yBeHqarra COC
3naTeH BeHeu: HIIOKomuUI Bna.o:eTen, KORTO BJIa- placed his dark left hand in her right hand so as
to be led into immortality.
ra TbMHaTa CH JI5lBa pbKa BAeCHHIl,aTa ii, 3a Aa
6'b,[le OTBeAeH B6e3CMbpnreTO.
A monumental construction below a tumuIIpe3 1931 f. e OTKpRTO MOH)'MeHTanHo nOA- Ius was discovered in 1931 in the Mal Tepe
mound near the village of Mezek, Svilengrad
MOfmIHO CbOpb)KeHlie BMOflmaTa Man Tene
area (Southeastern Bulgaria), which was the
npI1 c. Me3eK, CBRJIeRrpaAcKO (IOroH3TO"lJ.Ha
biggest of that type before the temple under the
EbJIfapIDI), HaM-rOJI5lMOTO OT T03H THIT AO OTKpHBaHeTO Ha IIOAMOfI1JIHI15J xpaM npH C. CTapo- turnulus near the village of Starosel was discovcen. CneA OTKpMTl15lTa rrpe3 nocneARJITe 20 rOAH- ered. Following the discoveries in the past 20
HH Beqe e HCHO, qe TO He e Hrpaeno pO.JI5JTa CaMO years, it is clear already that it played the role
Ha rp06HHI1,a, HO 11 Ha xepooH Ha CB5lTO M5JCTO 3a both of a tomb and of a heroon, of a sacred
place for worshipping an immortali ed ancestor.
no"lJ.liT Ha 06e3CMbPTeH npeAIIIeCTBeHHK.
The heroon-tomb has a total length of 32
rp06HHI1,aTa-XepOOH e C06llJ,a A'bJDKmla 32

....

CK
Ha

Ro.

Ea.

.'

-:'..

CKaAIW-1I3Ce'leHa J1CepmeeHa JlAta, J13mO'lHU POOOtlU

Rock-hewn sacrificial pit,

Eastern Rhodope Mountains

M, C'bCTOM ce OT A'bJI'br ApOMOC (KOpMAOp rrpeA

BXOAa), CABycKaTHO rrOKpMTMe, ABe rrpaBO'bIDmrn:
rrOMern;emrn MKOlIlepOBMAHO 3aCBOAeHa KaMepa.
BXOA'bT Ha rr'bpBOTO rrpaBO'bIDJIHO rrOMern;eHMe e
6MJI 3aTBOpeH CrrpaBO'bIDJIHa rrJIoqa, Ha BTOpOTO
- CeAHOKpHJIa KaMeHHa Bpan, a KaMepaTa - C
ABYKpMJIa 6pOH30Ba BpaTa C60raTa IIJIaCTHqHa
YKpaca. B KYIIOJIHOTO rrOMern;eHMe, TOqHO cpeIl.(y
BxoAa, e rrorpe6anHOTO JIerJIo. rp06Hm.~aTa e 6MJIa orpa6eHa orn;e BApeBHOCTTa. B'brrpeKM TOBa B
He5I ca OTKpMTH AapOBe KaKTO OT rr'bpBOTO, TaKa
MOT BTOpHllHMTe rrorpe6eHM5I, rrorpe6eHM5I Ha
KOHe HllaCTH OT KOJIeCHM:Qa.
OT MOfMJIan Man Terre rrpOH3XO)K)];a eAHa
H3KJllOtIHTeJIHa HaXOAKa, K05ITO He AOCTHrHana
B:Q5IJIOCTeH BI1A AO Hac - 6pOH30Ba cKyJIrrrypa
Ha paHeH BlliM5ITa rJIl1raH BnOllTM eCTeCTBeHM
pa3MepH. TOM e OTKpMT BHaCHrra npeA BXOAa.
5IBHO rmrraH'bT e llaCT OT CTaryapHa rpyrra "JIOB
Ha fJIMraH" - C:QeHa, llIl1pOKO pa3rrpocTPaHeHa B
TpaKHMcKaTa TopeBTHKa. T5I e M3IIMCaHa HB'bB
pecKHTe OT rp06HM:QaTa rrpH AJIeKcaHAPoBo.
TOBa :QapcKo :QeHHOCTHO H3nHTaHMe e rr'bpBo06pa3 Ha CTaHaJIH5I rronYJI5IpeH rrpe3 pHMcKaTa
enoxa 60r-KoHHMK, HapMqaH TpaKRHcKH Xepoc.
TIocBeTeHMJIT, Ko:iho )lUfBee BApyrOTO CM 6HTHe Ha aHTporrOAeMOH, e HAeHTHH:QHpaH rrpe3

m, it consists of a long dromos (corridor in front

of the entrance), a double-eave roof, two rectangular chambers and a beehive-like vaulted
chamber. The entrance to the first rectangular
chamber was closed with a rectangular slab,
and of the second one - with a bronze door
with two wings with rich plastic decoration. The
funerary bed is in the vaulted chamber, just
opposite the entrance. The tomb was raided
and plundered already during the antiquity.
Nevertheless, grave offerings were discovered in
it both from the first and from the secondary
burials, burials of horses and parts of a chariot.
The tumulus in Mal Tepe yielded an exceptional find that has not survived in its entirety to
our days: an almost life-sized bronze sculpture
of a boar wounded in the neck. It was found in
the embankment near the entrance. The boar
was clearly part of the "boar hunt" statuary
group - a very widespread scene in Thracian
toreutics. The same theme appears in the frescoes of the tomb near Alexandrovo as well.
This royal trial is the original image of the
horseman-deity that became popular during the
Roman Age as the Thracian Heros. The initiated individual who lived in his other hypostasis
of anthropodaimon was identified in 2004 in a

71

72

2004 r. Brpa,o;eH OT ,o;HnaHl1 6noKoBe rp06, M3KOnaR BMonman CBeTlmaTa Ha 2 KM 113TOlffiO

OT rp. 1I.lImKa. B rp06a, 03HaQeH CqepBeHO4epHMTe XHeporaMIDI opH4eCKH .IJ.BeTOBe, e
pa3KpHT pa34neHeH nOKoi1Hl1.K, IIorpe6aH CnbnHO BbOpb2KelllIe OT 6POH3 H)Kemr30 (6e3 llIJIeM
HHaKoneHHHWI), Cpa3qyrreHH cpe6bplllI Cb]J.OBe, aMopH M3naTeH npbcTeH. TOM e M06e3maBeH. Ha M5ICTOTO Ha rnaBan MY e nOCTaBeHa
MaCl1BHa 3naTHa MaCKa (680 r) CnopTpeTHH
tIepTH. TaKbB rp06 e 11 BpaTa KbM OTBb,o;, KbM
6e3CMbpTFleTO, Kb,o;eTO lJ,apCTBeHHHT nOKOHHMK
ce 030BaBa pa34J1eHeH TaKa KaKTO e BHpBaH
pa3KbcaHIDIT ,UMolllIc-3arpei1. OTpH3aHaTa fnaBa Bb3np0l13BeJK)J,a CMbpTTa Ha Opei1, y6HT H
pa34J1eHeH OT JKPHlJ,HTe Ra Bemu<:aTa 6onnrnMaHKa, OT TpaKHi1:cKHTe BaKXaHK.ItI, KORTO c TO3M aKT 3aBHHarn 3ana3BaT eHepnUITa Ha neBelJ,a-ytIHTen BbB BetIHOTO H. KOCMHtIeCKO 3ByqeHe.
B Monma CBHCOtIHHa OKono 15 MMC,qHaMeTbp OT OKono 60-70 M, KOHTO e pa3nOJIO)KeHa
Henocpe]J.CTBeHo rrpH IOro3anaJlRan oKpai1lUlHa
Ra c. AneKCaHnpoBO, XacKoBcKO (IOroM3TOtIHa
DbJIrapHH), rrpe3 2001 r. e OTKpl1Ta TPaKMM.CKa
rp06Hl1lJ.a. CaMO tIe Ta3M rp06HH1J,a e He06HKHoBeHa - BHeH e pMCynaJI TpaKH:i1CKHHT MaMcTop
K03HMa3ec no npHKop XpecTOc, ",o;06pHHT, ,o;a-

r
....

grave built of hewn stone blocks, dug in the

Svetitsata tumulus at a distance of 2 km east of
the town of Shipka. A dismembered male individual, buried in full armour of bronze and iron
(without a helmet and greaves), with broken silver vessels, amphorae and a gold ring, was
found in the grave designated with the redblack hierogarnous Orphic colours. The body
was also beheaded and a massive gold mask
(680 g) with portrait features was placed instead
of his head. Such a grave is also a door to the
world Beyond, to immortality, where the royal
deceased individual went dismembered, just as
Dionysos-Zagreus was believed to have been
dismembered. The severed head reproduces the
death of Orpheu , who was killed and dismembered by the priestesses of the Great GoddessMother, by the Thracian Bacchae, who preserved with that act forever the energy of the
singer-teacher in its eternal cosmic sound.
A Thracian tomb was discovered in 2001 in
a tumulus with a height of about 15 m and
about 60-70 m in diameter, located in immediate proximity to the western periphery of the
village of AIexandrovo near Haskovo in
Southeastern Bulgaria. However, that tomb is
unusual: its painted decoration was the work of

Fpo61Jm, (l Koumo e
OmKpu.ma 3AamHama
MaCKa. M02u.Aa
CBemUt/ama "POAUHama
Ha mpaKUUCKume qape"

The grave in which the gold

mask was discovered,
SvetitsaJa tumulus in the
Valley of the Thracian Kings

"

-.
.:"

ama
{Je"

te gold
the
'1

Kings

peHIDIT/TaJIaHTJUIBIDIT", KOMTO e HSpHCYBaJI

HS5IIUHIDI CH rrpo<pHJI Hce e rrOnrrHCaJI.
'uPOMOC'bT (10 Mn'bJIbr, 1,17 MumpoK H
rrOqTR TOJIKOBa BRCOK) OTBe)K)l;a K'bM BXOn (BHC.
1,11 M) Ha rrpaBOr'bJIHO IIOMemeHHe (1,20 Mrro
OCTa ceBep-lOr, 1,85 Mno TaSH HSToK-sarran) C1>C
CTeHH, OTBeCHH ,ll0 1,22 M, OTK'b,lleTO Harape ,ll0
2,20 Me o<popMeH "Tparre:u:oBH,lleH rroKpHB".
Crre,IJ;Ba BTOpH BXO,ll (cTpaHa 0,70 M, BHC. 1,09 M)
K'bM KynOJIHa KaMepa CARaMeTbp 3,30 MHBHC01fiIRa 3,40 M. KynOJIHaTa KaMepa SaBbpDlBa c
KJIlOqOB KaM'bK B'bPXY KOWTO e HspHcYBaHa
JJ;Boiilia 6paJJ;Ba, OqepTaHa Ha R3TOK c qepBeHO H
Ha 3ana.u c qepHo. UBeTOBeTe aCOlUllipaT nocoKIne Ha H:3rpeBa 11 Ha 3aJIe3a.
J,1306paJKeHIDlTa npe,llCTaB5IT 0P<PRQeCKaTa
06pe,llHOcT. B IIbpBaTa cu:eHa Ha BXOAlliffi KOpHAOp eJIeHbT He 6Ma TOW e BCIIOKOWHa, noqTIl neKopaTHBHa n03a, TOM KaTO o-qaKBa na 6'b,lle )KepTBOnpHHeceH. EJIeH'bT e a6comoTHo
a.ueKBaTeH 3aMeCTHTen Ha O'lHa Ha Bemn<aTa
60rmrn-MaM.Ka B Ca6a3HeB, B CJIbHt.IeB 06pa3.
)I(pe:U:bT e CneilieIDl5lT u:ap, HapMcyBaH 01' ,llPYraTa cTpaHa Ha eJIeHa HKaTO KOHHHK. ToM.
eAHHCTBeH HMa rrpaBoTO Ha )KepTBorrpl1HOCH:TeJIHOTO ,lleHCTBHe-,llbJIr, CKoeTO Aa rrpHqHHH
cTpaAamreTo Ha CHHa Hc'bmeBpeMeHHo na H3CTpa,lla CM'bpTTa HHOBOTO My pa)K)l;aHe. Cne,llBamaTa c:u:eHa pa35.lCWma TOBa ,lleH:CTBl1e-,llbJIf
Ha :u:ap)! - paHeHI15.lT eJIeH me yMpe (caMO-)
)KepTBOrrpHHOC.HTeJIHO. ,UBe npynl c:u:eHH ca
paBH03HaQH.H. Te IIOKa3BaT 0p<pl1qeCKIDl aHTporrOAeMOHH3.HpaH lJ,ap BCXBaTKa CrmrraHa, C
rJIaBHH5.l HOC11Ten Ha xaoca 11 Ha YHl1mO/KeHHeTO, CBpara Ha BeJIHKaTa 60r.HIDI-MaM.Ka, KOH:TO
pyrrm KOCMHQeCKIDl pen. li13rrpamaH11Te 01' "HeBH)K)l;am ce nOBe:u:" KOIlll:51, KOHTO paH5IBaT )KHBOTHOTO, ca XB'bpJIeH.H 01' BOJI5ITa Ha BeIDIKaTa
60fHH5.l-MaMKa H: ca MI1CneHH, KaKTO 11 IIpM: paHeHIDI eJIeH, KaTO 60)KeCTBeHa HaMeca BflO,llKpena Ha -qe,llOTO 01' CBeI.I.J;eHMH 6paK Ha :u:apH.
HaH-BaJKHaTa <p11rypa B:u:e.TIHH PH3 e aHTpOnO,lleMOHH311paHIDIT :u:ap, rrpeACTaBeH 01' roJIHH M'b)l< CH3npaBeH <paJIOC. UapHT e B,llMrHaJI
06peneH na6p11C (,llByocTpa 6paJJ;Ba). [OJIOTan
Ha M'b)Ka e rrpHKO BHymeHHe 3a HerOBHH reP0113'bM, 3a HerOBaTa aHTpono.ueMOIlll3auIDI.

the Thracian artist Kozimazes with nickname

Chrestos, "the good, gifted/talented", who
painted his elegant profile and signed his name.
The dramas (10 m long, 1.17 m wide and
almost as high) leads to an entrance (1.11 m
high) of a rectangular chamber (1.20 m along
the north-south axis and 1.80 m along the eastwest axis), with vertical walls up to a height of
1.22 m, above which a "trapezoid roof' was
shaped to a height of 2.20 m. Then followed a
econd entrance (0.80 m long and 1.09 m high)
to a vaulted chamber 3.30 m in diameter and
3.40 m high. The vaulted chamber end with a
key stone on which a labrys is drawn outlined
in red to the east and in black to the west. The
colours are associated with the direction of the
sunrise and the sunset.
The images depict the Orphic rituals. In the
first scene in the corridor of the entrance the
stag is not running, it is in a calm and almost
decorative posture, because it is expecting to be
offered as a sacrifice. The stag is the absolutely
adequate substitute of the Son of the Great
Goddes -Mother, in a solar image. The priest is
the king, painted on the other side of the stag
as a horseman as well. Only he had the right to
perform the sacrificial act-duty with which to
cause suffering to the Son and at the same time
to uffer his death and his new birth. The next
scene clarifies that action-duty of the king: the
wounded stag will die as a (self-)sacrifice. Two
other scenes are equivalent. They show the
Orphic anthopodaimonised king in combat with
the boar, i.e., with the principal carrier of chaos
and de truction, with the enemy of the Great
Goddess-Mother, who is violating the cosmic
order. The spears that wound the animal, sent
by an ' unseen hunter", were thrown following
the will of the Great Goddess-Mother and were
perceived, as with the wounded stag, a divine
intervention in support of the child of the
acred marriage of the king.
The naked man with erect phallus is the
most important figure in the entire frieze. The
king has raised a rituallabrys (a double-blade
axe). The man's nakedness is a direct suggestion
of his heroism and of his anthropodairnonisation.

73

nOEE)l;ATA HA KP'hCTA
THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS

74

YnaJ],'bKbT Ha TpaKHHCKaTa nOJIHTWleCKa

CHCTeMa HHa TpaKHHCKaTa KyJITypa e 6emI3aH
CHaqaJIOTO Ha pHMCKOTO 3aBoeBaHHe npe3 20Te rOJ],HHH Ha III B. np. Xp., nOCTaBeHO Ha aJ],pHaTHtIeCKH51 6p51r Ha EaJIKaHCKH51 nOJIyocTpOB, OTKbJ],eTO JIerliOHHTe CJIOM51BaT cbnpoTHBan Ha MJIHpHTe HJ],OCTl1raT EnHp BJ],Be
nOCJIeJ],OBaTeJIHH BOHHH.
Oru:e J],OKaTO 3HaMeHHTH51T KapTareHeIJ:
AHH6aJI BOJ],H CB051Ta BOHHa Ha )KHBOT H
CM'bpT cperu:y PHM B caMan MTaml5I, fpaJ],bT,
C'bC CaMOtIyBcTBHeTO Ha cpe)J,I.neMHOMopCKH
rocnoJ],ap, npeJ],113BI1KBa MaKeJ],OHH51, CB051
CJIeJ],BaIIJ; npOTHBHHK Ha H3TOK. B TpI1 nOCJIeJ],OBaTeJIHH BOHHI1 PI1MCKHTe nbJIKOBOJ],IJ:H
YHI1ru:O)KaBaT CTapaTa MaKeJ],OHCKa Abp)KaBa H
51 0651B51BaT 3a npOBHHIJ:M51 CqeTHpH 06JIaCTH
(168-148 r. np. Xp.), KaTO Me)KAyBpeMeHHo
06Ca)KAaT KapTareH B CeBepHa A<ppHKa 11 ro
cpHBaT AO OCHOBH.
PI1MCKH5IT cTpaTerI1qeCKH nrraH H3HCKBa
Aa ce OBJIaAee lJepHoMopCKH51T 6aceHH. TOBa
HaJIara Aa ce npeJ],npI1eMaT peAoBHH BOeHHI1
KaMnaHI1H cperu:y TpaKHHcKHTe IJ:apCTBa. EOHHHTe AeHcTBH51 3anOtIBaT oru:e KbM Kpa51 Ha II
B. np. Xp., 3a Aa npOAbJI)KaT J],Be CTOJIeTI151 M
nOJIOBHHa. fIpoHHKBaHeTo AO lJ:epHo Mope 3a
J],bJIrO BpeMe e Bb3npen51TCTBaHO H OT CHJIHaTa KOaJIHIJ:H5I Ha MHTpHAaT VI, BJIaAeTeJI Ha
npHqepHOMOpCKH 3eMH. TpaKHHcKH HaeMHH
OTp51J],H CJIy)KaT noJ], HerOBO KOMaHABaHe oru:e
OT Kpa51 Ha 80-Te rOAHHH Ha I B. np. Xp.
CnapTaK, eAHH OT TeXHHTe KOMaHAHpH, noBe)KAa HaH-KbpBaBoTo p06CKO BbCTaHHe npe3
J],peBHocTTa. OApHCKH apHcToKpaT, TOM nonaAa BpHMCKH nJIeH H e 3aCTaBeH Aa ce 6He KaTO rJIaAHaTOp. Me)KAY 73-71 r. np. Xp. CnapTaK nOAJIara l1TaJII151 Ha )KeCTOKa BOHHa, noBe)KAaHKli CJIeJ], ce6e CM p06H OT pa3JIHQeH
npoH3xoA. Cnoc06HocTTa Ha PHM Aa AeHcTBa
Ha H51KOJIKO <ppoHTa ce nOTBbp)KAaBa oru:e
BeJ],H'b)K HAOKaTO Ha AneHHHI1Te JIemOHHTe
cpa351BaT BbCTaHHUMTe, MapK TepeHIJ:HH BapOH IT yKyJI npoHHKBa OT IOr Ha ceBep nOKpaM
3arraJ],HoTo lJepHoMopCKO KpaM6pe)KHe H OBJIaA51Ba cTapHTe rpbIJ:KH KOJIOHHH EI13aHTHOH,
ArrOJIOHH5I fIoHTHKa (AH. C030rrOJI), MecaM6-

,-,:'

The decline of the Thracian political system and of Thracian culture was marked by
the start of the Roman conquest during the
'twenties of the 3rd century BC, which occurred
on the Adriatic coast of the Balkan Peninsula
from where the legions crushed the resistance
of the Illyrians and reached Epirus in two succeSSIve wars.
Even while the famous Carthaginian
Hannibal was waging his life and death war
against Rome within Italy itself, the City - with
the self-confidence of a Mediterranean master
- provoked Macedonia, its next adversary to
the east. The Roman military commanders
destroyed the old Macedonian state in three
successive wars and proclaimed it as a
province with four regions (168-148 BC),
besieging Carthage in Northern Africa in the
meantime and razing it to the ground.
The Roman strategic plan required the
conquest of the Black Sea basin. This necessitated regular military campaigns against the
Thracian kingdoms. The military actions started already around the end of the 2nd century
BC and continued for two and a half centuries.
For a long time the penetration to the Black
Sea was also impeded by the strong coalition
of Mithridates VI, the ruler of the Pontic
lands. Thracian mercenary units served under
his command already since the 'eighties of the
1 century Be. Spartacus, one of their commanders, led the most blood-drenched slave
uprising during the antiquity. He was an
Odrysian aristocrat who was captured by the
Romans and forced to fight as a gladiator.
Between 73-71 BC, Spartacus subjected Italy
to a cruel war, leading slaves of different origin after him. The ability of Rome to act on
several fronts was confirmed yet again, and
while the legions were defeating the insurgents
in the Apennines, Marcus Terentius Varro
Lucullus penetrated from the south to the
north along the western Black Sea coast and
gained control over the old Greek colonies
Byzantium, Apollonia Pontica (modern
Sozopol), Mesambria (modern Nessebar),
Odessos (modern Varna), etc.
Sl

Pa

6a
ap
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JIA

Ea
tht
res
of

.. '

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PaHHOXpUCmUJlHCKa
6a3UALlKa 6
apxeOA02UlfeCKUJl pe:Jep6am
"Ka6uAe" Kpail C. Ka6uAe,
Hnl60ACKO
Early Christian basilica in
the Kahyle archaeological
reservation near the village
of Kahyle, Yamhol district

pl1a (;:J;H. Hece6'bp), O;:J;ecoc (AH. BapHa) II ;:J;p.

In 29-28 BC, Marcus Licinius Crassus,
B 29-28 f. rrp. Xp. MapK .JIII~l1HIIM Kpac,
grandson of Crassus who defeated Spartacus,
conquered the Danubian Plain after a long and
BHyK Ha Kpac, rr06eAl1TeJUlT Ha CrrapTaK, 3aBOlOBa ,IJ;yHaBcKaTa paBHIIHa CJIe;:J; Te1KKO cpa- hard battle that started with a mutual reconnoitring. After asking the question who is
1KeHl1e, KoeTO 3arrOtIBa CB3aIIMHO orr03HaBaHe. CJIeA KaTO Ha CB051. B'brrpOC KOM f11 HarraAa attacking them and after receiving the answer
rrOJIytIIIJIII OTrOBOpa Ha PIIMJI5I.HIITe "Hl1e CMe of the Romans "we are the masters of the
focrro;:J;apIITe Ha cBeTa", TpaKIITe 3a5l.BIIJIII Ha world," the Thracians declared to the invaders
"this will happen after you defeat us."
HallIecTBeHII~l1Te "TOBa J.IJ;e CTaHe cJIe;:J; KaTO
Hl1 rr06e;:J;IITe".
As a result of the success of that and of
B pe3yJITaT OT ycrrexa Ha Ta3l1 l1 CJleJlBaJ.IJ;l1 subsequent military operations, the Moesia
province was established in 15 AD. Its territoBOeHHl1 onepa~IIII npe3 15 r. e ytIpeJleHa rrpoBIIH~II5I. MII3lI51.. TeptITOpII5I.Ta H: rr'bpBOHatIaJIHO
ry originally lay between the estuary of the
Sava river where it flows into the Danube near
JIe1K11 Me)KJJ:y BJIIfBaHeTO Ha p. CaBa B,IJ;YHaBa
Belgrade, the Black Sea with the Danube
npII gR. EeJlrpa;:J;, tIepHo Mope CJlYHaBCKaTa
;:J;eJlTa If CTapOnJlaH11HCKaTa Bepllra. Tpll;:J;eceT Delta and the Balkan Range. Thirty years
rOAIIHl1 rrO-K'bCHO II nOCJIeJlHII5I.T TpaKIIMCKII Ba- later, even the last Thracian vassal of Rome,
king Rhoemetalkes III, was killed and
CaJleH Ha PIIM ~ap PeMeTaJIK III e y611T II IIMEmperor Claudius (41-54 AD) pronounced
rrepaTop KnaB;:J;IIM (41-54 r.) 0651.B5I.Ba TpaKlI5I.
Ha lOr OT XeMYc 3a pIIMcKa rrpOBIIH~1l5l.. OCTa- Thrace to the south of the Haemus Mountain
Ba CnOMeH'bT, C'bXpaHeH OT pIIMCKII5I. IICTOpIIK
as Roman province. The memory of the manliTa~IfT, 3a M'b1KeCTBOTO 11 xpa6pocTTa Ha Tpaness and courage of the Thracians in the hopeKllTe B 6e3AHaJle)KJlHllTe 6IITKII.
less battles was preserved by the Roman histoT0311 crrOMeH e nOJlXpaHBaH II OT )KIIBaTa rian Tacitus.
cypoBa JleMCTBIITeJIHOCT B CaMII5I. llMrrepaTopThis memory was also fed by the living
CKII ABope~. TIpe3 II If oc06eHo rrpe3 III BeK
and grim reality in the actual imperial palace.
TpaKIITe ca HaM-rrpe;:J;rrOtIIITaHIITe rrpeTOpl1aH- In the 2nd and especially in the 3'd century, the

75

llIAeAt-AlaCKa om 6POH.3 U
JlCeAfl.30, cpeoama HO 16. CA.
Xp., .'H. !famaIlKa, Cmapo30Z0pCKO

Epo!
HU/,{G
meH,
Hatl"

Helmet-mask made of
bronze and iron. mid-]" century AD, Chatalka locality
near Stara Zagora

Bro,.,
Shisl
Kyu.s
early

CpefrbpHa aAepa c n03Ao.rna. B "IeHmopa e u306pa3eH

XepalCb/l 13 60p6o. c He.'HeilcKWl ,toB. OKOAO ma3U C"leHo.
xepa/lOWleCKu co. po.3noAoJlCeHU uecm :1H:UBomUHCKU
uzypu - 060. liMa U zpuoHU, I B. CA. Xp., Cmapa 30.zopa

Silver phalera with gilt. In the

centre - the scene of
Herakles fighting against the
emean lioll. Six animal figUTes - two lions and griffins
- are placed heraldically
around that scene. ]s> century
AD. Stara Zagora

76

IJ,H 11 3aeAHO CfepMaIDlTe rrpH,UaBaT Ha rBap,UH51Ta MPal.J:HaTa CJIaBa Ha yrrpaBHHK Ha C'bA6mune Ha ,U'bp)[{aBaTa. Y6e2K,UeHHeTO ce rrOACHJIBa 11 OT 06CT051TenCTBOTO, l.J:e rrOpe)l.HlJ,aTa
OT T. Hap. BOHHHIllKI1 HMrrepaTOpl1 3arrOl.J:Ba
rrpe3 235 r. CMaKcHMHH TpaKHeua H l.J:e CJIe,U
rrOJIHTHqeCKaTa HHKOHOMJ.IqeCKaTa KpH3a poAeHH5lT B Hai1:coc (,o;H. HM.III) KOHcTaHTlIH,
Hapel.J:eH BeJIliIKH, rrpJil3HaBa XPMCTIUIHCTBOTO
(313 r.), npeMecTBa CTO~aTa BDH3aHTHoH
(330 r.) HCTe311 CH .o;eHcTBlliI rrOCTaB51 HaqanOTO Ha HOBa HCTOpHqeCKa enoxa - Ha eBponeiiiCKOTo XPJilCTH51HCKO cpe.o;HoBeKoBHe.
CrreA yqpe,U5lBaHeTO Ha rrpOBHHII,IDI .naKIDl
B HaqaJIOTO Ha II B. 3arJOqBa eAHH 6JIH30 130rO,UHmeH rrepHOA Ha ynpaBrreHHe Ha AHHacTHHTe Ha AHToHHHI1Te HHa CeBepHTe, npe3 KOHTO
TpaKHHCKHTe npOBllHll;I1Ji[ ce rrpeBpbIUaT B eAHH OT HaH-rrpHBrreKaTeJIHHTe 3eMH Ha PI1MCKaTa HMrrepll51. CrapH CerrHllJ,a ca npeycTpoeHH B
rpa,UOBe, HO HHOBll ca c'brpaAeHli. B CepAHKa
(AH. Co<pH5l), ABrycTa Tpa51Ha (,UH. CTapa 3aropa) Jil <DHrrHIIOnOJIMC ce CTHtIaT xopa OT Marra A3lUI, CHpH5I H IOAe51. .no BCHqKH HacerreHH MeCTa, KpenocTH H rapHli30HHM JIarepH ce
CTHTa no Bem:lKOJIernrn: nbTllllJ,a. H51KOI! OT T5lX
crre,UBaT cTapH TpaceTa, HO pMMcKHTe CTpOHTe-

.,:'

Thracian were the most preferred praetorian

guards and together with the Germans they
gave the guard the sinister glory of ruler of the
fate of the state. This conviction is also heightened by the circumstance that the series of the
so-called "soldier emperors" started in 235 AD
with Maximinus Thrax, and that after the
political and economic crisis, Constantine, who
wa later caned the Great, born in Naissos
(modern Nis), recognised Christianity (313
AD), moved the capital to Byzantium (330
AD) and with these actions he marked the
beginning of a new hi torical period: of the
European Christian Middle Ages
After the Dacia province was establi hed
in the beginning of the 2nd century, a nearly
130-year period of the rule of the Antonins
and of the Severi started, during which the
Thracian provinces became some of the most
attractive lands of the Roman Empire. Old settlements were reconstructed into cities and
also new ones were built. People from Asia
Minor Syria and Judea streamed to the cities
of Serdica (modern Sofia), Augusta Traiana
(modem Stara Zagora) and Philippopolis
(modern Plovdiv). Excellent roads led to all
the settlements, fortre ses and garri on camps.

.'

OH3 U.

B. CA.

napa-

.]" cencality

tLacmu am KOllecKlocmeHouAcKO. Kpa5l Hll II Ha'laAOmO Ha III B. CA. Xp.

EpOH30BU
HU/fa,

c.

lliUlUKOBLIU.

Bronze parts from a chariot,

Shishkovtsi village,
Kyustendil district. Late 2nd early 3Nf century AD

103Aa)6pa3eH

'eAteucU G'leHa
110AO-

HCKU

epuo'Ja

t.

3a-

In the

nst the
nal figTiffins
!l/y

century

JIll lIpOKapBaT MHoro HOBII, 3a JJ:a 1I3rpaJJ:51T

ThCTa lIbTHa Mpe)Ka CbC CTaHll;I11I 3a CM5IHa Ha
KOHeTe II 3a lI01JIIBKa Ha lIbTHIiUIiTe. Ta3lI
Mpe)Ka e lI0JJ:rOTBeHa rJIaBHO 3a 6bp31I KyplIepCKII Bpb3KlI II 3a JJ:BII)KeHII5I Ha BoikKII OT J.1TaJIII51 II OT lI,eHTpaJIHa EBpolIa lIpe3 IOrOlI3TOKa
KbM MaJIa A3lI51 II 06paTHO. T5I 06XBa:ru;a
KparrJJ:yHaBCKlI51, ,!J,lIarOHaJIH1I5I (KbM EII3aHTI1OH) II KparrererrCKlI51 (T. Hap. ErHaTlIeB) IIbT,
KOIiTO ca lIpeCe1JeHlI OT IIbTlIma C06ma lIOCOKa ErerrcKo Mope - ,!J,yHaB - KaplIaTIiTe.
Pa3MaxbT Ha PIiMCKOTO cTpOIITeJICTBO II
rrpeJJ:1I BCWIKO caMaTa yp6aHlI3aUII51 JJ:OBe)KJJ:aT
JJ:O 1I3paBH51BaHeTO Ha BCII1JKlI TpaKlIrrCKI1 3eMIl KbM IIMlIepCKII51 rpaJJ:CKIi Ha1JIIH Ha )K1IBOT. J.1MeHHo HerOBIITe CTaHJJ:apTIi OOPM51T
xapaKTepHII51 06JIlIK Ha lIbpBaTa 06moeBporrerrCKa UIIBIiJIII3aUII51.
Ta31I UliBlIJllI3aUlI5I e JJ:eJIO Ha pI1MCKaTa
apMlI5I, K051TO 51 rpaJJ:lI, pa3rrpOCTpaH5IBa II
lIOJJ:JJ:bp)Ka 1Jpe3 JIerIIOHI1Te, lIOMo:ru;HIITe liM
BoikKII II BeTepaHlITe, 3aCeJIBamii ce lIO POJJ:HlITe Cii MecTa I1JIIi B HOBIi CeJIlima. 3aeJJ:HO c
JIaTlIHCKlI5I e3lIK, Ha KOHTO YHKUIiOHlipa JJ;51JIaTa BoeHHa II rpa)KJJ:aHcKa aJJ:MIIHIICTpaJJ;1I5I,
B rrpOBI1HUlIlITe ca yCBoeHII lIpaBI1JlaTa Ha
PI1MCKOTO 06meCTBeHO IIoBeJJ:eHI1e, OCHOBHlI-

Some of them followed old traces, but the

Roman builders made many new roads so as
to build a dense road network with stations for
changing the horses and with places where the
people could rest. That road network was
planned mainly for fast courier services and
for movement of troops from Italy and from
Central Europe across Southeastern Europe to
Asia Minor and back. It comprised the diagonal road along the Danube to Byzantium and
the road along the Aegean Sea (Via Egnatia),
which were crossed by roads with a general
direction from the Aegean Sea to the Danube
and the Carpathians.
The scale of the Roman construction and
above all the actual urbanisation brought all
Thracian lands to the imperial urban ways of
life. And precisely its standards shaped the
characteristic appearance of the first PanEuropean civilisation.
That civilisation was the work of the
Roman army that built it, disseminated it and
maintained it through the legions, their auxiliary troops and the veterans who settled in
their native places or in new settlements.
Together with the Latin language in which the
entire military and civil administration func-

77

Te HOpMM Ha npaBOTO MHaBMKbT ga ce LKMBee

cnopeg nIX. ApMM5ITa gOHaC5I McBOMTe HOBM
602KeCTBa Ha pa3nJilQH!il Hapogu, nOHeJKe
BnaCTIa pa3pelliaBa BCeKHMy, gOPB H Ha BOHHMK, ga na3M Bepmf3rroBegaHHeTo CM, CTura
ga rr04MTa oqmnManHU5I pMMCKM rraHTeOH M
rrpegu BCMQKO - KynTa KbM 060LKeCTBeHHSI
UMTIepaTOp. ITpecnegBaHU5ITa Ha xpHCTU5IHHTe, HaM-SIpOCTHH no BpeMeTO Ha .D.uOKJIenMaH
(284-305 r.), ca npegu3Bl1KaHU 3apagM
oTXBbpn5IHeTO Ha T03M KYnT M3apaAM OTKa3a
Ha MbLKeTe ga cnyLKaT BbB BoMCKaTa.
Cbg60HocHa 3a cbw:ecTByBaHeTo Ha caMan RMIIepIDI TOnepaHTHOCTTa KbM KynTypHO-HCTOpIJlleCKM HacnegeHaTa IJ.YXOBHOCT Ha
BCeKIiJ Hapog e neneHaCOl.leHO rrpoBeLKgaHa OT
MMrrepCKaTa agMMHuCTpanJ-r5I MOT apMM5ITa.
,1],OpH KoraTO MKOHOMMl.leCKaTa KpM3a 11 HarneCTBH5ITa Ha [OTI1Te npe3 III B. BpbrnaT )"KM-

tioned, the provinces mastered the Roman

public conduct, as well as the fundamental
norms of the law and the custom to live in
compliance with them. The army hrought its
new deities of different peoples, because the
rulers allowed everyone, even the soldiers, to
keep their own faith, provided they respected
the official Roman Pantheon, and above all
the cult of the deified emperor. The persecutions of the Chri tians, which were most atrocious at the time of Dioc1etian (284-305 AD),
were provoked by the rejection of that cult and
hy the refusal of the men to serve in the army.
The tolerance for the culturally and historically inherited spirituality of every people,
which wa crucial for the existence of the
empire itself, was deliberately pursued by the
imperial administration and by the army. Even
when the economic crisis and the incursions of
Bomll6Ha p'bKa Na Ca6a3UU
om CllOH06a Kocm, II 6. CII.
Xp., c. KpaceH. 1l06pu 1IKO

78

Ivory votive hand

of Sabazios. 2~' century AD.
Krassen village, Dobrich
district

EpOH:108 lUAeM-A1aCKa,
KpaR Na I R. CA. )(p., 2p. Cu-

lIucmpa
Bronze helmet-mask. Late I"
century AD. Silistra

.....

"

','

-:'..

6a3UU
B. C,/.
I'lKO

vAn.
:h

1,

p.

Cu-

.ate /"

BOTa Ha3aA K'bM BpeMeHaTa Ha B'bTpeillHMTe

Me)K,nyoc06MUM, MMrrepM5JTa HaMMpa CMJUl ,n;a
B'b3CTaHOBM CB05JTa JlO5JJIHa peJIMrM03Ha noJIMTl1Ka rrpM yrrpaBJIeHMeTO Ha KOHCTaHTJilH
BeJIMKM (306-337 r.).
I10,n; CMJIHOTO B'b3,n;eHcTBHe Ha emlHMCTl1-qeCKIDl pemITH03eH cMHKpeTM3'bM, BKOM:TO ce
cmmaT MMTOBe, KyJITOBe M06pe,n;H Ha 60)KecTBaTa OT pa3JIwnm: Bepl1 apHcToKpanr-qecKaTa opq>HlleCKa ,noKTpHHa nOCTeneHHO M3ry6Ba
e30TeplflIecKIDI CM MMCTepMaJIHO-nOCBeTMTeJleH XapaKTep. C oTcJIa6BaHeTO Ha BJIaCTTa Ha
uapeTe BTpaKH5J yqeHl1eTO 11M ce rrpo<paHH3Mpa 11 OlUe no BpeMe Ha pMMCKOTO HallieCTBHe ce CHM35IBa AO Il3nOB5J,nBaHeTo Ha eAHa
rrOBceMeCTHO pa3rrpocTpaHeHa B5Ipa, BK05ITO
COUHaJlHMTe M,noKTpMHaJIHI1 pa3JIMQM5I ce
CTOrr5lBaT. TOBa e B5IpaTa B Eora-KoHHMK, Hapl111aH TpanmCKM Xepoc.
06pa3bT Ha KOHHMKa-JIOBeu e Mo,n;eJIl1paH BbpXY IIOCBeTMTeJIHH (nOJIO)KeIDi B HeroBI1 CBeTHJIHID;a) MHaArp06HH (rrOCTaBeml Ha
rp06 no )KeJlaHHe Ha nOQHHa..JIIDl 11 Ha ceMeHCTBOTO MY) peJIeIDl rrJIo-q:rrn CAaTI1 OT
I ,n;o III B. TeXH.!-l5IT 6pOH rrOCT05lHHO paCTe OT
pa3KOllKM MCJIYllaHHl1 HaxOAKH MAHec Belle
HaAXB'bpJI5I 5000. AHOHHMHOTO cTapOrpbUKo
Heros ce npeBpblUa Bl1Me Ha TOBa 60)KeCTBO
3apa,n11 npeACTaBaTa, -qe TO OJIMueTBOp5IBa xepOM3HpaH (aHTporrOAeMOHM3MpaH, C6e3CM'bpTHa Ayma) rrOKpOBMTeJl. Ha,n;rrMcMTe no peJIeHMTe nJIOQKH pa3Kpl1BaT, 1..Ie TpaKHM:CKl15IT
Xepoc e HapM1..IaH CHai%-pa3JIl1qmr eilllTeTI1 OT
TpaKMRCKH npOl13XO,n, HO e OnpeAeJI5IH MC no06mM XapaKTepHCTHKH, KaKBaTO e ,rocrroAap/BJIa,neTeJl". TPaKl'l"HCKIDIT 60r-KOHHMK e
rrepCOHMm:.I;HpaHO ynoBaHl1e BbB Be3AeCblUl1eTO Ha CTapH5I rJlaBeH op<pIlQeCKH 60r - CI1HbT Ha Bemu<aTa 60rI1H5I-MaM:Ka.
3apaAH e3MQeCKaTa CI1 B5Ipa BHero TpaKHTe, KOHTO QeCTO ca HapMllaHH "AMBM" OT
II,bpKOBHRTe rrl1CaTeJIl1, rrpHeMaT TBbpAe paHO
XPIlCTl151HCKaTa peJIl1fl151.. 3aTOBa Te ca MHOrOCJIOBHO Bb3XBaJIeHl1 3a CMMpeHMeTO CM H,nopM ce rrpOCJIaB5IT 3apa,n;l1 ,n;Ba rrpeBo,n;a Ha El16JI.l15ITa. EAMHM5IT e HanpaneH Ha rOTCKM e3l1K B
TeXH1Ue 3eMH OT eIIHCKon BymlmJIa (311-383

the Goths in the 3'd century brought life back

to the times of internal struggles, the empire
nevertheless found strength to restore its loyal
religious policy under the rule of Constantine
the Great (306-337 AD).
Under the strong influence of Hellenistic
religiou syncretism, which blended myths,
cults and rites of the deities from different
faiths, the aristocratic Orphic doctrine gradually lost its esoteric mysterial-initiational character. With the weakening of the power of the
kings in Thrace, their teaching was profanised
and even at the time of the Roman conquest it
was reduced to professing a universally spread
faith in which the social and the doctrinal differences melted. That was the faith in the
God-Horseman referred to as the Thracian
Heros.
The image of the Hunter-Horseman was
modelled on votive tablets in relief, dated to
the 1"-3Tl1 century, which were placed either in
his sanctuaries or on the graves of deceased
individual following their wi h or the wish of
their relatives. Their number from archaeological excavations and accidental finds steadily
grows and they now exceed 5,000. The anonymous ancient Greek word Heros was transformed into a name for that deity on account
of the notion that he personified a heroised
protector (anthropodaimonised and with
immortal soul). The inscription on the votive
tablets in relief reveal that the Thracian Heros
was referred to with different epithets of
Thracian origin, but was defined using more
general characteristics as well, such as "master/ruler." The Thracian God-Horseman is personified faith in the ubiquitousness of the old
principal Orphic god: the Son of the Great
Goddess-Mother.
The Thracians were often proclaimed to be
"savage" by Church writers, but on account of
their pagan faith in him they adopted the
Christian faith very early. Consequently, they
were eloquently praised for their piousness and
even gained fame for two translations of the
Bible: one was made into the Gothic language
in their lands by Bishop Wulfila (311-383 AD),

79

XepoOl
MUWK.

TbPHOI

Herool
Niva I(
TurnOl

80

r.), KoraTO TOn MHCHoHepCTBaJI cpe,IJ; Y13TOllHHTe rOTH, 3aCemIJIH ce KpaTKOTpaJ.iHo B MH3lli1 npH HHKono.JlMc a,IJ; 1i1CTpyM (rrpl1 ,IJ;H. C.
HHKlOrr AO rp. BeJII1KO TbpHOBO B UeHTpaJIHa
CeBepHa EbJIrapIUI). ,IJ:pynUIT rrpeBOA e HapeqeH EH6JIH5I EeCI1Ka no HMeTO Ha HaM.-KOpaBI1Te ,IJ:HOHI1COBI1 rrOCJIeAOBaTeJIJ1. OT PO,IJ;orrH:Te 3a.ua ce no.uqepTae, qe Ii TpaKHHCKIDlT
"BapBapcKI1 ' e3liK OrJIaCHBa EOJKl'leTO CJIOBO.
XPliCTI15IHCTBOTO HaMl1pa 6JIarorrpH5ITHa
cpeAa y TpaKI1Te, 3al1.l,OTO TeXHlUIT cTap yCTeH
OP<PH3bM KJIOHR HeYAbp)KI1MO KbM eAHo6o)KReTO, nepCOHI1<pHlJ;l1paHO B CRHa Ha BeJIRKaTa 60rI1H5I-MaHKa. E3li1qecKIDIT MOHOTeli3bM e ,IJ;Opl1 apryMeHTRpaHo 060cHoBaH OT
H5IKOR HeOnJIaTOIDfl.leCKM IIHcaTemr ,IJ;O VI B. C
npHMepa Ha T0311 CHH-60r, KOHTO, KaKTO Te
CM5ITaT, e eAHOCbl1.l,HOCTeH R eARHeH, 3aru:OTO
BABaTa CI1 06pa3a Ha AnoJIoH M Ha ,IJ:HOHliIC
06xBaru:a U5IJIOCTHH5I KOCMOC.
Harrpe,IJ;bKbT Ha TpaKOJIOIKKHTe H3CJIe)J;BaHJ1.5I BKpCUI Ha XX l1. HallaJIOTO Ha XXI B. nOTBbp2K,IJ;aSa liI3KJIIOl.lHTeJIHOTO 60raTcTso Hpa3Hoo6pa3Re Ha TpaKI1HCKaTa KyJITypa qpes
06eKTl1 OT ",IJ:OJII1HaTa Ha TpaKHnCKMTe uape",
OT MeraJIRTH.l1 naMeTHRUI1 KaTO "CJIbHqeBliITe
UBepR" Kpaii c. Ey30Brpau, xepooHbT-CBeTI1-

.......

when he worked as a missionary among the

East Goths who settled briefly in Moesia at
icopolis ad Istrum (near the present-day village of Nikyup close to the town of Veliko
Turnovo in North Central Bulgaria). The other
translation was called Biblia Bessica by the
name of the staunchest Dionysiac supporters
from the Rhodope Mountains, so as to emphasise that the Thracian "barbarian" language
praised the Word of the Lord.
Christianity found a favourable oil among
the Thracians, because their old oral Orphism
tended irresistibly towards monotheism - personified in the Son of the Great GoddessMother. The pagan monothei 'm was even substantiated with arguments by orne eoPlatonian writers until the 6th century with the
example of that Son-deity, who - as they
believed - was consubstantial and one, because
in both his images of Apollo and of Dionysos
he encompassed the entire Cosmos.
The progress of Thracian studies in the
late 20th and early 21 st century confirms the
exceptional wealth and diversity of Thracian
culture on the basis of archaeological sites in
the "Valley of the Thracian Kings", from
megalithic monuments like the "Solar Gates"

AHfnU'INUJlm meam'bp
6 2jJ. nt060U6

The ancient theatre

in the city of Plovdiv

XepoOl-l e Aucrwwcmma
MuulKoea Huea, MaJIKo
T'bpHOeO
Heroon in the Mishkova
Niva locality near Maiko
Tumovo

JUIr.u;e "MIUIlKoBa RIma" KpaH rp. MaITKo TbPHOBO Ii OT CBer.u;eHIiTe TpaKIiHCKIi TIJIaHIiHIi,
KbAeTO ce Ii3AIiraT CKaITHIi CBeTIiITIir.u;a Ii xpaMOBe-pe3IiAeHIl,IiIi OT TRIIa Ha XapMaH Ka5I Ii
IIeprrepeK (I13TOl.J:HRTe POAorrIi). )KIiBaTa CTapIiHa Ha lOrOIi3TOl.J:HOeBpOrreHCKIi5I OITKITOP
CbxpamIBa eAHR OT HaH-ApeBHRTe TpaKRHCKR
D:ROHIiCOBIi 06peAR, KaKBIiTO ca HeCTI-lHapCTBOTO - TaHIl,bT B)KapaBaTa, CbrrpRKOCHOBeHIieTO CbC CRHa-OrbH Ha BeITRKaTa 60rRH5IMaHKa R KyKepcKRTe IirpIi, KORTO Bb3rrpoIi3Be)KAaT HerOBaTa CMbpT Ii HOBOTO My pa%AaHe. B5IpaTa B 6e3CMbpTReTO Ha Ta3R KOCMRl.J:eCKa eHeprR5I, K05ITO 0P<PRl.J:eCKOTO yrroBaHRe
TIpaBH AOCTbTIHa 3a BceKR CMbpTeH, OCTaBa
eAHa OT HaH-BIiCOKRTe AyxOBHR rrpRA06RBKR
Ha eBporreHCKaTa KyITTypa Ii HaAe%Aa sa xyMaHHOTO 6bAe:I.Il,e.

near the village of Bouzovgrad, the Mishkova

Niva heroon-sanctuary near the town of MaIko
Turnovo and from the sacred Thracian mountains where rock sanctuaries and temples-residences of the type of Harman Kaya and
Perperek rise in the Eastern Rhodope
Mountains. The living antiquity of the folklore
of Southeastern Europe has preserved one of
the most ancient Thracian Dionysiac rites,
such as the fire-dancing - the dance in the live
embers, the contact with the Son-Fire of the
Great Goddess-Mother and the games of the
Koukers (mummers), which reproduced his
death and his new birth. The faith in the
immortality of that cosmic energy, which the
Orphic faith made accessible to every mortal,
remains one of the highest spiritual achievements of European culture and a hope for its
humane future.

81

HACJIE~CTBOTO

HA TPAKMTE

THE HERITAGE OF THE THRACIANS

C6eu{eHume CKaAU I/U aKpO/lOAa Ha ijUpCKUH 2pao Ka6u.IIe Kpaii OHeumomo ceAO Ka6u,te, JlAt60ACKO
The sacred rocks of the acropolis in Kabyle near the present-day village of Kabyle, Yambol district

'ec
~

'C)
~
(;j

~
~

'ec
~

&
~

(;j

cq

r.:l

CeAULLj
Settlerr.

E-

YTS
Fo.

TPl
Gn
TPl
Gn

82

n,ao.
Do
a

Tp(
.MO,
Bw
rna

CeJ
)ICe.,

Set;

Eal

... [Jet
Cal

..'

'.'

CeAuU/a, HeKponOAU II CHemliAuU/a om 6pOH308ama 00 pU/HCKama UA'lI1epamOpCKa enoxa

Settlements, necropoleis and sanctuaries from the Bronze Age until the Roman Empire

+ YKpeneHo ceAUl/1e

Fortified settlement

fpb!jKa KOAOHU51
Greek colony
Fp'bi1Ka /HempollOAUJl
Greek metropolis

0.

Fp06flll Ka/Hepa II
MO?UAa
Burial chamber in a
mound

CeJfUU!a om paHHanIa
JlCeA5l3Ha enoxa
Settlements from the
Early Iron Age
lleU/epli
Caves

HeKp0l10AU om
paHHama 6poH308a
enoxa / Necropoleis from
the Early Bronze Age
1 llAa'11100,t
Plachidol
2 Ka8apHai Kavama
3 EeAOi'paOelj
Belogradec
4 Maoapal Madara
5 KIO.ile8lfa
Kyulevcha
6 aape86poo
Carevbrod
7 FopHa CAatlluHa
Goma Slatina
8 aO/lHO CaxpaHe
Dolno Sahrane
9 J!08e'/ / Lovech
10 TbpH080/ Tamovo
11 KHeJICa I Knezha
12 K08a'le8o
Kovachevo
13 TPOfllWIW
Troyanovo
14 MeoHlIKapo6o
Mednikarovo
15 FOA51/Ha aeme.iWHa
Golyama Detelina
16 ae6H5l- I1JWCbK
HeKponOA
Devnya - flat
necropolis
17 EanuC)7/l - J1AOC'bK
HeKponoJl
Batkun - flat
necropolis
18 EepeKemcKa /nO?IlJta
Bereketska Mogila
19 aypaHKYAaK
Durankulak

... CeAUlI/a om paHHama

6pOlt:Wfla enoxa I
Settlements from the
Early Bronze Age
1 Ma?ypama
Magurata
2 ae8emaUixa neUjepa
Devetashka cave
3 BapHa
Varna
4 aypaHKYAaK
Durankulak
5 AmUR / Atiya
6 YpooBu3a I Urdoviza
7 MuxaAuK / Mihalik
8 aJl0080 / Dyadovo
9 apa/Ha / Drama
10 E:wpo I Ezero
11 KapaHoBo
Karanovo
12 HOHa 3a?opa
Nova Zagora
13 BeceAuH080
Veselinovo
14 He6em mene
Nebet Tepe
15 JOHa/111me I Yunacite
16 XOmHlIlja - Booonar)a
Hotnica - Vodopada
17 E/HeHcKa neU-Iepa
Emenska cave
18 HeoollHcKa nelljepa
Yagodinska cave
19 Xapa~nuucKa aynKa
Haramijska Dupka
20 llepHIiK
Pernik

c::J

HeKponoAu om
K'bCHama (jpowJ08a
moxa I Necropoleis from
the Late Bronze Age
1 PC051
Orsoya
2 KHeJICa
Knezha
3 H08a 3a2opa
Nova Zagora
4 EOpUHO
Borino
5 FeAa
Gela
6 Tpui'pao
Trigrad
7 5li'oouHa
Yagodina
8 He8ecmllHo
Nevestino
9 EamaK
Batak
10 CfeneAape
Chepelare
11 CamoB'Ja
Satovcha

6. CBemllJfUUja I
Sanctuaries
1 Eai'a'lUHa
Bagachina
2 apa/Ha
Drama
3 Tamp!
Tatul
4 llepnepeK
Perperek
5 Xap/HaH KaR
Hmmankaya
6 EeAuHmalll
Belintash

83

TI1>PBHTE IU1BJ1JIJ13AW1J1 B EBPOTIA

THE FIRST CIVILISATIONS IN EUROPE

84

lI1cTOpIDITa Ha 1l0BeKa 3anOl ma ToraBa, KOraTo H)l.eH, )'MeHIDl, TeXHOJlOlliH H3HaIDUI ce

YCB05lBaT 11 npe)l.aBaT 01' nOKOJTemre Ha TIOKOJTeHHe. B lOrOH3TOQHa EBpona T03H rrpoIJ,ec ce
npoCJle)l.5IBa 01' VI XMJl. rrp. Xp., 01' T. Hap. HeoJlMTHa peBOJlIOIJ,M5I, M3BbprneHa Halt-paHo B
ITpe)l.HIDl 113TOK. T5I ce CbCTOM B npeXO)l.a 01'
JTOBHo--cn6HpaTeJlCKO CTorraHCTBO KbM oprcum3HpaHO rrpOM3BO)l.CTBO.
Dpe3 V H IV XHJl. np. Xp., ow,e rrpe)l.H CTaPOTO IJ,apCTBO BErHIleT, yce)l.HaJIH 3eMeAeJIIJ,M H
KOHHHIJ,J1 3aCeJIHJ1IJ,M 01' CTemITe Cb3)l.aBaT
Hai1-cTapaTa eBponei1cKa IJ,MBHJTJBall,H5I, K05ITO
ce pa3TIOJIara BbB BpeMeTO Ha KaMeHHQ-Me)l.HaTa (XaJIKOJIMTHaTa) erroxa. HeHElIDIT pa3UBeT e
6JleCT5IIl.I.0 AOKyMeHTHpaH 01' ,,3JIaTHIDl HeKpo11OJI' Kpai1 BapHa, BKOi1TO 06pa60TKaTa Ha KaMbKa, rmfHaTa, MeATa If 3JIaTOTO, KaKTO M
npeAHa3HaQeHMeTO Ha H3)l.eJIM5ITa Ha 6MTa, BOi1HaTa If peJlHnrnTa IlOKa3BaT HenOCTHrnaTO APYraAe 06rueCTBeHO pasBHTHe.
ITpe3 6pOH30BaTa erroxa (ill H II XJilJI. np.
Xp.) KOHCOJIliAl1paLUH5IT ce TpaKHHCKli eTHOC
3aKperIBa CB051Ta KYJlTypHO-HcTopHlleCKa pOM
Ha )l.yxOBeH R TeXHOJIOrMqeCKM nocpeAHHK
Me)f(AY AHaToJll15I MCeBepHOTO ITpIfQepHOMOpRe MMe)f(AY 113TOl:(HOTO Cpe,ll;l13eMHOMopne :H
UeHTpaJIHa H3ana)l.Ha EBpona.

Human history started when ideas skills,

technologies and knowledge were rna tered and
banded from generation to generation. This
process can be traced in Southeastern Europe
ever since the 61h millennium Be, since the socalled Neolithic revolution that occurred first in
the Near East. It consisted in the transition
from hunting and gathering economy to organised production.
During the 5'h and 41h millennia BC, already
before the Old Kingdom in Egypt, sedentary
farmers and horsemen-settlers from the steppes
created the oldest European civilisation that
emerged in the Chalcolithic Age. Its flourishing
is brilliantly documented by the ,gold necropolis" near Varna, in wbich the processing of the
tone, clay, copper and gold, as well as the
functions of the objects to be used in everyday
life, war and religion, demonstrate a social
development unattained elsewhere.
During the Bronze Age (3'd and 2nd millennium BC), the consolidating Thracian ethnos
reinforced its cultural and historical role of spiritual and technological mediator between
Anatolia and the Northern Black Sea coast, and
between the Eastern Mediterranean and
Central and Western Europe.

CbO,

Na Ba/AumeH

Vessel,
ofihe 1
necrop(

KanaK
Kamo l
Bmopa

np. Xp.
Lid oft
human

of the fi
Varna

FALlHeH
HeOAum

VI XUA.
t!opa

Late Ne
(end of,
BC), Nc

,',

.;"

2po6 3
ObO,BapHeHCKUfl
omKp~m Hp'a.HHoeHeoNO
/lumen
HeKp 0110/1

grave 3
d ' overe d m
Vessel lS~ Eneolithie
of
the Eof;;~n Vama
necrop

LbO ALOOe./lUpaH
KallaK Ha
;a <'./laBa,
Kamo 'lOBeUi
Ha V XUA.
a nO./lOBUHa
Bmop BapHa

IIp.Xp.,

as a
L 'd 0' a vesse I modelled
nd half
I
~
J ad SeeD
C
human
le
of the fifth
ml. 'llennium B ,
Vama

85

oom KbeHama

DfLIHeH eb
'a fKpOJ/. Ha
I'
3 aHeOAumHa enox
HOBa
VI XU./l. np. X.)
p.,
copa

. hie clay vessel

Late eop'h millennium
(end of slX1 Za<>ora
Be). ova
<:>

F/lllHeHa MUCKa U/IU e.llCl6U

Ha UOO/l, Ha KOJlmO Ql-wmoMU'lmlme OeniaL/All U Olla()eMama ca om 3/1amO,
Cll.l1'180.llU'leH ep06 2,
BapHeHcKu eHeOAtlIlleH
HeKponoA

Fp06fl
BapHe
eHeO.ll1
Grave
Eneoli
necrop

Clay mask or idol's head

whose anatomical details
and diadem are made of
gold. Symbolic grave 2,
Eneolithic necropolis in
Varna

HaxoOKU om ep0636,
BapHeflcKu CUM80/lU'lefl
eHeO/lUmeH HeKpOnO.ll

Finds from grave 36,

Eneolithic Symbolic
necropolis in Vama

86

Kepa//1
3fla4ul
ce UHff
C.ll'bfl'lt
rna eef.
eeJICoa
AO C8el
.IlUmHa
AI0eUA.
T'bpeOE
CeramI
signs 01
preted I
scene p
sanctul
past. L.
Ovchat
district

. ..
~

"

?AaBa
mamo'.l ouaw.

rp06HU oapoae am zpo6 41,

BapHeHcKu CUA1BOAU'leH
eHeOAUmeH HeKpono/l
Grave goods from grave 41,
Eneolithic symbolic
necropolis in Vama

ead
rails
~

of

2,
in

KepaAtU'lHa KYAmoBa a/eHa.

3Ha14ume BopXY o/tmapume
ce UHmepnpemupam Kama
CA'bH'lea KaAeHoap. C14eHarna eepoRmHo B'b311pOU3eeJ/[oa pea/tHO C'bU1ecmByBaAO CBemUAUUje. K'bCHa eHeoAlI/mia enoxa, CeJ1UU1H.a
AW2UAa OBllapOBO,
ToP20BUUIKO
Ceramic cult scene. The
signs on the altars are interpreted as solar calendar. The
scene probably reproduces a
sanctuary that existed in the
past. Late Eneolithic,
Ovcharovo tell, Turgovishte
district

87

Tpo6HU oapOBe om ?po6 1,

KeHoma, Ha BapueHcKu
CUA1.BO/IU'leH eHeO,l/UmeH
HeKponOA
Grave goods from grave 1,
cenotaph. of the Eneolithic
symbolic necropolis in Vama

Kepa.tH
C'bC 3H,

AumHC

npu c.
OOACKl

;t:

Shallo.
signs fr
Eneolil
Gradis,

'->
~
~

&
~
~

CQ

<
~

E-4

88

T/IUHeH
paca on
HCKLUl C
eHeOALI1

Clay

v~

lion frOi
Eneolitl
necropo

l
.

,.

,-

.'

~p06

I,

HCKU
me1/.

ave 1,
~olithic

in Vama

KepaMU'IHO nA.UmKO CbOtle

CDC 3Ha/fU om pUHHoeHeoAumHo ceAU/lfe rpaiJU/lfemo
IlpU c. rpaOeUlHUtfa. KPU80OOACKO
Shallow ceramic vessel with
signs from the Early
Eneolithic settlement
Gradishleto near Krivodol

89

rAUHei-l COC) CbC 3AamHa yK]Jaca om zpo6 4 Ha BapHeHCKUR CUA-t80A.U'IeH

eHeo,xumeH HeKpolloA
Clay vessel with gold decoration from grave 4 of the
Eneolithic symbolic
necropolis in Vama

TPAKHH 11 TPOH
THRACE AND TROY

90

TpaK!lliCKOTO 06m:eCTBO npe3 BTopaTa noJIOBlllia Ha II Hn'bpBaTa nOJIOBl1Ha Ha I XHJI.

np. Xp. e CXO)l;HO CB'b3D51TaTa OT OMHp rbpUH51 Ha AraMeMHoH, AxHJI JiI O,D,Rceil:. EmltIecKM repoM Ha ,,11JIHa,D,a" H "O,D,HCe51', TpaI<11i1:cKHTe BJIa,n:eTeJIJiI ce cpaiKaBaT Ha cTpaHaTa Ha
TpoRHHTe, Thil: KaTO Te ca OT e,D,HO K)'JITypHo-e311KOBO ceMei'icTBo c T5lX.
Te3H U;ape-iKpeUH IIpHTe)KaBaT HecpaBH11MJilTe 113,D,eJIH5l Ha TpaKJilil:CKJilTe MeTaJIOJIeRpH H
3JIaTap11, CK011TO H3B'bpIIIBaT 06pe,n:HTe Ha BRpaTa BcMbpTTa 11 HOBOTO pa)K,D,aHe. lI,apeTe)KpeUH 6,n:51T 11 Ha,D, 113rpa)K,D,aHlue CKaJIHO-MeraJIHTHM KOMlIJIeKCR, BK011TO ce 1131I0B5I,n:Ba 11 11H,D,11BH,n:yaJIHO, 11 MaCOBO 1I0CBel.QeHl1e BHa,n:e)K,D,aTa 3a 6e3CM'bpTMe. TpaKH5l, C'bXpaHMJIa 3aBMHar11 cnOMeHa 3a Tpo51HcKaTa BOMHa, ce rrpeBp'bm:a CJIe,n: HeH MBMopcKa CMJIa, K05lTO BJIa,n:ee
npe3MOpCKl1Te n'bT.l1IJ.J:a KpaH 6peroBeTe Ha MaJIa A3H51 .H Ha lOrml3TotIHa EBporra. KoraTo 3a1I0tIBa BeJlHKaTa rpbUKa KOJI0HJi13au;H5l rrpes
VITI-VI B. IIp. Xp., rp'b.QKIITe 3acenHJi11J;H no 6peroBeTe Ha qepHo MpaMopHO H Ereil:cKo Mope H
Ha OCTpOBHTe Tacoc H CaMOTpaKl1 HaMHPaT
1I0.o;xOMIUH napTHbopH, 3a ,n:a 06pa3)'BaT CT5lX
ll:Bye3HKoBa MlJ:ByKyJITYPHa cpe,D,a, HocwreJI Ha
TBOpqeCKO B3aHMo,n:eMCTBl~e H TOJIepaHTHoCT.

Thracian society in the econd half of the

2 and the first half of the l!it millennium BC
was similar to Greece of Agamemnon, Achilles
and Odysseus, praised in song by Homer. Epic
heroes of The Iliad and The Odyssey, the
Thracian rulers fought on the side of the
Trojans, belonging to the same cultural and linguistic family with them.
These kings-priests possessed the unique
works of the Thracian metallurgists and goldsmiths, and they used them to perform the rites
connected with the faith in death and the new
birth. The kings-priests also watched over the
rock-megalithic complexes built, in which individual and mass initiation in the hope for immortality was professed. Thrace, which had preserved forever the memory of the Trojan War,
became a marine power after that and ruled the
overseas routes along the coasts of Asia Minor
and of Southeastern Europe. When the Great
Greek Colonisation in the 81h _61h century BC
started, the Greek settlers along the coasts of the
Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean
Sea, as well as on the islands of Tha os and
Samothrace, found suitable partners to form with
them a bilingual and bicultural environment that
carried creative interaction and tolerance.
nd

TAUHef
UOOA 0

HeKpon
JIOMCK

Clayar
from th
necrop<

Orsoya,
KaMen
J(OA./I'leH,

c.

XMt60BO,

XaCK06CKO

Dolmen, Hlyabovo viI/age,

Haskovo district

....

6UmKG
KbCHa I

Stone n
/age of

Razgnu

.'

......

TAUHeHa umyAa C Haonuc

Ha JJuHeap A nUCAto, ceAUUJHa At02UAa J(paAta,
Jlht60/lCKO, cpeoama
Ha II XUA. np. Xp.

TAUHeH AtOOeA Ha ;tQoKa om

KbCH06pOH30BuHHeKponoA
npu c. OpCOH, JIOAtCKO

Clay spool with inscription in

Linear A script, Drama tell
near Yambol, mid-second
millennium BC

Clay model of a boat from

the Late Bronze Age necropolis near the village of
Orsoya, Lorn district

91

fAUHeH aHmpOnOAtOpeH
UOOA om K'bCH06poH308UJl
HeKpOnOA npu c. OpCOH,
JIOAtCKO
Clay anthropomorphic idol
from the Late Bronze Age
necropolis near the village of
Orsoya, Lorn district
KaAteHHU KaA'bnu om c. IJo6um KaAt'bK, Pa3zpaocKo,
KbCHa 6poH30Ba enoxa
lage,

Stone moulds from the village of Pobit Karnak near

Razgrad. Late Bronze Age

CU.IHBC

U ZAUH
cooa c,
Tpume
TJlllllell 100.~lOpt/ieH CoC)

Olll
KOCHOOPOH10rJWt HeKpOIlO.1
Ilpll c. OpCOH. J[OAICKO

Clay zoomorphic vessel from

the Late Bronze Age necropolis near the village of
Orsoya, Lorn district

92

..

'

EPOH106 Ale'l, KbOla 6pOH106a elloxa, C. fTaBeAcKO,

ITtOHc)U6CKO

Bronze .'iWord. Late Bronze

Age, Pavelskn village.
Plovdiv region

T.lfuHeHG ypHa,

IIp.

Xli - Xl

B.

Xp. HOBa 3azopa

Clay urn. /2"-11'" century

BC, 01 a Zagora

pGHeH
Ha I XL

Symbo

amigo
region.
moutm
periods
the cla-

Be.

an

.'

CUA/80AU'IHO nozpe6eHLIe Ha mpu coDa - JAameH, 6poHJOB

2AUHeH, ol11K.pumu npu c. KaJu'l.ene, COUllcKO. Tpul1le
CbOa ca 6UAU 110AOJICeHU eOUH B 0PY2 c ycmWlma HaooAy.
Tpllme C'boa ca om paJ.IIU'IHU enoxu, JAamHWlm e HaupaueH (XlJ- Xl B. IIp. Xp.), 2AUHeHUJlm - om Ha'la,lOmo
/10 [ XUA. np. Xp., u 6POH308Wlm - om VII 8. IIp. Xp.
11

-Xl B_
oa
~ntury

Symbolic burial of three vessels - made of clay. bronze

and gold - discovered near the village of Kazichone. Sofia
region. The vessels were placed in one another with the
mouths downward. The three vessels belong to different
periods: the gold one is the earliest (11"-/0' century BC),
the clay one - from the beginning of the first millennium
Bc' and the bronze one -from the 7" century BC

93

/C)

:t
~
u

EpoH3oea K)lAmoea 6paoea,

X- VIII e. np. Xp.,
"C[OAtaKOe/,fU, ILteeeHcKO

rpo6eJ
6POH3,
AUUl, J

Bronze cult axe, IO'h_8'h

century BC, Comakovci,
Pleven District

Bronze
7"' cenl
near T

~
~

"::
~

"::

&

"::
~
Q:l

Epmt308a K)I.IImoea 6paoeaaA1.yAem, X-VII e. np. Xp.,

TemeeeH
Bronze cult axe-amulet,
Wh_?,h century Be Teteven

94

EpoH3oea mOKa u anAUKa

tlwt om KO.ltaH, VIII- VII e.
np. Xp., BuouH
Bronze buckle and applique
on a belt. 8'"-7'" century BC,
Vulin

EpOH30eo Konue om JJ XUA.

np. Xp., c. CapaH/Ju,
COUUCKO
Bronze spear from
the second millennium BC,
Sarantsi village, Sofia regiolt

,;

.....

.'

iCKO

, VII . . ., .
u,

81'1
Ivci,

Bronze grave goods.

7" century , Belish village

n ron

.,

~t,

~teven

95

:u

VI!

r
Il

'.

plique
,

:
I

..

\" ,

.......

t'

H}\"tji\.\:J\i.\~tl
i
..I'i.y , .\
,

'

'''','''_\

1111'

11,

"

"'::

2-

1::3

<:u

"'::

"'::

&

cl

., oml\.puma
At. n'rl I\.paa
. , ll! . '. .

cq

(1,2,3,4)

Accidental grave find from

the Roupite locality n the
town 0/ Petn'ch,
third millennium
(1,2,3,4)

96

Alt
,

ICbCl-

(XV1-X

Two .
nz
weapOl1
Age (1(

!.

...

"

.;'.'

. .

ifrom
1

the
4
t
,
6
(XY/-XJ16. . .)

T}vo nz swords and

bronze rapia - typical
weapons jor the Late nz
Age (16'1'-12'1' centUlY )

97

 ,
,

. , ,
VIII- VI! . . .

Gold sd decoated
with ius stones and imn
dagger with gold incustation
from buial n the village
0/ Belogadets, Vama gin,
8,1'_7'h century

<

1l ,

lj

Bronze
head, )
lage, pj
Second
n1l

Ares

98

,
.

-VIII

nz

unkno}1

8'h centJ
Ares ct

~.,

11,

mu

rated
and iron
'1lstation
1 village
region,

/
, .
, ,

-.

{j

~
:....

1/ . . .,
""

~
-.
~

Bronze dagger and spearhead, Ruzhevo Konare village, Plovdiv region.

Second hal[ ! the second

-.

miUenium ,

.~

Ares Collection

~
)

~
~

i5

t,

-1/ . . .,
,"

Bronze cult axe-sceptre,

unknown location. Late
8" centuy ,
Ares Collection

J()h.

99

vl .

. .

,, ,
, ,

-

.

, (.

, )
-

.

,
, . ,

, .
-

100

, -, ,
, ,
,
.

,
, ,

.

II

. .

..:.

"

THEROYAL
DYNASTIES

After the end of the 6th century , the

royal Thracian courts of the Getae, Triballoi,
Odrysae, Bessi Edonoi and Bythinoi gradual1y
took their ! the military-political and
cu!tural-historical scene in Southeastern
from the Carpathians to the Aegean Sea and in
Nortbwesterrn Asia inor. The Odry ian gs
priests created the strongest state in Southern
Thrace along the rivers Toundja, Maritsa and
Arda (ancient nz , Hebros and Arteskos).
contro! over that vast land was pJ~rf.ormed
watchtowers, fortresses and J0rtified residences, but above the so-called royal
cities in whicb the rulers resided while rnaking
rounds of their kingdorn.
The Odrysian dynasty chose the most protected inside area of their state a!ong the Upper
Toundja river, west of the town of KazanJuk, in
order to acralise it and to turn it into spiritual
centre for initiation of living and decea ed aristocrats in the mysteries. The Odrysae
were in partnership witb Athens and witb the
sanctuary in Delphi, witb Greek city-states, with
Persians, Illyrians, Paiones and Celts, well as
with other Thracian dynastic families with which
they exchanged inscribed gifts.
The k.ingdom of tbe Dacians, the nortbem
Thracians, wbicb wa located in tbe Soutbern
Carpatbians, wa led Decebalus in its big
fight against Rorne. The Dacians were m
tioned ! as !ate as the beginning of the 2nd
century mIO Trajan. Trajan's mmm
rative colurnn in Rorne praised the victory over
the worthy adversary of the Roman legions.

m
Cpf
(_

JVB. I
.

Detai!
silvel
4,h n.
Rogoz(

. .
,
V-IV . . .

mlO

al1 0/ silve belt f1'Om

the village 0/ Lovet,~.
Staa Zagora district.
5<1_4 centuy

he scene is interpreted
a.~ value triaL' Inf

('t ) ,
NB. . .,

Detail 0/ the decomtion

silver goblet with gilt.
4' century ,
Rogozen treasure

0/

).

te -

101

. . ., .,

!
. '

ronz fibu/a, 8"'-7"

centuy , n village,

n(1)

, Vl- Vl!

"':

IC)

:t:

Gurchi
Turgov

Smolyan district

t:S

Bronze

~
~

':::
~

"':

&
':::
~

,
IX- . . ..
. U1,

~
--

nz fibula,
9'-8" cety ,

~
--

Stoyan Zaimovo village,

Stara Zagora district

102

u t( , V . .

., . , /
ronze cheek-piece from
Attic-type helet Ivith the
iage ! Herakles. 5'" centu Gurlo viUage, Sofia
gion

, V- VI .
. .,

nz fibula.
7'"-6'" centuy ,

.;,:'

"

Vidin

Little }
7'" n

.'

-V

llage,

.,
- V . . .,
. ,

Bronze matnx. Late 6'"_5'"

centUlY ,
Gurchinovo village,
Turgovishte district

103

J6pa~. .

-;;0

he
nt

fia

11 .

1l
, V . . .,

Little bronze figure 0/ stag.

7'" century , Sevlievo

'i /~l
n, /V . . ,
<,L
CaLuoea ,tlOu,
"II mpaKUUCKII ", 11Lu

4" century hracian-type

ronz helmet - part 0/ the
grave goods in the Sashova
Mogila tumulus in the Valley
0/ the hracian ings
azanluk

l, V . .
., . ,

'Ej.

ronz helmet. 5"

, Sborishte \'illage,

tC:i

~
(:3

Sliven district

Torques
the v
Gotse L
Late 4<10

&
~
(:3

l
, VJ - Q-

~
-

V . . .,
. ,

Corichian-type nz

<
~

helmet. Late 6<10 - early

5<10 tu Chelopech
village, Sofia region

104

lI 1. .
,
JV . . .
hracian-type ronz helmet.
, location

4'" tu
unknOlvn

1.
, /V .n. .,
AIJlCO

hracian-type ronz helmet.

tu , location

4"

unknmvn

~
";.

l_

u u u , ,
IV 6. IZ. .

-..

~
10.-

<\.)
u

Torques and greaves from

the village [ Pletena near
Gotse Delchev.
Late 4 century

'"1:3
~

1:3
~

-..

1:3

.~

10
-

::i
u

;h

!met.

net.

=
~

105

 Ull
u
I

{,

. ILtemeHa,
,
IV . . .

Thraciun-rype helmet I'o'it/l

uppliques made [ ~'ilve,. ulld
copper-based alloy jrom the
village ! P/etenu n Gotse
De/chev. Mid-4'h rI

1-f.I
., .
/

Bronze
,

Turgov

106

l1

nn
n:
,

. I

Fragrm
vessel (.
legs ,
depicte,

5th

n!

Goma
Rousse

.....

.:".'

ith
and
tl1e
Jotse
'

, JV . .
., . ,

Brol1ze 11elmet. 4" cel1tury

Bryastovets village.
Turgovishte district

107

,


, V . . .,
. ,

Fragment 0/ large clay

vessel which stag with
legs bent below the body is
depicted in relief
5" ntu .
Goma Mal1astilitsa village.
Rousse district

-1I :
mllll

II

06nzu
6l1,
BIlHa Il . . . 1 /, , .

sanctuay and
observatoy the acropolis
! Kabyle. Second hal[
[ the second millennium beginning [ the first
millennium

Rock-hewn

108

.....

"

olis
! -

HII '
m(

Bllpm
n(
,

.,!
.,

Silvel

u! 11.
~vith

Ivith.

depic
ng

n
1

10,
. uu, uIG,
V -
. . ,

IV .

u
, n1m

, .

1 DADALEE

Silva rhyton with

tl1e protome ! galloping
horse fl"Om the Bashova
Mogila tumulus,
Duvanlii village. Plovdiv
region. Late 5" - early 4,1,
century he l1()rse's
n, bridle and hoove.f,
as well as the palmettes and
[otus leaves below the mouth,
Witl1 gilt.

he

DADALEME

is incised the inside

ofthe mouth

110

..

;.

budy
5'"
Mugi
villag

n
., '
10

Gold
,

DU\'Q
Plol'(

/?

VB. }
10LI

I!f.

Golcl
5,1,
t

Plov(

.:',

. 111 .

,
. V . .
., /l1 /I10,
,,

1'1

Silver kantharos. The bases

0/ the handles decorated
with masks 0/ Saryrs, silver
with gilt. Dionysos,
Baccl1ae and Saty/'
depicted means 0/
eng,.aving and gilding tl1e
bo(ly [ the vessel.
5'" nru Golyamaca
Mogila tumulus, Duvanlii
village, Plovdiv region

"~

....
{j
~

-.

. .

"
, . ,

"-

-...

Gold necklace. 5' century

Arabadjiyska tumulus,
Duvanlii village,
Plov(ii~) gin

't::

-,
. . .,
, . ,

i
t11,

Gold earrings

5'/' centUlY Moushovitsa

rumulus, Duvanlii
Plm'div /'egion

~>illage,

111

 .llIlJ,

V .

".

., lj tOu,
. uu, fJu

":::

>

U1J

VB. ,
to~

Gold necklace. 5'" eentury

Moushovitsa tumulus,
Duvanlii village, Plovdiv
region

:-

'>
~

I::!

'<u"'
~

":::

5"'
The,
villaf,

":::

&
":::

m, 'lm
V . . .,

I::S

CQ

1, . lI,
,u

Gold torque.
Early 5'" century ,
Koukouva Mogila tumulus,
nlii village, Plovdiv
region

~<
E-I
l

Gold

Duv(,
regio,

!u j/m
, V . . .,
Jtl,
. ,

Peetorals in the [om o!'fish.

5'" ntu , KOllkouva
Mogi/a tumulus, n
vil/age, Plovdiv region

.;-

"

!.

,
V . . ..
.. . ,

Cold pectoral.

5'

ntu

The Big ul~ Duvanlii

village. Plovdiv region

.....
~

....
{i

z::

1:3

.....~
~

.....
~
.~

'110

:!I
U
~

=
-

':
-

, V . . .,
.,
., l1

Cold ril!gs. 5' century ,

Atabadjiyska tuulus,
Duvanlii village, Plovdiv
gin

113

 II n:. lllm

, nn
. .
. , lUm
I\.u, u/

V . . ., UIOI
tJIG. u.

DADALEME.

Silver kylix y,'ith gilc. rhe im/a surface

[ chft vesselrhere is gilt irnugft [ Selene iding
Il"s 0/1 lhe vust seu. 711ft scene is framed
lu/lvh. he DADALEE is
engraved n cfte il1Fter side 0/ kylix. close ( the
rim. Lale 5<11 n(III Bashovu Mogila tumul;,
Duvanlii village. Plo\ldiv region

Go
n

lag

'

Go

La

114

/'l nu
lL.

DADALEE,

V-

/V . . .,
Ul lO,
u

DADALEE iscibed

Silver jug with the

tlJe neck. Lale 5'" - early 4th

n slv Mogila
tumulus, Duvanlii village.
Plovdiv region.

, V . .
., tOu, .
u, .

ll .
nQlnltL

u
,
Ull

.
.

DADALEME
Silver phiale. 5'" nt ,
Bashova Mogila tumulus,
Duvanlii village,
Plovdiv region. The phiale is
decorated the inside wilh
[ gilded images [ racing
chaiots, each pulled [
hoses. he
DADALEE is iscn'bed
lhe phiale

..'

-!.

l/ Il-,
V . . .,
IO?lI, . Il,

Gold ringJ-ndonts. 5"

cen/my . Arahadjiyska
tunzulus, Duvanlii Ilillage.
Plovdiv region
.
IV . . ., . J
,

Gold bracelet. Early 4'

Golemani village, Veliko Tllmovo district
nt ,

tO, VI V . . .,
. ,

Gold pectm'al from the

KoukoU1 la Mogila tumulus.
Late 6'" - early 5' century
. Duvanlii village, Plovdiv
region

115

..,

'

',)

!v

m'
j

0/ ,.
1il

116

"

----------~==============================::::::::~=.'-i

. .u, :u,

II J 8.

. .

Fragment

0/ the decoration

0/ (m the village
0/ Muglizh ' Kazanluk,
hird

quarter

0/ the 3"' t

117

 ll KOHlI'IHa

,n ? n

OpHa.llteHmlI,

II/ U. IJ . . .,

J(a:;

m/ll ", -/

Cnnical silver phiale with

engal'ed gilc omamellts,
0/ the gave offeing in the
Saslwva tumulus.
2'" n in the Valley
0/ the Thracian ings n
Kazanluk

..

Gol
,
n (l

in,

Neg
o1'g
agr
l1n

o1't,

u
- u ,
. ,

~
Q

'Ej.

"

Z,

",

1\)

:1:
~

~
~

. . .

Gold ing with the images 0/

the Great Godde.rs-Mnther
dynasl.
Mid-4" n , Malkata
Mogila tumulus n tl1e Valley
0/ the Thracial1 ings n
Kazanluk

':::

'Ej.

&
~
~

~
-

~
~
-

118

n! Ivl-

tO, "
",
, N . . .

Gold necklace. 4" n

Malkata Mogila tumulus
in the Valley o.f the l1racian
Kings n Kazanluk

Gol
o/t,
(do.

to, "
u ",

L,

fV .

. .

Gold nek. 4" nt1)'

Malkata Mogila turnulus
n the Valley
hn
ings ne Kazanluk

0/

,-.:'

"

I1i

Gol
,
n

(/

in.

-,

., " ",
u, N . . .

{-

rt

, ,

Gold ring-seal. 4' century

, Sineva Mogila tumulus
tl1e Valley
the hracian
ings Kazanluk.
Negative images bunch
grapes, turtle and
griffin's head the

0/

0/

0/

horizontal axis
o/the ring

0/ the plaque

.......

(,

10...

"\:j
:

t3

~
.......
~

.......

t3

'1::

;s
U

~
~
~

==
~
'(-

h"U
( ),
, IV . . .
!

sign

(double ). 4'" century

Chirpan

Gold ring with the

~s

{-

0/ the Odrysian kings: labrys

., "
",
, IV . . .

Gold necklace. 4'" tu

, Malkata Mogila tumulus
the Valley
the Thracian
ings Kazanluk

0/

119

.....

'

gr

Atu/{ Af
, IV . . ., .
N ,

Silver liu for ho~e

trappings in the 'hape 01
eagle. 4"' , Dolna
Koznitsa village, Kyujtendil
district

tt

[,

n,

. IV . .
., . ,

Frontlet in the form 0/ tlle

jigure "8" with threedimesioaL head in
n, palmetle (
semicircle and
opposed ram's Ileads the
anterior semicircle. 4'" n
, Dolna Koznitsa village, Kyustendil district

122

, IV . . ., .
,

Round semicircular applique

horse trappings whicll
Herakles jighting the
Nemean [n is depicted. 4'"nt , Dola Koznicsa
village, KyustendiL district

.-..,

.
V,

.:0.

HaAtepeHO

, . ,

71 /reasure wa. [ound in

grave n the village [
Kralevo, TurgOllis/l/e dirtrict

-..

....

~
t:j

]
~

-.
.)

~
.~

:..,

0/1/
, n
II! . . ., . ,

Gold applique from horse's

bridle.
Mid-3'" century . lv
village. Turgovishte dislrict

,..,.
...:,

:su
~

:=
~
r.1
:=
~

123

t-

~e
t

 l1lCll
,
, . ,
,
III . . .

Gold appliques from

the decoratiol1 0/ horse's
bridle and earrings.
and frontlet.
id-'" century . ralevo
village, Turgovish/e district

124

.....

.'

'.
.:'.,

,
. . ., . ,

Gold amele 0/ adomment.

4" eentury
Kupinovo village,
Veliko Tumovo distriet

..n,

'l

JV-/JI . . .

,

, ,

,

.
. ,

126

/
/

/11
Sij
Se

0/

Bronze matrices belonging

to goldsmith's shop
in the dynast's palace from
the and 0/ the 4' or
'" century hree
0/ them are 0/ set
showing royal hunt 0/
and boars, and the /ounh
, which two griffins
are depicted, is intended /or
decoration 0/ the handles 0/
swords and daggers. The
matrices were discovered
near the village 0/
Bozveliysko, Vama region

]
.

SN
thj
Sh
.

, ,

n ,
IV-II/ . . .,

Gold necklace with pendant

in the /nn 0/ bull's head.
Late 4,1,-'" nt ,
Vama

-..

10...
~

"Ij
~
(3

-..
~

(3

'\::

::i

/-

, n06

1-

1-

JV 6.

. .,

Silver applique /or shield.

Secund hal/
01' the 4" century ,
Panagyurishte

-!

::t:
-!

127

ars

)/

. , .ln
, /V -
II/ . . .

Silver kantharos /rom

tlle village 0/ Alexandrovo,
Shoumen district. Late 4'1' early 3'" century

. , u,
/VB. . .

Silver horse trappings

discovered in ril
in the Peychova Mogila
tlus n the temple
in the village 0/ Starosel,
Hissar , 4'" century

m
j

n)

R
Oj

"fU

128

.
01

-u

V
R,

S;
.

5"

l,

, m,450-425 .
, ,

Red-figU/'d jug with images

hracian ~vaniors.
amobat, 450-425

0/

.tlt
n,
(. ),
V . . .,

Marble head 0/ Apollo,

principal deity o/Odessos
(pres,
5<10

m).
, m

century

lIlu
(. . ),

,
, . ,

Red-jigUl'd jug from

Apollonia POl1tica (pres,
Sozopol) with images 0/
Jl1'acian

l1'aniors.

5th century

129

1.
Q

xu//

u

lIa m// ,

rv . . .,

Bronze hydia with the scene

! tlre abduction ! Oreitheia

. -4 . nty
, Nesseba

ft

130

,
,

n,

Ii

.....

.'

-7
\

:
,
nz Izydia

from Nessebar,

deUlil

?,

;n

'heia

. .

Funerary slele [ Anaxander

frorn Sozopo/.
/

5th l

131

ll
, 460-450 2. . .,

n, . .

Red-figured /id [ [
/ekane, 460-450 ,
necopolis [ Apollonia
Pontica (pres. Sozopol)

 ,


,
l lV-I . . .,
(1, 2, , 4. 5)
Teracotta ftgurines whicll
decorated wooden
sarcophagr.ls ~vith scenes
from Dionysiac rite.
Late 4' - early 3'" century
, Vama (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

132

I
I

Jo..

'
)

s:::

t:::!

~
.......
~

/1

.....

~
o~

:s

t:C
-

=
-

.5

 n'llI

'
ll'

IIll

ml:t '!!.

t . ll
'~Kpycpaa
(
OII1!
KaAleH HlI
11/1
n

?ll IU

JV-IIJ ' .
.

. .

Two ivory 1aques with

portrait'
Images ,., h
hracian wo ) t buned
h
n
. plaques
. [ the
mcrusted
d part
wood tn "
sarco h ~
.
. agus
d,.,Iscove"ed '"'
) n slabs ! made
hracian . ow
the Galata n!
.
d' t . m
Late 4" _ :;, n~t in Vama.
3 cent:ury

~yp
( . .
. )
lL
Te"acotta fi.
necropolis ofles from
Pontica f
polloma
,pres. Sozopol)

134

Ct

'.-

"mm

ied
he

",

Rock-hewn sanctuay
Belintash near Assenovgrad

de
n
.

'

135

YSTERY

11

. .
,

, ,
,

,

,

136

,
,

.

.


,

, .
,

- .

,

. .;.

OF

EPIPANY

In the second half of the 2nd and during the

1 millennium , Thracian attributed value
to an wd skills, motifs and stylistic
approaches from Scythia, lran, mni
Persia Greece so as to pass them to the
Northern peoples, to
the Celts. In interaction with other cultures,
the Thracian artists created their languages for
mastering space for depicting the
symbolism of objects m of metal, clay or
stone with sacral profane functions.
deciphering of these languages reveals the
Thracian interpretation of the eternal theme
about the relations between the gods.
Thrace, the fatherland of the wind Boreas
and stepping stone to the legendary wise
Hyperboreans, was protected the Great
Goddess-Mountain Mother an Son
Sabazios, who personified the world axis Sun Night/Apollo - Dionysos. Being in equal
position in the faitb professed the mythical
oracle Orpheus, they created with the f
cosmogonic elements - , Earth, Water
an Fire - were worshipped in the mystery
of the epiphany. ln the aristocratic male societies, initiated with fi spirit were
integrated with the mystery. Dig the feasts
that were accessible to the entire people, the
believers hoped to posses the gods an
with their wil1 to absolved from all kinds of
guilt sins.
Thracian culture is ml of the functioning of the oral historical memory in direct
tact with the ancient Greek, literary memory.
faith in the immortality of the intellectual
energy is personified with tbe f'igures of
Orpheus, Rhesos Zalmoxis in Greek myths
legends. were teachers of aristocrats
and rulers, because they were believed to
rn from the sacred marriage between
the Great Goddess-Mother Earth her Son.
Thracian kings buried ritually their gold
insignia in some sacred place so as to attain
their new i from the divine uni and to
s the next cycle in the life of the Cosmos
an of the Socium.

.:"

='

137

,
. ,
. 23


l,

.

/il,

n.

.
IV . . .

..

Treasure accidentally
discovered near the village
[ Letnitsa, Lovech district.
It consists [ 23 applique [or
horse trappings, made [ sil with gilt and gold, wl!ich
were placed in bronze
cauldron. 1 applique are
decorated with images, most
[ them anthropomorphic.
he scenes depicted most
probably narrate hracian
mytl1 about the ruler's value
trial, dedication and initiation. Mid-4'I, century

~.

"::

'<

:ft.

1\:)

:t:

"::

-.:t::

"::

'<

&
"::
~

I:Q

~
~

~
~
~

138

,
. . ., . ,

Cult scene. End [ second

millennium ,
n village near
Nova Zagora

.",

II

"

"

.:'.'

10

"',

23

u
m

CJcma~. n
5

.

'1

J
'1

'llage
istrict.
que/or
~ 0/ silwhich

ze

ie

most
phic.
'lost
lracian
, value
'nitia~,

'3

139

r II
,

:ond

140

,.
....

mRACIANS Valeria Fo! Alexander Fol

l'

142

.....

,.

.:".-

L--~~---~~~

'

:'.

146

.;.,

147

148

"

:'. .

149


. ,
N -
I . . ., 6,100
n treasure [
[ Panagyurisl1te.

the tnwn

Weight 6. 1 kg. Late 4" early 301 n

150

.','"

.'

-:'..

151

152

1
1,

Rhyton shaped as
Amazon's head.
Panagyurishte treasure

.....

"

.:'..

153

ur

,.,

Rhy,

the 1

Ni

hon

s,

with
.

"

.
. ).,

,
.1, ,

Jl1m 1,

Rhyton shaped as
the protome ! he-goat.
, , Artemis and
Nike depicted the
110 ! the rhyton, as
seen from the inscriptions
with their names.
Panagyurishte treasure

155

.

,

UfiteHa

J
)
,

axaHU

Rhyton shaped as ram'.v

17ead, Panagyurishte s.
Dionysos and ,
whose names seen in
inscriti and Bacchae.
depicted below the mouth
0/ the rhyton

156

....

Rllytor
head. j
below.
as the
the thr.
Athem
na

.'

.:'.,

~eo
t

~
~

ram's
treasure.

',

~en in
ll,

the mouth

t
.


t
,

Rhyton shaped as st;'s

Iread. Paris is depicted
belaw t11e rhyton's mouth
as the arbitrator between
the tllree goddesses: Hera,
Athena and Aphrodite.
Panagyurishte treasure

-.;.

',

.:'.,

159

160

...'"

.'

.]
l

Amphc
n

u,

Phiale.

treasurc

>

.'

.;'"

-,

Aphora-rhyton.
Panagyuishte treasure

u,

Phiale. Panagyurishte
treasure

163

61,l n.
.
. ,

6:
,

1/.

,
ll .

KOUOS , .
IV . . .,

KOTU

Silver l
the m
horse.l
Borovo
bears th

Silver rhyton with the protome

he head be/ong.r
to young woman. the front 0/
the body is covered with /eathers, the /egs with '$ paw$.
The rhyton bears the insciption
KOYOS . Early 4'~
ntu , Borovo treasure

0/ sphinx.

KOYI

Borovo

164

..;.

,.

-:'..

l.

z
zma

n.
,

fV .

. .,

Pum
KOTUOS ,

, .

~Ka

protome
{ helongs
le fror [
ith[eathion's paws.

Silver r/lytan with

the protome [ galloping
horse. Early 4" nt ,
Borovo treasure. The rhytan
bears the iscription
KOYOS ,

Borovo treasure

iscriptian

Early 4/"
'easure

-..

~t:

t::1

~
-..
~

-..

.~
~

=:~~
~

r-

j
I

165

 n
. ,

,
IV .n..

I
,

110BbPXf
15 ,

Silver rhyton with

the protome 0/ bull
his knees. with /orelegs bent
below his body. Early 4" n
t , Borovo treasure

BG

nG
). <

KOU(

/<

Silver j
(
figures, i
covering
nl

166

Dionysm
jrieze, ~y}
larger
he ,

ninefig

playing
Bacchae.
hree aq
depic
n t.
botlo1l

sel bears

Early 4"
Borovo tJ

.'

-
, -

,
. J1
15 . , -/n -

!ll
regs bent
'ly 4'" n-

, .
-

utecmBue,

'

.

l1 ().
KOTUOS ,
IV . . .,

Silver jg-htn with

decoration consisting [ 15
jigures, three [riezes
covering its entire srf.
he central scene with
Dionysos is n the central
[rieze, which is considerably
larger and with bigger figures.
lze / [rieze [eatures
Bacchic procession which
nn figures participate:
playing and dancing
/, Sileni and Satyrs.
hee aquatic birds (swans)
depicted the [rieze
around the aperture the
bottom [ the vessel. he vessel s the inscription
KOYOS .
t ,

Early 4"

ro ts

"-

{j
~

c::s

~
~

"-

~
.~

\1)

:$
U

~
~

~
~

167

t
1<

V-IiI
.,

Silver
rrappi.
nt

Plovd,

tu,

u ,
IV 6. . .

Silvel applique wi[h gill from

hose [rappings,
0/ [he Loukovit tsu.
End 0/4110

168

. ::.

.'

-:'..

,

-,
u ()
, V IV . . .,
. ,

V- IV . .
., . ,

Silver applique from /rs

rappings. Late 5' - early 4'
century Brezovo vg,
Plovdiv district

Gold ring which the

! Goddess-Mother
is depicted handing !
isignia ( rhyton) ( the
l. Late 5' - early 4' n
tury Brezovo vil/age,
Plovdiv district

169

 11

Q.I/1mu, !/
, 6 IZll
. ,
,

JV .

V-

MUCnIl
.

Mysteri,
(!le vill,
Hissar I

. .

Silver frontlet and silver

bridle from Iwrse trappings,
part 0/ funerary offerings
discovered in tumulus n
the village 0/ B,-ezovo,
Plovdiv district. Late 5'h early 4" century

170

-----=-l_

_=--_~
."

.
'

.;"

JK
'1

?m
. u
J
im

silver
rappings,
ferings
nulus n
)vo,
!te 5 _

um
. ,

Mys/erial /emple n
the village 0/ Starosel,
issar area

171

-;

IC)

;:z:

:3

II , -I .

Ol

Clay matrix ~viJh the image

o/Opheus, 2""-3'" nt
Veliko m

ronz I
the viLl

. :

V-IV

Razgrad

~
~

nt J

&

tm
. ,
u, V-IV .
. .

r-1

Bronze matrix from

the village [ Gomo
Ablanovo, Turgovis/1te
district. 5'-4' century

~
172

u
, [J-I . . .,
.l/llLl-

, ""

votive hand 0/
Sabazios. 2nd_3'" nt
location unknown,
Ares CoLlection
ronz

",
-

,
u

. ,
. IV -
III . . .

Limestone statuette, most

0/ the goddess Nike,
discovered in the burial
chamber [ the ( n
the village ()/ Sveshtari,
Razgrad district. Late 4" early 3'" ntLI

ro

(.

Umfrom
BolyarovG
4' centulJ

"

'0

c u306-

'1, II-III 6.,

!e image
~entury

'0

EpOl-l306a .lJtampul/a
om c. Ky6pam, Pa32paocKo,
V-W6. np. Xp.
Bronze matrix from
the village of Koubrat,
Razgrad district. 5,h-4,h
century Be

aom
:0,
6.

hte
yBC

'pbKa
A.

173

Ha

){p.,

lHa.lJtUpa""

of
tury AD,

D06UK,
H.5lma
po6HaHUl{ama
npaoa'la.lLOmost
ess Nike,
ial
near
ri,
4"

YpHa am c. EOAJlP060,
EAX06CKO, IV 6. np. Xp.
Um from the village of
Bolyarovo near Elhovo.
4~ century BC

OAmap
KynO/lHG

xpaAta r,
TO.!LRAta
"J(OAUHI

me /jape
Altar in
vaulted,
the tern/Golyam
in the V
Kings m

.....

"

.'

------:::--_---=------------------------------------------- -

OAmap 6 qeHm'bpa Ha
K)'nOA/-lOmo 110A1e14eHUe 6
xpaAta 1100 AtONl/lama
fOAJlilta ApceHaAKa,
,,!J,OAUHama fta mpaKllUCKU-

file llape", Ka3aHAblUKO

Altar in the centre of the
vaulted chamber in
the temple below the
Golyama Arsenalka tumulus
in the Valley of the Ihracian
Kings near Kazanluk

175

3AamHa.
Ha AtRcm
Ha noepel
oemeA-of
C6emuqa
Ha mpaKl
Ka3aHAbl
HattaAOm
Gold ma1
the head,
Orphic d}
Svetitsata
Valley of
near Kaz
early 4,10 Co
BxoObm Ha nOOMoeUAHUll
xpaM 6 MoeUAama
IIIYUlMaHeq, "J(OAUHama
Ha mpaKUUCKUme qape",
Kll3aHAbUlKO
Entrance to the temple below
the Shoushmanets tumulus
in the Valley of the Thracian
Kings near Kazanluk

176

.....
.. '

:'.

3AamHa AfQCKa, nocma8eHa

Ita ArJlCmOmo Ha cAaBama
Ita nozpe6aH OiJpuCKU BAaoemeA-oprPw(. B AtOZuAama
CBemUI/ama - ,JJOAUHama
Ita mpaKUUCKUme l{ape",
/(a:JflH.AbIUKO, K[JaJl Ha VItQlfaAOmO lia IV 8. np. Xp.

Gold mask at the place of

rhe head of an Odrysian
Orphic dynast buried in the
veri/sata tumulus in the
Valley of the Thracian Kings
near Kazan/uk. Late 5'" early 4" century Be
~02UAHUJ/.
~a

I/UHama
~ l{apet~

mple below
, tumulus
e Thracian
'uk

177

KOHHMKbTBECTHTEIT
THE HERALD HORSEMAN

HaA IIeT XHJUlAH. IIOCBeTYITeJIHI1 H. Ha,a:rp06ffil peJIeM OT KaMbK 11 MpaMop I13pa3HBaT KyJITa KbM TpaKIII1cKIDI Xepoc MeiK,a:y I II HaLJ:aJIOTO Ha IV BeK BJO.lK.HoAYHaBcKIITe PI1MCKII npoBmnurn fopHa 11: )J;OJilia MII3IDI H. TpaKIDf. C
KpaTKII Ha,a:TIllCI1 HO nOIDIKora caMO C11:306pa2KeHl1H, naMeTillfUHTe ,a:oKYMeHTI1paT Hapo,a:HaTa B5lpa BT03II HaCJIe,a:IDIK Ha 60roBe II :o;ape)Kpe:O;H OT npe,a:pI1MCKaTa enoxa. B 06pa3a My
II,a:eHTa 3a CllHa Ha BeJIH.KaTa 60rHHH-MaHKa, 3a
opwrecKIIH 60r Ha KocMoca, ce CnJIIITa CLJ:epTIITe Ha u;apH-iKpell" KOMTO e lIe)J.o Ha T03II 60r
II nponoBH,a:Ba B5IpaTa BHero KaTO BHpa B AYXOBHOTO 6e3CMbpTHe. KOHffilKbT-JIoBe:o;, CHMBon Ha Bpb3KaTa Me/K,a:y CMbpTTa 11: 2KIrnoTa,
OTBe.IK.)J.a TPa.K.HMCKHTe CM CJIe)J.OBHHUH BPFlMCKaTa MMTIepll5I, BaHTHtIHaTa 06I..ll,OeBporrei1.cKa
U;HBRJIH3auH5I, HO H3IIbJIHHBa 1'1 MHCIDITa cn ,a:a
Bb3Becnr 11:ABaHeTO Ha XpMCTIDIRCKaTa peJIIIrIDI.

More than five thousand votive and grave

reliefs made of stone and marble express the cult
of the Thracian Heros in the Southern Danubian
Roman provinces of Moesia Inferior and Superior,
and Thrace, between the 1st and the beginning of
the 4th century. With brief inscriptions, sometimes
only with images the monuments document the
popular belief in that successor of the gods and
kings-priests from pre-Roman times. His image
blends the idea of the Son of the Great GoddessMother, of the Orphic god of the Cosmos, with
the features of the king-priest who is the son of
that god and preaches the faith in him as a faith in
the spiritual immortality.The Horseman-Hunter,
who is the symbol of the link between Death and
Life, leads his Thracian followers to the Roman
Empire, to the ancient Pan-European civilisation,
but he also performs his mission of heralding the
coming of the Christian religion.

178

.:0

179

'.

Cpe60pHu KYIlU U ZpU6HU

om II-I 6. np. )(p.,
c. JlKUAlO60, MOHmaHcKo
Silver bowls and bracelets.
2""-1" century Be. Yakimovo
village, Montana district

Cpe60pHa
XepaK:bA,
HeU38ecm.
He, KOAeKl

180

ilver stan

2"J-3nJ cenl
location u
Ares Colle

){(eAe3eH I
na3eHa np
HUll, pe:>ICe.
6bmpeUlHG
lll-I8. np.
AfecmOHaA
KOAeKL/Ull
Curved ira
served fron
bard and (
the inner s.
BC, {ocati(
Ares Colle

,':.0

"

.:'..

MpaAtopua mpaKuucKa
nAo'tKa Ha TpaKUiicKUJl
Xepoc om EJlAa f.[epKBa,
II B. CA. Xp.
Marble Thracian tablet of the
Thracian Heros from Byala
Cherkva. 2nd century AD
!

Cpe6'bpua 'tal-ua, I B. np.

Xp., Cmapa 3aeopa
Silver cup. 7" century BC.
Stara Zagora

epUBHU

tmaHclW
'Jracelets.
Yakimovo
district

Cpe6bpHa cmamyemKa Ha
XepaKbA, II-III 6. CA. Xp.,
HeU36ecmHo AteCmOHaAtUpaHe, IWAeK/fUJl "Apec"
Silver statuette of Herakles.
J"I-3ni century AD,
location unknown.
Ares Collection

)KeAe3eH KpUB HOJIC CbC 3ana3eHa npeOHa 'tacm Ha KaHUR, peJICe/.tf.UJlm pb6 e om
6bmpeulHama cmpaHa.
III-I B. np. Xp., HeU3BecmHO
AleCmOHaAtUpaHe,
KOAeK/fUJl "Apec"
Curved iron knife with preserved front pmt of a scabbard and cutting hlade on
the inner side. 3 '-1" century
Be, location unknown.
Ares Collection
0

181

<)

oe.

2-

'0

:z:

ir."
!

l:j

~
~
~

/,'

,:

Cl

-e.
~

&
~
l:j

Cpe6bpeJ
Kp{lJl Ha
11 6. CA.)
EpecmHL
lIlecnum
06peOHO
ma 6 aKr
HaHeros
Silver cui
2nd centUl
BrestnitsG
trict. The
buried rit
in a votiv
Heros Pu

~
182

Cpe6'bpHa aAepa c u306paJICeHUe Ha

Cpe6bpHa QAepa C
n03Aama, II - lB. np. Xp.,
C. FQAu'Ie, OpJlXOBCKO
Silver phalera with gilt. 2nd-I"
century BC, Galiche village
near Oryahovo

Cpe6"bpeH KYAmOB CepeLl3,

I - Ha'laAomO Ha
110. CA..Xp., c. FOA.JUna
EpecmHLlL{a, ILleeeHcKo.
llJecmme cooa ca 6UlLU
06peaHO 3apoeeHLI B 3eA1.Jllila 0 aKm Ha nocoeLLfeHue
Ha Heros Purumentlas

60euHJl c aoe IUnUL{LI Ha paAteHeme,

II-lB. np. Xp. c.

FaAu'l~

OpRX06CKO

Silver phalera with the image of a goddess with two birds on her shoulders.
2nd-I" century Be. Galiche village near
Oryahovo

KpaJt HQ

Silver cult set. Late 1" - early

2M century AD, Golyama
Brestnitsa village, Pleven district. The six vessels were
buried ritually in the ground
in a votive rite in honour of
Heros Purumerulas

183

EPOH308 utAeAt, I-II 8. CA.

Xp., C. EpRCm08el.l,
Eyp2aClW. B'bPX:Y KaCKama,
noD apKU, ca u306pa3eHu
XepAtec, AnoAoH, AmuHa,
HUKe UApec, 8'bpx:y
Ha6y3Hul.Iume - IIoceuooH

OAo8Ha r
Ha oyHa8(
III 8. np.
Lead pla~
Danubian
3n1 centuT}
Dolna Mi.

Bronze helmet.
1"-2"d centwy AD,
Bryastovest village, Bourgas
distnct. Hermes, Apollo,
Athena, Nike and Ares are
depicted below arches on the
helmet, and Poseidon on the
cheek-pieces

EpoH308a
u306paJlCe
Pa32pao,
Bronze mt
ofa goddf
AD, RazgJ
06potma
HUC, c. KIA
Cmap03a.
CA. Xp.
Votive tab,
from the v
Metodievo
district. 2""

Cpe6'bpeH
8ecmHO At.
Xp., KOAe~
Silver artic
from unkn
century AI

-;.,
'

"

..

'-II 6. CA.
If,

KaCKama,
5pa3eHU
AmuHa,
IX)!

roceCiooH

OA06Ha nAO'lKa
Ha oyHa6cKume KOHHUIjU,
lIJ 6. np. Xp., aOAHa MU3UH

......

l...

Lead plaque of the

Danubian horsemen.
3'" century BC,
Dolna Miziya

~
~
c::

......~
~

......

. Bowgas
lpollo,
Ares are
'hes on the
ion on the

.g
~

rrJ

EpoH308a Mampwfa C
u306paJlCeHUe Ha 60ewlJl om
Pa3epao, II-III 6. CA. Xp.

::l
Co)
~
==
~

r-1
Bronze matrix with the image
of a goddess. 2'"_3'" century
AD, Razgrad

06pO'lHa IlAOtlKa Ha auoHUC, c. KUpuAo-Memooue60,

Cmapo3aeopcKo, II - III 6.
CA. ){p.

185

Votive table of Dionysos

from the village of Kin'loMetodievo, Stara Zagora
district. 2'"_3'" century AD

Cpe6'bpeH HaKum om HeU36ecmHO A1Jlcmo, III 6. CA.

}(p., KOAeKIjUH "Apec"
Silver article of adornment
from unknown location. 3"'
century AD, Ares Collection

186

......

187

EPOH308U A1ampUl/U, 'lucm

om KOAeKmU8Ha HaxooKa
Ha A1ampUl/U om A6pumyc
(OH. Pa32pao), II 8. CA. Xp.
Bronze matrices, part of
a hoard of matrices from
Abritus (pres. Razgrad).
2"d century AD

(/)poHmOi
C8emUAUl
MUUIK08t
MaAKo 1

Pediment
sanctuary
Mishkova
MaIko Tt,

188

MpaA10pHa 06pO'lHa nJlO'lKU

Ha TpaKuucKu Xepoc,
II-III B. np. Xp., llAOBOUB
Marble votive tablet of the
Thracian Heros. 2nd-3"'
century AD, Plovdiv

06pO'lHa nAO'lKa Ha ACKAenuii (ECK.}'Aan), II-III B. CJI.

Xp., pUA1cKume mepA1u B
llaymaAUH, OH. KlOcmeHouA
Votive tablet of Asclepius
(Aesculap). 2"d-3'" century
AD, Roman thennae in
Pautalia (pres. Kyustendil)

.....

':'.'

MpaMopl-ta o6po'ma nAOlf-Ka

I-ta ApmeMuoa (J(uaHa),
III 6. np. Xp., Heu36ecmNO
MecmOHaMUpal-te,
KOAeKI.IUJl "Apec"
Marble votive tablet
of Artemis (Diane).
3'" century BC, unknown
location, Ares Collection

MpaMopHa 06pOlf-Ha nAO'lKa

lia TpaKuiicKU Xepoc,
II-III 6. I1p. Xp., llA060U6
Marble votive tablet of the
Thracian Heros. 2""-3'"
century AD, Plovdiv

@poHmOH am zpo6l-tul.la 6
C6emUAuUjemo - xepool-t
MUlUK06a HU6a,
MaAKO Tbpl-t060
Pediment of a tomb in the
sanctuary-heroon in the
Mishkova Niva locality near
Malko Tumovo
1 nAOlf-Ka
~c,

060U6
of the

3,d

ACKAer 6. CA.
nu 6
nel-tOUA
Dius
ltUry
in
ndil)

189

1\1e?aAlIm (I paiieJHa Ha
"CA1,H'le6ama 6pama n Kpaa
C. 5y"106?paa, Ka3a1tAblllKO,
,,[{O..WHama Ha
mpaKwJeKlIme lJape n.
Megalith in the area of the
Solar Gates near the village
of Bouzovgrad, Kazanluk
district, in the Valley of the
Thracian Kings.

MaaAum 6 PW/OHU Ita

"CA1,H'le6ama 6pama" Kpaii.
c. EyJ06?paa, Ka'JaHAbUIKO,
,,[{O./lultama Ita
mpaKlIUCKlIme lJape".
Megalith in the area of the
Solar Gates near the village
of Bouzovgrad, Kazanluk
district, in the Valley of the
Thracian Kings.

190

CKaAHO lGCetleH mpOH 6

l/apCKama pe3110eHI1UJ1.C8emll.lLUlI1e J7epnepeK,
Kl,pihcaAuiicKO.
Rock-hewn throne in the
royal residence-sanctuary in
Perperelc, Kurdjali district

CKa/lHO U"lce'leT-tO
C6emUAlIu/e "Xap/l'ta KaR",
/i1'3mO'lHU Pooonll. CKailHu
HUUlU Ha 6bpxa Ha
nAamomo 6 6AlI'30Cm 00
6xooa Ita ecmeCml3eHama
nellfepa-C8emu./lUuje.
Harma Kaya rock-hewn
sanctuary in the Eastern
Rhodope Mountains. Rock
niches on the top of the
plateau, near the entrance to
the natural cave-sanctuary

.....

"

1
Ha
a" Kpail
utbUJKO,

of the
village
nluk
of the

.....

"pUll

lia
la."

l....

t:

-lA-blUKO,

l:::S

,"

.....

of the
. village
rnluk
, of the

.g
~

tZl

::l

=
E-4

liJil

VOIi 8

191

lllLJl-

'JeK,

n the
tuary in
ristrict

ta

KaJl",

CKa.MIU

~ewn

stem
~. Rock
{the

ztrance to
'tcrnary

CKaAliO 1I3CC'teHU vaceiiHu

C/I'hH'le(~ aUCK, cKaAHO

Ha 81>fJxa NO IUanlO11l0 Ha

IIJCe'leIlO C6el1lllAlIUfe

mpm.:lIiiCKall/a B1I3a,
eaponeiiCKU TYPIIUfI.

TamYJ/, 00 c. TamY/I,
KbpOJ/CU//uiicKO.

Rock-hewn basins on the rap

of the rock plateau of the
Thracian Byza, European
Turkey

Solar disc, Taraul rock-hewn

sanctuary near the village of
Tatoul, Kurdjali distric{.

Huuw, CKaAflO 11AamO Ha

mpaKuUCKama BU3a,
eBponeiicKa Typlll1Jl,

CKaAHo
TAyxum
Jb06uAtc
MBauAo

Niche, the rock plateau of

the Thracian Byza, European
Turkey.

Glouhit,
sanctua,
municip
Ivaylovl',

CKaAflomo nAamo Ha
mpaKuucKama BU3a,
eBpOneUCKa TYPLJUR,

CKaAHo CBemUAUUje B c.
Cmpe30BLJe, KyAtaHOBCKo,
MaKeooHUR.

The rock plateau of the

Thracian Byza, European
Turkey.

Rock sanctuary in the village

of Strezovce near Kumanovo,
Macedonia.

192

CKaAHO CBemUAUllJe B c.
Cmpe30BlJC, KyAtaHOBCKo,
MaKeooHUR,
Rock sanctuary in the village
of Strezovce near Kumanovo,
Macedonia

......

'.

.:'. .

CKaAHO C6emUAUUfe
[Ayxume KahtbHU, o6UfuHa
JITo6uhtel1,
]1wiiAo6epaOcKO.

Glouhite Kamani rock

sanctuary, Lyubimets
municipality,
lvaylovgrad district.

C.
~KO,

Jillage
znovo,

-.

:....

~
s;:
~

~
-.

-.
~
.~

rLl

:suZ
~

i9
~

6 C.

6CKO,

. village
'lanovo,

CKaAHO
TAyXllnl

JII06Ll.In,

J,1aaiLto
G/ouhit
sanctua
Lyubim
lvay/ov~

.....

..

.~'

CKaAHO cBemUAuU/e
FAyxume KaA1bHU, 06u/uHa
JII06uA1eL/,
M8aUAOB2paOcKO.
Glouhite Kamani rock
sanctuary,
Lyubimets municipality,
Ivaylovgrad district

CKaAHo CBemUAUUle
F.,,,,yxume KaAt'bHU, o6U/uHa
JII08uA1eL/,
J1BaflAoB2paocKo.
Glouhite Kamani rock
sanctuary, Lyubimets
municipality,
Ivaylovgrad district

CKaAHo C8emU.llUu/e
F/lyxume KaAt'bNU, o6uluHa
JIlo6uA1el{,
J1BauAOB2pa()cKo.
Glouhite Kamani rock sanctuary, Lyubimets
municipality,
Ivaylovgrad district

195

~
CKaAHO

FAyxum
J/io6ufft.
118auAo

Glouhite
tumy,
Lyubime
IvaylovEJI

"1'

'

"

..

-:'. .

...

CKaAHO CBemUAUUfe
rAyxume TeaAt'bNU, o6UfuHa
JII06u.MeLf,
J18auA082paikKO.
Glouhite Kamani rock sanctuary,
Lyubimets municipality,
lvaylovgrad district

Me2aAumHa "CA'bH'Ie8ama
8pama KpaiJ c. EY3082pao,
Ka3aHA'bUlKO, "lloAuHama
Ha mpaKuikKume Lfape".
Solar Gates megalith near
the village of Bouzovgrad,
Kazanluk district,
in the VaUey
of the Thracian Kings.

197

Cl

'eo
~

~
..":",

I..l
~

t'V;:

II.

.I

.'

~
~

&
~
~

Eo--

,/

Eo--

198

. ".:.

"

oJ

.:':..

Hece6'bp
Nessebar

199

TH

TPAKl1}I If CTAPJUIT CBHT

KpaTKa CHHOnTH"IIHa Ta6JI~a

TPAKIDI

CTAPIDIT CBHT

IIPE,I:(lf XPlfCTA

Be

BapHeHCKH XanKOJlliTeH HeKpOIIOJI - rr'bpBaTa

EBpOrreRCKa lUIBRJllI3aqIDI.

I1peM'bp)KaBeH neplioA B EnmeT. I1'bpBlI IIOceJIeHIDI B MeCOIIOTaMIDI.

BTopa nOJIOBlIHa
Ha V XBJI.

mille

B'bJItIHTP'bHCKH u:apCKO-1KpeQeCKH 3JIaTeH 06peAeH cepBH3 .

Anoreii Ha MliHoikKaTa nliBliJIli3aU:IDI Ha D-B

KpllT. ITmeiiHo IIliCMO A.

BTopaTa tIeTB'bpT
Ha II XlIJI.

2nd II

MHKeHcKa TpaKIDI.

MliKeHCKa r'bpU:IDI. JIliHeiiHo rrliCMO E.

CpeAaTa Ha II XHJl.

Mid-

TpaKHMcrrn u:ape-)Kpe.u;H B OMlipOBIDI enocPe30c, I1eHpoH, AKaMaHT.

IIpeB3eMaHe Ha IIpliaMoBa TpoJI OT MliKeHCKIITe r'bp.u;1i (OMlipoBHTe Axell), HatIeJIO C

AraMeMHOH.

1275 r.

12'

MOpCKO rocrrOACTBO Ha eBpOIIeHCKMTe Ii MaJIOa3MHCKIi TpaKH Hag BOAHMTe II'bTH~a rrpe3

,D;apAaHeJIliTe Ii Eocopa.

HatIano Ha npexoAa K'bM rpaAOBe-A'bpJKaBH

B r'bp..u;IDI.

XI-XB.

TpaKHTe BliTHHH ce rrpeCeJIBaT OT gommaTa

Ha CpeAHa CTpYMa B Mana A3ID1 Ii 06pa3yBaT
BHTHHcKaTa A'bp1KaBa B CeBep03arraAHa Mana
A3IDI.

II'bPBlI OJIIlMIIlIHCKH nrpH. OCHOBaBaHe Ha

PHM. HatIano Ha rp'bqKOTO 3aCeJIBaHe rro 6perOBeTe Ha CpeAli3eMHO, EreHcKo, MpaMopHo III
tIepRo Mope.

VIII - VII

Seco

Seco

200

B.

I10XOA'bT Ha rrepCMHCKIDI nap ,D;apIDi I cpemy

CKHTHTe rrpe3 TpaKIDI.

519/514/512 (?) r.

519/:

Tepec - II'bpBIDIT li3BeCTeH BJIageTeJI Ha OAPliCKOTO napCTBO.

KpaJI Ha VIHatI. Ha VB.

Late

YCTaHOBHBaHe Ha IIOJIHTHlleCKH H AlinJIOMaTHtIeCKH OTHOIIIeHIDI Mexgy Tepec Ii CKliTCKIDI

nap ApHaneMT. Tepec AaBa egHa OT }l;'bI.I.J;epHTe
cn 3a C'bilpyra Ha CKHTCKIDI nap.

480 r.

early

48(

,D;OroBOp Mexgy OgpliCKIDI u:ap CliTaJIK Ii CKJiiTCKIDI .u;ap OKTaMaCaA, CKORTO p. MCTpOC ()J;yHaB) CTaBa rpaHIi.u;a Me1KAY }l;BeTe u:apcTBa.

KeJITH rrpeKocHBaT JIaMamrra n KOJIOHH3HpaT

EpHTaHcKIITe OCTPOBli.

450-445 r.

45(

OAPHCKIDIT .u;ap CHTaJIK CKJIlOtIBa C'b103eH AOrOBop CATlIHa.

HatIaJIo Ha IIeJIOIIOHeCKaTa BOHHa MeJKAY

II'bpBIDI ATlIHCKli MOpCKIi C'b103 H IIeJIorroHecKIDI C'b103 HatIeJIO CbC CrrapTa.

431 r.

431

CBTaJIK rrpeAIIplieMa nOXOA cpemy gpeBHa MaKeAOHIDI Ii XaJIKMAl-NecKIDI nOJIYocTpOB C'bfJIaCHO AoroBopa CATlIHa.

B ATHHa BbpJIYBa "qyMHa" eIIHAeMIDI, yMHpa

IIepHK'bJI.

429 r.

t-------------------

..

429

-,.

,:"-'

THRACE AND THE ANCIENT WORLD

Brief Synoptic Table

BC

THRACE

Second half of the 5Lh

millennium

Chalcolithic necropolis
European civilisation.

Second quarter of the

2nd millennium

Royal-priestly gold ritual set.

Culmination of the Minoan civilisation in the

Island of Crete. Linear A.

Mid-2 nd millennium

Mycenaean Thrace

Mycenaean Greece. Linear B.

1275

Thracian kings-priests in Homer's epic poetry Rhesos, Peiroos and Akamas.

Conquest of Priam's Troy by the Mycenaean

Greeks (Homer's Achaeans) headed by
Agamemnon.

11th_1 Otll century

Marine supremacy of the European and Asia

Minor Thracians over the sea routes across the
Dardanelles and the Bosporus.

Beginning of the transition to the cities-states

in Greece.

The Thracians-Bithynoi moved from the

Middle Strymon valley to Asia Minor and
founded the Bithynian state in Northwestern
Asia Minor.

Frrst Olympic Games. Founding of Rome. Start of

THE ANCIENT WORLD

ill

Varna - the first

519/514/512 (?)

The march of the Persian king Darius I against

the Scythians across Thrace.

Late 61b _
early 51b century

Teres - the first famous ruler of the Odrysian

kingdom.

480

Establishing of political and diplomatic relations

between Teres and the Scythian king Ariapeites.
Teres gave one of his daughters to become the
wife of the Scythian king.

Pre-state period in Egypt. First settlements in

Mesopotamia.

the Greek settlement along the coasts of the

Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Sea of
Marmara and the Black Sea.

45D-445

Treaty between the Odrysian king Sitalkes and

the Scythian king Oktamasades, making the
river Istros (Danube) the border between the
two kingdoms.

Celts crossed the English Channel and

colonised the British Isles.

431

The Odrysian king Sitalkes concluded an

alliance with Athens.

Beginning of the Pelopormesian War between

the First Athenian League and the
Peloponnesian Alliance headed by Sparta.

Sitalkes undertook a march against ancient

Macedonia and the Chalkidiki Peninsula under
the treaty with Athens.

Plague epidemic in Athens, Perikles died.

429

201

eo

CHTaJIK )'MHpa no BpeMe Ha HJIH CJIen 6HTKa C

TpaIGITe TpH6aJIH. Ha Onpl1CKIDI TpOH ce Bb3KaqBa CeBT I.

424 r.

42t

407 - 406 r.

40,

2-

to

:x:
~

~
~

eo
~
&
~
~

~
~

E-4

202

OnpHCKOTO D;apcTBo e lIOneJIeHO Me)K):(y n;ap

Mep;oK (AMaToK) H CeBT II, 06RBHJI ce 3a He3aBHCHM nIlliaCT.

Amanman, OT HMeTO Ha ATHHa, CKJIloqsa C'b1O3eH noroBop Cp;BaMaTa OP;pHCKH D;ape 3a BoeHHa nOMO~ cperu;y CnapTa~HTe.

Ha IIbT 3a EJIaAa OT TIepcIDI KceHoq:>oHT M BOneHHTe OT Hero rpbltIm HaeMHHD;H rocTyBaT Ha

CeBT II.

401 r.

Ha OnpHCKIDI npeCTOJI ce Bb3D;ap5IBa n;ap KoTHC I. B HanilllC TOM ce 0651B5IBa 3a nOKTpl1HaJIeH CHH Ha AnOJIOH.

383 r.

38~

359 r.

35S

357 r.

35,

356 r.

35f

<!>mIJilrr II HaBrrlna B OnpHcKa TpaKH5I H 3aB3eMa IDlKOH TpaICHiicKH napCKH rpap;oBe, Me)K)l;y
KOHTO R Ka6Rlle no ,l.J;H. rp. 51M6011.

341 r.

34]

TIoxon Ha <!>HllHII II cperny CKMTCKli5I D;ap

ATeli. Ha Bpbl.lJ;aHe <!>HJIHn e pa36I1T H paHeH
OT TpH6aJIHTe.

340 - 339 r.

34C

335 r.

33~

331-330 r.

33]

Cperu;a MeJK)JJ' OnpMCKIDI n;ap KOTHc I H MaKenORCKH5I n;ap <!>HJlHn II CIJ;ell ycraHoB5IBaHe Ha
CbTpy.r:UUlqeCTBO. KOTHC I e y6HT OT aTHHCKM
3arOBOpHHIJ;H.

401

<!>HmIII II ce Bb3IJ;apRBa Ha MaKep;OHCKIDI npecTOll Ha M5ICTOTO Ha 6paT CM D;ap TIepp;HKa 3arHRaJI B 6IITKa cperny MJIHpKTe.

ATHHa CKJIIOQBa Cb103HH p;oroBopa C TpMMaTa

OnpHCKli BJIaAeTemr, nOp;eJIliJIli CM cTapoTo OnpHCKO u;apcTBo.
XpaMbT Ha AnOllOH B ,IJ;eJIq:>H H3naBa p;eKpeT B
qeCT Ha qeTlipHMaTa Cl1HOBe Ha u;ap Kepce6llerrT, cm Ha KOTliC I.

IIoxon Ha AJIeKCaHnbp MaKe,l.J;oHcKI1, CHR Ha

<!>HJIHII II, cperny TpH6aJIHTe H reTHTe.

EYJIT Ha aHTHMaKe,l.J;OHCKaTa KOaJIHD;IDI B TpaKIDI, B KORTO yqaCTBaT CeBT III R MeMHoR,

cTpaTer Ha AJIeKCaH,l.J;bp B TpaKIDl.

PCUKAa ce AJIeKcaHnbp, HapeqeH nO-KbCHO

BellHKH. <!>HJIHII II 3aBllap;51Ba 3JlaTIDITe II cpe6bpHH pynmuJ;M B nJIlliUlHaTa TIaHreR, eKcrrJIOanrpaHH p;OToraBa OT IOr03arra}J,Hl1Te TpaKHHcm nape.

AHTHMaKenOHCKO BbCTaHlie B THBa, rpa,l.J;bT e

pa3pymeH OT AJIeKcaHAbp MaKeAOHCKH.

0:'.0

424

Sitalkes died during or after a battle with the

Thracian Triballoi. Seuthes I ascended the
Odrysian throne.

407-406

The Odrysian kingdom was divided between

king Medokos (Amatokos) and Seuthes II, who
proclaimed himself as independent dynast.

401

i1

On behalf of Athens, Alcibiades concluded a

peace treaty with the two Odrysian kings for
military assistance against the Spartans.

Athens issued a decree in honour of the

Odrysian king Hebryzehnis.

383

King Kotys I ascended the Odrysian throne. In

an inscription he proclaimed himself to be
Apollo's doctrinal son.

359

Meeting between the Odrysian king Kotys I and

the Macedonian king Philip II with the aim of
establishing cooperation. Kotys I was killed by
Athenian insurgents.

357

Athens concluded treaties for alliance with the

three Odrysian rulers who divided the old
Odrysian kingdom among themselves.

356

Apollo's temple in Delphi issued a decree in

honour of the four sons of king Kersebleptes,
son of Kotys I.

341

Philip II invaded Odrysian 'Thrace and captured

some lbracian royal cities, among which also
Kabyle near the present-<iay town of Yambol.

340-339

March of Philip II against the Scythian king

Ateas. On his way back Philip was defeated and
wounded by the Triballoi.

335

March of Alexander of Macedon, son of Philip

II, against the Triballoi and the Getae.

331-330

Rebellion of the anti-Macedonian coalition in

Thrace, in which Seuthes III and Memnon,
strategos of Alexander in lbrace, participated.

Philip II ascended the Macedonian throne to

replace his brother, king Perdikkas, who perished in a battle against the Illyrians.

203

Alexander, later known as Alexander the

Great, was born. Philip II conquered the gold
and the silver mines in the Pangaion Mountain,
which were exploited until then by the southwestern Thracian kings.

Anti-Macedonian uprising in Thebes, the city

was destroyed by Alexander of Macedon.

.'

.....

"

.:".'

'I

7PF

331 or 325

.....

Alexander's strategos in Thrace Zopyrion undertook a march against the Getae, Scythians and
the Greek colony Olbia (near the estuary of the
present-day Bug River in Ukraine), but perished.

:.-.

~
s::
~

~
-.

323

Alexander's strategos Lysimachos ruled over

Eastern Thrace, but clid not penetrate into the
kingdom of the Odrysian ruler Seuthes m.

Alexander of Macedon clied in Babylon.

-.

~
.~

rIJ

313-312

War of Seuthes lIT, the Getae, the Scythians

and the Western Pontic Greek cities against
Lysimachos.

293-292

Lysimachos undertook an attack against the

Getic kingdom of king Dromichaites, he was
captured and freed in exchange for territorial
conceSSIOns.

280-279

Celtic invasion of the Balkan Peninsula. The

Celts established their kingdom in Thrace
with capital Tylis close to Byzantion (modem
Istanbul).

214-213

The Thracians destroyed the Celtic kingdom.

171

The Odrysian king Kotys offered help to

Perseus, son of Philip V of Macedon, in his war
against the Romans.

146
Spartacus, the future leader of the slave uprising
in Italy, was captured.

77-76

Battle between the Thracians-Maidoi and the

Romans along the Strymon river. The Roman
Proconsul of Macedonia, Appius Claudius
Pulcher, was killed.

205

Macedonia was declared Roman province.

88

73

The Roman censor Appius Oaudius started the

construction of Via Appia from Rome to Capua.
The underground water supply system in Rome
was completed and the city obtained running
drinking water.

The slave uprising in Rome, led by Spartacus,

broke out.

72-71 r.

72-

60-59 r.

60-

TIoMITei1 H Kpac 3a BTOpH n'bT CTaBaT KOHcynH

Ha PHM.

55 r.

55

EKCITegIDJ;IDI Ha IOJIH.H" Ue3ap B EpHTaHMJI.

Kpac ITnJItIKOCBa MepycanHMCKIDr xpaM.

54 r.

54

reTCKMJIT qap Eype6HcTa H3B'bpmBa Ha6e3H no

3anaJJ;HOTO nOHTHHCKO Kpail6peJK.He H gOCTHra
go AnonOHHJI TIOHTHKa (gH. rp. C03onon).

55-50 r.

55-

B'bCTaIDIe Ha EeCHTe B TpaKIDl cpe~ PHMnJIHHTe, npegBOJKJ(aHO OT Bonore3, JKPeU Ha AHOHHCOBOTO CBeTIDlUm;e B PogOTIHTe.

15 -13 r.

15-

CTAPIDIT CURT

CJIE,[( XPJ1CTA

AD

rogHHa Ha paJKgaHeTO Ha XpRCTOC, paBHa Ha

753 r. OT OCHOBaBaHeTO Ha PHM. li13tUfCneHa e
npe3 525 r. B PHM OT AHOHllCHH, POgOM OT rp.
TOMIl (gR. KOHCTaHl.(a) HJrn OT ,!J;yPOCTOPYM
(AR. rp. CHnHCTPa).

1 r.

12-13 r.

12-

14 r.

14

15 r.

15

Po6CKaTa apMrnm Ha CnapTaK e pa36HTa OT

MapK JIJID;HHlIH Kpac B ICnKHa lIlTamrn.

"::

to
:t
~

II)

"::

"::
0

YnpamITeJUlT Ha MaKegoHIDI rail OKTaBHH,

6aIIJ;a Ha 6'bgeIIOUJ HMIIepaTOp ABryCT pa36HBa EeCHTe. TIoce~aBa HaH-romIMOTO TpaK:HHCKO CBeTHmm.(e Ha 60r AHOHHC H nonyqaBa npegcKa3aIrne, tIe CHH'bT MY ABryCT m;e Bnagee CBeTa.

oe.

&

cl

Eype6HcTa, .u;ap Ha reTlITe, pa3urnpJIBa .u;apcTBOTO CH.

~
~
~

E-

206

TPAKIDI

YMHpa PeMeTanK. CRH'bT My KOTHC ynpaBnJIBa 3eMRTe IOJKHO OT CTapa nnaHHHa. PHMnJIHHTe npegocTaBJIT ynpaBneHHeTo Ha 3eMHTe
ceBepHo OT CTapa nnaHHHa Ha PacKynop.
YMHpa HMTIepaTOp ABrycT.
YqpegeHa e npOBHHI..Offi MH3HJI (AR. CeBepHa
E'bJIT'apHJI, IOrOH3TOtIHa PyMnHIDI 11 li13Tolffia
C'bp6HJI).

,...-------.....

0:'.

72-71

60-59

55

The slave army of Spartacus was defeated by

Marcus Licinius Crassus in Southern Italy.
The Governor of Macedonia Gaius Octavius,
father of the future Emperor Augustus, defeated the Bessi. He visited the biggest 1bracian
sanctuary of the god Dionysos and received an
oracle that his son Augustus would rule the
world.
Burebistas, king of the Getae, expanded his
kingdom.

54

55-50

The Getic king Burebistas undertook incursions

along the Western Pontic coast and reached all
the way to Apollonia Pontica (present-day town
of Sozopol).
Battle near the city of Philippi between Caesar's
supporters led by Marcus Antonius and
Caesar's adopted son Octavius, and the supporters of the republicans who killed Caesar.

THRACE

12-13

THE ANCIENT WORLD

Year of the birth of Jesus Christ, equivalent
to 753 years after the founding of Rome.
Calculated in 525 AD in Rome by Dionysius,
born in Tomis (modem Constanta) or from
Durostorurn (modem Silistra).

Rhoemetalkes died. His son Kotys ruled over

the lands south of the Balkan Range. The
Romans turned the ruling of the lands north of
the Balkan Range to Rhaskouporis.

14
15

Pompeius and Crassus became consuls of

Rome for the second time.

Expedition of Julius Caesar to Britain.

Crassus plundered the temple in Jerusalem.

15-13

AD

Emperor Augustus died.

The Moesia province (present-day Northern
Bulgaria, Southeastern Romania and Eastern
Serbia) was established.

207

.'

208

KOTHC e y6HT OT PacKYITOp. PeMeTarrK II, CHH'bT Ha PacKynop, IIOJIyqaBa 3eMRTe Ha CeBep
OT CTapa IIJIaHRHa, a .n;eu;aTa Ha y6HTIDI KOTHC
IIonyqanaT 3eMRTe Ha lOr OT CTapa lIJIamma.
Te o6aqe ynpanIDIBaT 3eMRTe CH no.n; oIIeKYHcTBOTO Ha pHMCKR nponpeTop.

19 r./17 r.

IS

AHTHpHMCKO B'bCTaHRe Ha TPaKRifCKRTe lIJIeMeHa O.n;pHCH, .IJ:RR, KoRJIaJIeTH. PeMeTaJIK III

e o6ca.n;eH OT B'bCTaHRu;RTe B'bB <!>RJIRTIonoJI.

21 r.

2]

B'bCTaHRe B Khrna TpaKIDI cperu;y pHMJI.HHHTe

H cpeII.J;y Bacarra HM PeMeTarrK III, KOHTO nOJIyqana u;apcKa THTJIa OT pRMJI.HHHTe.

26 r.

2t

BaCaJIHR.HT Ha PRM TPaKRifcKR uap PeMeTarrK

III e y6HT B ,D;BOPUOB npeBpaT.
CJIe.n; y6HRcTBOTO MY RMTIepaTOp KJIan;r:J;HH
06.HB.HBa TpaKIDI 3a pHMcKa npoBHHU;IDI.

44-45 r.

4~

Boiffia Ha RMTIepaTOp .IJ:oMRUHaH cpenw .IJ:eue6arr, uap Ha .IJ:aKRTe.

86-88 r.

8f

TI'bpBa .IJ:aKRRCKa BORHa Ha HMTIepaTOp TpMH.

101-102 r.

1C

.IJ:eue6arr KaTIHTYJIRpa npe.n; TpMH.

102 r.

1C

BTopa .IJ:aKRifcKa BORHa. TIopIDKeHHe Ha .IJ:aKHTe. .IJ:eue6aJI ce caMoy6RBa. .IJ:aKH.H e 06.HBeHa

3a pRMcKa npOBHHQIDI.

105 -106 r.

1C

J13.n;lITHaTa e TpMHOBaTa KOJIOHa BPHM B qeCT

Ha n06e,D;aTa Ha}]; .IJ:aKHTe.

114 r.

11

CJIe.n; y6HHCTBOTO Ha HMTIepaTOp AJIeKCaH,D;'bp

CeBep 3a RMTIepaTOp e H36paH MaKCHMHH
TpaKReua, y6HT 238 r.

235 r.

2~

Po.n;eH e HMTIepaTOp KOHCTaHTRH.

250 r.

2:

Hax.rrynaHIDI Ha rOTH B .IJ:OJIHa MH3H.H

H TpaKH.H.

"

19/17

Kotys was killed by Rhaskouporis.

Rhoemetalkes II, son of Rhaskouporis,
received the lands to the north of the Balkan
Range, and the children of the killed Kotys
received the lands south of the Balkan Range.
However, they ruled over their lands under the
supervision of the Roman propraetor.

21

Anti-Roman uprising of the Thracian tribes

Odrysae, Dioi and Koilaletai. Rhoemetalkes III
was besieged by the rebels in Philippopolis.

26

Uprising in Southern Thrace against the

Romans and against their vassal Rhoemetalkes
III, who received a royal title from the
Romans.

44-45

Rome's vassal, the Thracian king

Rhoemetalkes III was killed in a court coup.
After his assassination, Emperor Claudius proclaimed Thrace as Roman province.

86-88

War of Emperor Domitian against Decebalus,

king of the Dacians.

101-102

First Dacian War of Emperor Trajan.

102

Decebalus capitulated before Trajan.

105-106

Second Dacian War. Defeat of the Dacians.

Decebalus committed suicide. Dacia was proclaimed Roman province.

.:~.

209

114

Trajan's column erected in Rome in honour of

the victory over the Dacians.

235

After the assassination of Emperor Alexander

Severns, Maximinus Thrax was appointed
Emperor, killed in 238 AD.

250

Incursions of Goths into Moesia Inferior and

Thrace.

Emperor Constantine was born.

'e.
~

IQ
~
~

~
~

Jr1MIIepaTOp ABpeJUIaH M30CTaB51 npoBMHu:mI

)J;aKIDI M eBaK)'llpa .lKMBeeI.IJ;MTe TaM pMMJUIHM
Ha lOr OT p. )J;YHaB. Cb3p;ap;eHM ca 2 HOBM npoBMHU:MM - BbTpeuIHa )J;aKM5I C IleHTbp CepP;MKa (P;H. ComI) M Kpall:6pe2Ima )J;aKIDI C IleHTbp PaIIMapIDI (npM p;H. c. Ap"lJ.ap, CeBep03anap;Ha DbJIrapIDI).

271-272 r.

2'

DM3aHTMoH, nop; MMeTO KOHcTaHTMHOnOJI, e

o651BeH 3a CTOJIHIIa Ha PMMCKaTa MMnepmr.

11 Mall: 330 r.

U:bpKoBeH cb60p B Cepp;MKa, p;H. COIDI, Ha

KOiiTO ce nOCTaB5I Ha"lJ.anOTO Ha pa3p;eJIeHMeTO
MeJK)JJ Jr13TO"lJ.HaTa (6bP;eI.IJ;aTa IIpaBocJIaBHa) M
3anap;HaTa (6bp;eI.IJ;aTa KaTOJIM"lJ.eCKa) IlbpKBa.

343 r.

~
~

&
~
~

~
~

210

~.,

'.

.:"

271-272

11 May 330
343

Emperor Aurelianus abandoned the Dacia

province and evacuated the Romans living
there to the south of the Danube. Two new
provinces were created: Dacia Interior with
Serdica (modem Sofia) as its centre and Dacia
Ripensis with Ratiaria (near the present-day
village of Archar in Northwestern Bulgaria) as
its centre.
Byzantion under the name of Constantinople
was proclaimed capital of the Roman Empire.

Oecumemcal Council in Serdica, marking the

beginning of the division between the Eastern
(future Orthodox) and the Western (future
Catholic) Churches.

211

Ch,il.bP)KAHJtlE

CONTENTS

fIbpBaTa eBponeiicKa
l{l1BHJIll:3aU1U1 / 8

The First European

Civilisation / 8

repoHTe Ha enoca
H Ha MlfTa / 14

The Heroes of the Epic Tradition

and of the Myth / 14

AplfcToKpaTlfTe BOlfHH / 26

The Warrior Aristocrats / 26

CTpaHaTa Ha Mbp;pocTTa / 42

The Land of Wisdom / 42

CBel..l.\eHlfTe MeCTa / 54

The Sacred Places / 54

flo6ep;aTa Ha KpbcTa / 74

The Victory of the Cross / 74

'"

Hacnep;CTBoTo Ha TpaKHTe / 82

The Heritage of the Thracians / 82

flbpBlfTe UHBllnH3al{l1H BEBporra / 84

The First Civilisations in Europe / 84

TpaKHTe Ii TpoJI / 90

Thrace and Troy / 90

'60
~

'C

:t

<::!

~
~

'60
~

1}
~

L(apcKIiTe p;HHaCTHH / 100

The Royal Dynasties / 100

MHcTeplfJI Ha 60rOnOJIBaTa / 136

The Mystery of the Epiphany / 136

KOHHHKbT BeCTHTen / 178

The Herald Horseman / 178

TpaKHJI

If

CTapHJIT CBJIT / 200

6~

I
I
I

212

KparnKa CUHOnrnU'l.Ha rna6AU/fa

EI

T;
<D

Thrace and the Ancient World / 200

Brief Synoptic Table

I
I
I
I
I
I

I
I
I
I

1
j

I
I
I
I
I
I

.,

"

-:t

EH6mIOTeKM 3an rpaHIn.J;a, rrOJIYllaBa~H H3naHIUI Ha

TAHrPA TaHHaKPa OEIUOEbJIrAPCKA
<DOH,1J,Al.U15I no MeJKnyHaponml5I o6MeH Ha HaponHaTa
6M6JIHOTeKa "CB. CB. KnpHJI H MeTonHif", C0<pIUI:
KOHrpeCHa 6H6miOTeKa - BaIl.llmTTOH, CAU.:(
IIy6JIHQHa 6H6JllIOTeKa - HID MOPK, CAU.:(
EH6JllIOTeKa Ha YHHBepcBTeTa Ha .L1Hnl1aHa OJI)'MI1HTTbH,CAIIJ,
oH6JIMOTeKa Ha CTaH<}>OpnCKIDI yHHBepCHTeT CTaH<pOpn, CAIIJ,
oH6JIMOTeKa Ha BanrnHITOHCKIUI ymmepcBTeT CHaTbJI, CAIU
EB6JIHOTeKa Ha MHqHraHCKIDI YHHBepcHTeT AlI Ap6bp, CAIU
KaJIH<pOpHBHCKH yHMBepcBTeT - ObpKJIH, CAU.:(
EH6JIHOTeKa Ha MeHJICKH5I yHBBepcHTeT PreHJI, CAm
EpMTaHCKa 6H6Jll10TeKa - JIOHnOH, BeJIHKo6pRTaIDlSI
oH6Jll10TeKa OOnJIeaHa - OKC<popn, Bemnw6pMTaHRSI
HamrOHaJIHa 6H6Jll10TeKa - IIapIDK, <DpaHll,IDl
PycKa nbp)KaBHa 6R6Jll10TeKa - MOCKBa, pYClI5I
oR6JIMOTeKa 3a qyJKJJ:eCTpaHHa JllITepaTypa MOCKBa, pYCIDI
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HayKH - MOCKBa, PYCHSI
Hal..{HOHaJIHa 6H6JIHOTeKa Ha EeJIapyc - MHHCK,
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HapOUHa HYHMBepCHTeTCKa 6H6Jll10TeKa - CKOIIHe,
MaKeUOHIUI

The libraries abroad with books of TANGRA TanNakRa

All BULGARIAN FOUNDATION are deposited by the
St. Cyril and St Methodius National Library, Sofia:

Library of Congress, Washington DC

Public Library, New York
Library of the University of Indiana, Bloomington
Library of the Stanford University, Stanford
Library of the Washington University, Seattle
Library of the Michigan University, Ann Arbor
The University of California, Barkley
The Library of Yale University, Yale
The British Library, London
The Bodleana Library, Oxford
The National Library, Paris
The Russian State Library, Moscow
The Library for Foreign Literature, Moscow
Institute for Sciences Information in Public Sciences,
Mo cow
National Library of Belarus, Minsk
Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kiev
National Library Warsaw
National Library, Prague
National Library, Bucharest
National Library, Belgrade
National and University Library, Skopje

213

IIpo~. A.H.H.

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AnEKCAH,n:'hP HJ1KOnAEB <!>on

Professor Dr. Sc.

03.07.1933 - 01.03.2006

03.07.1933 - 01.03.2006

J13cAeooeameACKa o6Aacm
Research activities

IiICTOpIDl Ha cTapIDl CBSIT H Ha IOroH3Totrna EBporra

npe3 ApeBRoCTTa; HHnoeBponeHcTHKa H TpaKOJIOIWI'
UCTOPIDI Ha CTaporpbUJ{aTa H Ha TpaxlfHcKaTa K)'nrypa.

History of the Old World and of Southeastern Europe during the Antiquity; Indo-European studies and Thracology;
history of the ancient Greek and Thracian cultures.

CtyJlCe6Ho nOAOJlCeHlle
Official position

npoq,ecop no CTapa HCTOpIDI HTPaxOJIOrIfH - HOB

6bJIrapCKH YHHBepcJ.fTeT, COq,IDl (1999); npoq,ecop no
IICTOpIDl Ha aHTII<rnaTa II Ha 6bJIrapCKaTa KyJIrypa
(qaCT I, APeBHocT) BbB cIhmocoq,cKJUI. q,axyJITeT Ha CY
,CB. Kn. OxpHnClGl." (1991); AHpeKTOp-ocHOBaTeJI Ha
IiIHcTwryra 110 TpaKOJIOfIDI K'bM BAH (1972-1992); reHepaJIeH CeKpeTap Ha Me)KA)'HapOAHHJi COBeT no HHJJ,OeBpOl1eHCKM HTpaKOnO)KKH H3CJIermaHHH; PbKOBOAJ1Ten
Ha KaTenpaTa no cTapa HCTOpIDl H TpaKOnOrHH KbM
IiICTOpll'leCKH q,aK)'nTeT Ha CY "CB. Kn. OXpHACKH"
(1979-1987); MHHHCTbP Ha npOCBeTaTa (1980-1986);
nbpBH 3aM.-MJolHHCTbP Ha KyJITypaTa (1974-1980).

Professor of Ancient History and Thracology - ew

Bulgarian University Sofia (1999)' Professor of History of
Ancient and Bulgarian Culture (Part J Antiquity) at the
Department of Philosophy of the St. Kliment Ohridski
University of Sofia (1991); Director and founder of the
Institute of Thracology of the Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences (1972-1992); Secretary General of the International
Council of Indo-European and Thracian Studies; Head of
the Chair of Ancient History and Thracology at the
Department of History of the St. Kliment Ohridski
University of Sofia (1979-1987); Minister of Education
(1980-1986); First Deputy-Minister of Culture (1974-1980).

HocHTeJJ Ha opneHa "CB.CB. KHpI1J] H. MeTogRii" I CTeneR; KaBanep Ha 0pAeHa 3a H3KYCTBa 11 HaYKH Ha npaBlITeJJCTBOTO Ha <DpaHUIDI (1998) (Officier de J'ordre
des Arts et de Lettres - Paris); HOCI1Ten Ha Haif-BHcoKOTO OTJJHllHe Ha CY , CB. Kn. OXp1-lJJ,CKH' - ITOqeTeH
3HaK C06pa3a Ha CB. KRpmI CbC CIDUl JIeHTa (2000 r.);
rrOlIeTeH npoq,ecop Ha HEY (2003 r.); qneH-KopecrrOHAeHT fla fepMaHcKIDl apXeOnOfJIqeCKH KHCTHTyT BEepmrn (1975 r.); qneH-KOpeCnOHJl,eHT Ha JOrocnaBCKaTa
aKaJl,eMlfH Ha HaYKHTe 1-1 113KycTBaTa - Benrpan. (1991
r.); lIJIeH Ha EBporreHcKoTo 06llJ,eCTBO 3a KynTypa - BeHeIJ:IDl (1992 r.); lIneH Ha AMepl1KaHCKHH 6Horpaq,HqeH
l1HCTl1TYT - PeHnH (1996 r.); nOlfeTeH tIneH Ha pyMbHCKFHI IiIHCTHTyT rIO TpaKOJIOrHH - BYKypell\ (1998 r.);
qJIeH Ha enHa 0'1' HaH-cTapHTe aKaneMl1Jf BEBporra
, ITaii6mn( - Eepmrn (2002 r.); opAeff "CTapa ITnaHHHa" I CTeneH (2003 r.).

St. St Cyril and Methodius Order, First Degree; Officier

de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres - Paris, 1998' the highest
distinction of the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia
- honorary plaquette with the image of St. Cyril with hlue
ribbon (2000); Honorary Professor of the ew Bulgarian
University (2003); Corresponding Memher of the German
Archaeologicallnslitute in Berlin (1975); Corresponding
Member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and the
Arts - Belgrade (1991); Member of the European Society
for Culture - Venice (1992); Member of the American
Biographical Institute - Raleigh (1996); Honorary Member
of the Romania Institute of Thracology - Bucharest (1998
r.); Member of one of the oldest academies in EuropeLeibniz - in Berlin (2002); Stara Planina Medal, First
Degree (2003).

fOCT-npoq,ecop ByIHffiepCHTeTIl (AHrJJIDI CAUL PyCIDI,

fepMaHIDl, 5I.nOHIDI fbpUID!, IilBeIIIDl, IiITamUJ, <DpaHUIDI, YHrapIDI Hnp.); HIDllJ,HaTOp HcoopraHH3aTop Ha
Me)K.IJ:yHapoAliliTe KOlITpecH no TPaKOJIOrIDl 0'1' 1972 Jl,0
2004 f. (Coq,IDI, EYKYPe~, BHeHa, POTepAaM, MocKBa,
naJIMa Ae Maii:opKa, COq,HH, KmmmeB); HHHJI;Harop H
HayqeH opraHluaTOp Ha Haql'lomunnUl HCTopMlIecKH
My3eH - COq,IDl (OT 1974); IDmI.I,HaTOp HHayqeH opraHH3aTop Ha Haql'lORaJIHaTa fHMHa3H.H 3a npeBHH e3HIII'l H
KyJJTypH - COq,HH (0'1' 1973); HHHIJ:HaTOp HHayqeH opraHH3aTop Ha UeHTbpa 3a MopcKa HCTOpHH 11 IlOABOAHa
apXeOJIOrHH - C03onon, OT 1978 r.; IDfHUHaTop Ha Cb3AaBaHeTO Ha HaytlHHH HHCTHTYT KbM 6bJITapCKHH KynTYPeH JJ,OM "Bl1TreHI.J.J.aRH" - BHeHa; OpraHH3aTOp Ha 113nO){(6aTa "TpaKHHCKMTe CbKpoBlllUa' OT 1974 f. HacaM.

Visiting professor in various universities in the UK USA,

Russia, Germany Japan Greece Sweden, Italy, France,
Hungary etc.' initiator and cO-{)fganiser of the
International Congresses of Thracology from 1972 until
2004 (Sofia, Bucharest., Vienna, Rotterdam, Moscow,
Palma de Mallorca Sofia, Chisinau); initiator and scientific
organiser of the National Museum of History - Sofia (since
1974); initiator and scientific organiser of the National
High School for Ancient Languages and Cultures - Sofia
(since 1973); initiator and scientific organiser of the Centre
for Marine History and Underwater Archaeology in
Sozopol since 1978; initiator of the establishing of the
Research Institute at the Wittgenstein Bulgarian Culture
Centre in Vienna; organiser of the Thracian Treasures
exhihitions since 1974.

ARTOp Ha IIOBeqe OT 430 ny6J1HKaulHl, 0'1' KOHTO 15 MOHorpaq,Hl1 BbPXY TpaJrni.icKaTa nOJUlTHlIeCKa If COUJ1aJIHa HCTOpHH peJIHrIDI II KYJITypa.
nbJIHa 6116nuorpaq,HH BThracia XV. 11HCTIITyT no
TPaKOJIOrHH. BAH. COq,IDI, 2003.

Author of more than 430 publications, 15 of which monographs on the Thracian political and social history, religion
and culture.
Complete bibliography in Thracia XV. Institute of
Thracology. Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Sofia. 2003.

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ALEXANDER NIKOLAEV FOL

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3aB'bpUlHJIa <!>aKyJITeTa no HCTOpIDI BCoq,JlliCKIDI YHHBepCHTeT CbC Cnel.(HaJIHOCT CTapa Mcpe,UHOBeKOBHa MCTOpIDI
MBTopa CneI.(11aJIHOCT <!>HJIOCOepIDI (1976); PhD no M3KyCTB03HaHMe -ltIHCTMTYT no 113KYCTB03HaHMe - EAH (1986);
CTapurn HaytIeH CbTPY,UHl1K BCeKI.\IDI J1CTOpIDI Ha J1:HCTIiTYTa no TpaKOJIOrIDI - EAH (1994); p,OKTOp Ha
HCTOpHtIeCKHTe Hayrrn:; nOI.(eHT BHOB 6'bJIfapcKH YHHBepCHTeT - CoepHH, ,!J;enapTaMeHT J13T01filli 11 Cpep,113eMHOMOpCKH 113CJIenBaHIDI 11 BCneI.(HaJIM3HpaHO BHcwe ytIl1JIHme 3a 6M6JII1OTeK03HaHMe 11 mIq,opMaIJ;HOHHl1 TeXHOJIOfHH
- Coq>IDl, cnelUiaJIHOCT KyJJ1)'pHO HaCJIenCTBo.
AHTl1tIHa I1CTOpIDl, KyJITYpa HpeJIl1fIDI Ha eBponeikKIDI
lOr0113TOK (fbPI{IDl 11 TpaKIDl) Ii Cpe,[{H3eMHOMOpHeTO,
TpaKOJIOnUl, npHeMCTBeHOCT Ii KOHTHHyHTeT BEBponeHcKaTa KYJIrypa MeJKnY aHTIItIHOCTIa 11 CJIe)lBanViTe
HCTOpIi1.JeClGi enoXH, J1CTOpHtIeCKa eTHOJI0rIDI.
CT. H. C. no AHTl11.JHa HCTOpIDl HKynrypa BceKl(IDl J1cTOpIDI - J1HCTHTY'I'a no TpaKOJIOnUl, EAH; AoneHT B
HEY - ,!J;enapTaMeHT J13TOtIHH HcperoneMHOMOpCKI1
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J1CTOPIDI Ha EJIap,a HJ13TOlffiOTO Cpep;H3eMHOMOpHe;

J1CTOPIDl Ha E'bJIrapcKlITe 3eMll BLqJeBHOCTIa; MCTOpHH HnOBep;eHtIeCKH MOp;eJIH; Opq,HlleCKa TpaKIDI; ETHOCHa KYJJTYpa H06pe,UHOCT; ,!J;peBHHTe CBeTHJIHU\a Ha
lOroH3TotIHa EBpona; J1cTOpHtIeCKa eTROJIOrHfI; OcHOBHH rrOIDITIDI BKyJITOpOJIOnUlTa. HaY1.leH pbKOBOAHTen Ha Ebnrapo-rypcKH JIeTeH ymmepcHTeT "CTpaHp;:>Ka - MOCT Ha I.(HBHJIH3aI.(HH J13TOK - 3anan;".

VALERIA FOL
Associate Professor, Dr. Sc.

Graduated History at the St. Kliment Ohridski

University of Sofia, M.A. in Ancient and Mediaeval
History, with second major in Philosophy (1976); PhD in
Art History - Institute of Art History of the Bulgarian
Academy of Sciences (1986); Senior Research Associate
at the History Department of the Institute of Thracology
- Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1994); Dr. Sc.(2006);
Associate Professor at the New Bulgarian University in
Sofia, Department of Eastern and Mediterranean Studies
and at the Specialised Higher Institute in Library Science
and Information Technologie in Sofia, specialising in
Cultural Heritage.
Ancient history, culture and religion of Southeastern
Europe (Greece and Thrace) and the Mediterranean
region, Thracology Continuity in European culture
between the Antiquity and the ub equent historical periods, Historical Ethnology.
Senior Research Associate in Ancient History and Culture
at the History Department of the Institute of Thracology,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Associate Professor at the
ew Bulgarian University - Department of Eastern and
Mediterranean Studies and at the Higher Institute in
Library Science and IT in SofLa.
History of Hellas and the Eastern Mediterranean; History of
the Bulgarian Lands dwing the Antiquity; History and
Behavioural Models; Orphic Thrace; Ethnic Culture and
Rituals; Ancient Sanctuaries of Southeastern Europe;
Historical Ethnology; Basic Concepts in Culturology.
Scientific leader of the Bulgarian-Turkish Summer
University: Strandja - Bridge of East-West Civilisations.

ARTOp Ha 6 MOHorpaq,I1H BbPXY TpalGiikKaTa KyJITypa,

paHHaTa TpaKHHcKa 06pe)lHOCT, CKaJIHHTe HMeramlTHI1
naMeTHHI.(11 BTpaKH5I, aHTHtIHMTe peJIHKTM BbB <pOJIKJIOpHI1Te KyJITypll Ha lOroH3TollHa EBpona, Ha nOBelle
OT 130 CTYAI-ll1, CTanHl: II nOKJIa,U11 Ha Me:>KAYHapo,UIDI
KOHepepeHI.\HM, KOHrpeCH II ceMliHapll Ha 6bJIrapCKH,
aHrJIllikKll, eppeHcKH, HeMCKH e3HUH; cueHapHcT 11 KOHcyJITaHT Ha TeJIeBH3HOHIDI HaY1.lHonorryJI5IpHH epMJIMH M
TeaTpanHH crreKTaKJIH; aBTop Ha KOHUeIID,IDi HHaytIeH
pbKOBO,UHTeJI Ha H3JIO)K6n; pbKOBo,UMTen II YllaCTHMK B
6bJlrapCKH 11 Me)l{,[l,YHapo,UHM rrpoeKTR BbPXY pa3JIRtIHM
acrreKTFf Ha KYJIrypHO-HCTOpJ1'leCKOTO HaCJIeACTBo. PbKOBO,[{HTeJI Ha Me)K,Uj'Hapo,UeH npoeKT "Les sanctua.i.re
rupestres de Thraces et d'autres peuples sud-e t
europeen et anatoliens al'Antiquite", epHHaBcHpaH OT
IOHECKO: www.rock-cut.thracians.org

Author of six monographs on Thracian culture, early

Thracian rituals, rock and megalithic monuments in
Thrace, ancient relicts in the folklore cultures of
Southeastern Europe, as well as more than 130 studies,
articles and reports at international conferences, congresses and seminars in Bulgarian, English, French and
Gennan; screenplay writer and consultant for TV popular fIlms and theatre shows; author of concepts and scientific leader of exhibitions; leader and participant in
Bulgarian and international projects on various aspects
of the cultural and historical heritage. Leader of international project: Les sancluaires rupeslres des Thraces el
d'autres peuples sud-esl europeens el anatoliens a
I'Antiquile, financed by UNESCO:
www.rock-cut.thracians.org

J1HCTHTYT no TpaKOJIOnUl: llpo. AJleKCaHOop (/>0.1.",

yJI. "MocKoBcKa' M 13, 1000 CO<pIDI, EbJIrapIDl,
Ten.: (+ 359. 2) 9 1 5853;
<paKc: (+359.2) 988 15 59; 971 31 97
valeriafol@gmail.com

Professor Alexander Fal Institute of Thracology

13, Moskovska Street, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel.: (+359. 2) 981 58 53;
Fax: (+359.2) 988 15 59; 971 31 97
valeriafol@gmail.com

KoB. KOH e BEbJJrapIDI - H3,U. 1998. Thacia XIV. B

lleCT Ha 30-ronammmaTa Ha lIIHCTHTYTa no TpaKOJIOrID! npn EAH. lilHCTRT}'T IIO TpaKOJIOrIDl. CO<pIDI, 2002.

Who Is Who in Bulgaria - ed. 1998. Thracia XlV. In

Honour of the 3()'h Anniversary of the I:nstitute of Thraco-logy of the BAS. Institute of Thracology. Sofia. 2002.

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Education and titles

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215

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