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Máscara de oro de un rey tracio

Archeologists have discovered a 2,400-year-old golden mask that was likely made for a Thracian monarch's funeral. The mask depicts a full face with moustache and beard. The rare artifact is made of 600 grams of solid gold and "is without paragon in archeology," according to Georgi Kitov and his team that unearthed the find in the summer of 2004 near the village of Shipka, in the so-called Valley of Thracian Kings. The mask may belong to King Seutus III, the Thracian  king who ruled in the fifth century BC. Besides the mask, archeologists also found a golden ring showing a rower, and many bronze and silver vessels. No remains have been found but archeologists continue to excavate the tomb.

Tesoro de Panagyurishte

While digging for clay for brick-making near the town of Panagyurishte in Sredna Gora mountain of central Bulgaria, a team of workmen came upon what was obviously an important treasure. When finally unearthed, it was found to consist of a phial  and eight rhytons, one shaped like an amphora and the others like heads of women or animals. Dated to the turn of the fourth and third century BC, the find was sensational, not only for its weight in gold - over 6 kg, but also for the originality of its forms. 

Tesoro de Rogozen

The Rogozen treasure, called the find of the century, was also discovered by chance. In this case the finder was a tractor driver, who in the autumn of 1985 was digging a trench in his garden when he discovered a collection of sixty-five silver receptacles. On January 6, 1986, in a second trench near the first one, a hundred more receptacles were found by the archaeologists of the local museum. The treasure consists of hundred and eight phials, fifty-four jugs and three goblets. All the objects are silver and some with a golden gilt. Their total weight is twenty kilograms.
The ornamentation, embossed in relief, is different in every case. This variety of motifs and decorative elements makes the Rogozen Treasure an invaluable source of information for the fifth and fourth centuries, BC.Several of these pieces seem to had been imported, but most were made in Thracia. 

Tesoro de Vulchitrun

The treasure was discovered by accident on 18 December 1924 by two brothers who were deep-ploughing their field four kilometers from the village of Vulchitran, Pleven district. The ploughmen stumbled across 13 gold objects at a depth of about 40-cm. It consists of 13 vessels - a large, deep vessel with two handles, one big and three small cups with one handle each, two big and five smaller discs. All items are made of solid gold, the total weight is 12.425 kg. The vessels were used in cult ceremonies. This treasure is the most remarkable example of the art of the Later Bronze Age in Thracia (XIII-XII c. BC).

Necrópolis   Calcolítica de Varna

The Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis which experts qualify as
"the world's oldest gold" and  a trace of "Europe's most ancient civilization" was a sensational discovery. It is situated about 500m to the north of Lake Varna and about 4 km to the west of the downtown. In 294 graves were discovered more than 3000 golden objects dating back 6000 years. In Hall 6 of Varna Museum of History is exhibited the whole inventory from some of the most significant graves. On both sides of the entrance are represented the graves with masks of human faces shaped out on spot and appliquéd with gold plates. The rich variety of funeral utensils going along with the dead is best illustrated by two of the symbolic graves / No 4 and No 36/. In grave No 4 have been found two unique vessels where the typical for the time decoration of strongly stylized geometrical symbols is fulfilled in golden paint.

Tesoro de Borovo

At the end of December 1974 another treasure, dated from the first half of the fourth century BC, came to light at Borovo. It consists of luxurious five-vessel drinking set. Three of them are rhytons ending in the protomes of a horse, a bull, and a sphinx. The fourth is a large two-handled bowl in the center of which a deer attacked by a griffin is depicted in relief. The fifth is a richly ornamented silver jugglet, with two bands in relief depicting scenes connected with the cult of Dionysus. On the upper frieze the god is tearing animals to pieces, and chasing satyrs or being chased by them. We can see Dionysus with Ariadne, standing out in a poetic dream. On the lower part the god marries Ariadne, who unbinds her belt The treasure bears an inscription in Greek letters with the name of the Thracian King Kotys I who reigned the Odryssaean Kingdom from 383 to 359 BC and that of the craftsman Etbeos.

                   Tesoro de Loukovit

The treasure of Loukovit must have been buried in the period of the Macedonian rule in Thrace, perhaps during the reign of Alexander the Great, when he was crossing the lands of the Tribally. It was dated to the second half of the fourth century BC. The treasure consists of three small pitchers, nine phials and a large number of silver appliqués, decorated with animal motifs and figures of horsemen. On two of them a lion with gilded mane attacks a stag whose legs are folded under the body. The artifacts are the work of different craftsmen which shows that it was brought together gradually and also proves the rich artistic life in the northern Thracian lands in the fourth century BC.

 Tesoro de Vratsa , de la colina de  Mogilanska

The treasure of Vratsa from the Mogilanska mound comprised three tombs which were yielded , during 1965-66 excavations in the heart of the city. Two were plundered back in antiquity, and the third contained a funeral of a man and a woman, one of the richest to be discovered in Thrace. There are several striking artifacts among the multitude of gold and silver objects intended to serve the deceased in the next life. A silver cone-shaped pitcher suggests that the dead were initiated into the Dionysian cult, since the cone was a symbol of Dionysus. The gold laurel wreath and earrings show remarkable sophistication and craftsmanship. The gold pitcher is interesting with its handle fashioned like a Herculean knot which is right over the plume-ornamented bodies of the two chariots drawn by four horses each. Since the chariot is always a symbol of the sun god, many scholars believe that the chariot driver is Apollo - the principle god of the Tribally. Here a unique knee-piece with a female head figure was found. Knee-pieces were part of ancient warriors' protective armor and were intended to protect legs. A perfectly symmetrical, framed by an intricate coiffure and crowned with a gilded ivy wreath human face covers the kneecap. There are bird-shaped earrings, with two serpents outlining the face in the background. In the lower part, their bodies blend into those of roaring lions, whose heads lock right under the chin. Another two serpents on the knee-piece have promotes that blend into griffin lions.

  Tesoro de  Letnitsa

Letnitsa treasure dates back to 400 - 350 BC. It was found in a bronze vessel and like many treasures was an accidental discovery. It consists of a bit, a headstall and small pierced silver plaques, part of harness. Each appliqués has a ring on its back, through which the strap fastening is passed. 

What is new about this treasure are the twenty-four square or rectangular scenes of mythology or of everyday life. For the first time in these appliqués a human figure is used for a horse trappings adornment. According to the depicted subject the appliqués may be divided into two groups: appliqués representing a fight between animals and others with mythological scenes.

THRACE - THE OLDEST CIVILIZATION
 

The oldest crafted gold in the history of mankind (Varna Necropolis, 6th - 5th millenia BC), as well as the Thracian gold treasures which conquered the world, were discovered in the Bulgarian lands!. . .

THRACIAN TREASURES
 

Nudo de Hércules, nudo mágico

SOME OF THE THRACIANS' WINE GOBLETS FROM MORE THAN 25 CENTURIES.
 

             La diosa tracia Bendis

Vulchitrun Treasure
The treasure was discovered by accident on 18
December 1924 by two brothers who were
deep-ploughing their field four kilometers from
the village of Vulchitran, Pleven district.  The
ploughmen stumbled across 13 gold objects at a
depth of about 40-cm.  It consists of 13 vessels - a
large, deep vessel with two handles, one big and
three small cups with one handle each, two big
and five smaller discs. All items are made of solid
gold, the total weight is 12.425 kg.  The vessels
were used in cult ceremonies. This treasure is
the most remarkable example of the art of the
Later Bronze Age in Thrace (13-12 c. BC).
 

Panagyurishte Treasure
September 8th, 1949 three
brothers while digging for
clay for brick-making near
the town of Panagyurishte in
Sredna Gora Mountain of
central Bulgaria, came upon
what was obviously an
important treasure.  Dated to
the turn of the fourth and
third century BC, the find
was sensational, not only for
its weight in gold - over 6 kg,
but also for the originality of
its forms.  It consists of 9
golden vessels and
represents a wine drinking
set: seven rhytons - three
with the form of an animal
head, three with the form of
an Amazon, one with the
form of a fore-part of a goat,
one amphora-rhyton and one
phial.
 

Rogozen Treasure
The Rogozen treasure, called the
find of the century, was also
discovered by chance.  In this
case the finder was a tractor
driver, who in the autumn of 1985
was digging a trench in his garden
when he discovered a collection
of sixty-five silver receptacles.  On
January 6, 1986, in a second trench
near the first one, a hundred more
receptacles were found by the
archaeologists of the local
museum.  The treasure consists of
hundred and eight phials, fifty-four
jugs and three goblets.  All the
objects are silver and some with
golden gilt.  Their total weight is
twenty kilograms.  The
ornamentation, embossed in relief,
is different in every case.  This
variety of motifs and decorative
elements makes the Rogozen
Treasure an invaluable source of
information for the fifth and fourth
centuries, BC.  
 

La Potnia Theron o "Señora de los animales"

Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis
The Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis which experts
qualify as  "the world's oldest gold" and  a trace
of "Europe's most ancient civilization" was a
sensational discovery. It is situated about 500m
to the north of Lake Varna and about 4 km to the
west of the downtown.  In 294 graves were
discovered more than 3000 golden objects dating
back 6000 years. In Hall 6 of Varna Museum of
History is exhibited the whole inventory from
some of the most significant graves.  On both
sides of the entrance are represented the
graves with masks of human faces shaped out on
spot and appliquéd with gold plates.  The rich
variety of funeral utensils going along with the
dead is best illustrated by two of the symbolic
graves / No 4 and No 36/. In grave No 4 have
been found two unique vessels where the typical
for the time decoration of strongly stylized
geometrical symbols is fulfilled in golden paint.
 

Borovo Treasure
At the end of December 1974 another
treasure, dated from the first half of the
fourth century BC, came to light at Borovo.  It
consists of luxurious five-vessel drinking set.
 Three of them are rhytons ending in the
protomes of a horse, a bull, and a sphinx.  The
fourth is a large two-handled bowl in the
center of which a deer attacked by a griffin is
depicted in relief.  The fifth is richly
ornamented silver juggled, with two bands in
relief depicting scenes connected with the
cult of Dionysus.  On the upper frieze the god
is tearing animals to pieces, and chasing
satyrs or being chased by them.  We can see
Dionysus with Ariadne, standing out in a
poetic dream.  On the lower part the god
marries Ariadne, who unbinds her belt the
treasure bears an inscription in Greek letters
with the name of the Thracian King Kotys I
who reined the Odryssaean Kingdom from 383
to 359 BC and that of the craftsman Etbeos.
 

                                                         Vaso del tesoro de Borovo

Loukovit Treasure
The treasure of Loukovit must have
been buried in the period of the
Macedonian rule in Thrace,
perhaps during the reign of
Alexander the Great, when he was
crossing the lands of the Tribally.  It
was dated to the second half of the
fourth century BC.  The treasure
consists of three small pitchers,
nine phials and a large number of
silver appliqués, decorated with
animal motifs and figures of
horsemen.  On two of them a lion
with gilded mane attacks a stag
whose legs are folded under the
body.  The artifacts are the work of
different craftsmen which shows
that it was brought together
gradually and also proves the rich
artistic life in the northern Thracian
lands in the fourth century BC.
 

Vratsa Treasure from Mogilanska Mound
The treasure of Vratsa from the Mogilanska mound
comprised three tombs which were yielded, during 1965-66
excavations in the heart of the city.  Two were plundered
back in antiquity, and the third contained a funeral of a man
and a woman, one of the richest to be discovered in Thrace.   
There are several striking artifacts among the multitude of
gold and silver objects intended to serve the deceased in
the next life.  A silver cone-shaped pitcher suggests that the
dead were initiated into the Dionysian cult, since the cone
was a symbol of Dionysus.  The gold laurel wreath and
earrings show remarkable sophistication and craftsmanship.
The gold pitcher is interesting with its handle fashioned like
a Herculean knot which is right over the plume-ornamented
bodies of the two chariots drawn by four horses each. Since
the chariot is always a symbol of the sun god, many scholars
believe that the chariot driver is Apollo - the principle god of
the Tribally.  Here a unique knee-piece with a female head
figure was found. Knee-pieces were part of ancient warriors'
protective armor and were intended to protect legs.  A
perfectly symmetrical, framed by an intricate coiffure and
crowned with a gilded ivy wreath human face covers the
kneecap.  There are bird-shaped earrings, with two serpents
outlining the face in the background.  In the lower part, their
bodies blend into those of roaring lions, whose heads lock
right under the chin. Another two serpents on the
knee-piece have promotes that blend into griffin lions.   
 

A golden wreath from a burial
mound (of a Thracian princess)
near the town of Vratsa (first half
of the 4th  c. BC).  Regional
Museum of History - Vratsa  
 

                                                       Hierogamia

Letnitsa Treasure
Letnitsa treasure dates
back to 400 - 350 BC. It
was found in a bronze
vessel and like many
treasures was an
accidental discovery.  It
consists of a bit, a
headstall and small
pierced silver plaques,
part of harness.  Each
appliqués has a ring on
its back, through which
the strap fastening is
passed.
What are new about this
treasure are the
twenty-four square or
rectangular scenes of
mythology or of everyday
life.  For the first time in
these appliqués a human
figure is used for a horse
trappings adornment.  
According to the
depicted subject the
appliqués may be divided
into two groups:
appliqués representing a
fight between animals
and others with
mythological scenes.
 

Mask Found in Bulgaria in August 2004
2500-year-old gold mask of a Thracian king,
buried in the second half of 5th c. B.C., was found
by the archaeologist, Ass.Prof.  Georgi Kitov, in
the Valley of Kings near the town of Kazanluk.  
The mask is made by massive gold and weighs
690 gr.
The masks discovered in ancient Mycenae are
very thin and no more than 40-50 grams in
weight, and the Bulgarian find is 23-carat gold
and weighs 694 grams, Dr. Georgy Kitov says.  In
order to be sure that this is a mask of Teres,
Sitalk's father, the archaeologists will compare
the golden mask with the image of the legendary
Odryssian king within a week term.  Except for
the mask the archaeologists found a massive
golden ring. Its weight is 15 gr.  A bronze
breastplate is among the finds, too.