Bulgarian Treasures

Bulgarian Treasures

The Panagyurishte Treasure

The Panagyurishte Treasure is a Thracian treasure from the end of 4th-the beginning of the 3rd century BC. It was found in 1949, two kilometers away from Panagyurishte. The treasure consists of a beautiful golden service with amazing decoration. It was used for feasts or secret rituals, part of the Thracian mythology. There are nine objects made of pure gold with combined weight more than 6 kg. Four of the rhytons are made as heads or the front part of an animal’s body(ram, goat and 2 deers). On top of the rhytons are portrayed mythological scenes and heroes from the ancient Greek history. One of them features the wedding of the god  Dionys and princess Adriadna. Three of the objects are pitchers in the form of the head of the Amazon. The handles of these pitchers are made as centaur - a mythological animal with the head of a human and the body of a horse.

Master workmanship also has the object with the form of a baking dish. On top of it  four circles are engraved ,  each with 24 ornaments on it. The ornaments are getting smaller from the edge toward the centre. Most interesting in shape and decoration is the big amphora-like object. It’s handles are made as two battling centaurs. It also features the little Hercules fighting with the snake. Again there are magnificent mythological scenes all over the treasure.

The Panagyurishte Treasure has enormous importance for studying of the Thracians, their lives, their connections with other populations and their believes. The treasure is a priceless and beautiful witness of the ancient world.

The Letnitsa Treasure

In 1963 shepherds from Letnitsa decided to make themselves a new cabin. They started digging and on 50-60 meters depth they hit something. It turned out to be a bronze container. When they took it out they found silver objects in it. Most of them had gold backing. After a scientific investigation it was proved that the treasure was a Thracian trestle from the 4th century BC. 23 silver-gold objects! A few different workmanships could be seen. There were real and mythical animals portrayed. The horse, symbol for the sun among the Thracians, had been worshiped when the treasure had been made.

The discovery clearly shows that the objects were a possession of a rich man from the time of Kotis I(4th century BC). The Letnitsa’s treasure is one of the most important examples of the Thracian mastery and its finding was a huge contribution to the studying of the Thracian culture.

The silver blocks with gold backing are unique not only for the Thracian’s land but for whole Europe. They’re with different shape and portray different mythical scenes. One of the main scenes is the marriage of the Thracian master with the Earth Goddess. The Letnitsa’s treasure can be seen in the National archaeological museum.