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There are thousands of Thracian tumuli in the Bulgarian lands. However, the area around Kazanluk features very prominently among them, having deserved the name
“The Valley of the Kings”. The tombs there are dated to the 5th – 4th century BC, and – similar to the
Starosel – they demonstrate the flourishing of the Odrysian state.
A tomb with
remarkable frescoes The Invention of Lying download was discovered near Kazanluk in the first half of the 20th century. The deceased Thracian king and his wife are depicted in the best style of Hellenistic art, sitting at their last dinner table on which abundant dishes have been served. Male and female slaves are serving wine and more dishes, and a young man is leading the horses of the chariot that is to take the ruler to the world beyond. In a separate frieze, other charioteers are competing in honour of their deceased king.
Several
magnificent sepulcher constructions were discovered between the villages of
Shipka and Sheynovo in the 1990s, the most interesting among them being the one in Ostrousha. The facade was initially visible and jutted in front of the piled tumular embankment. The original characteristic of that mausoleum is that it was hewn like an ancient temple out of only one enormous stone block. A roof with pediments from south and from north was shaped, the interior is decorated with frescoes that are badly damaged today. Nevertheless, it is possible to discern the splendid image of a woman, which gives an idea about the artist’s talent. The tumul have yielded many finds: bone sceptres of priests, massive gold rings and necklaces, silver and bronze vessels.
In the summer of 2004, archaeologists discovered the
largest known tomb, which they identified as the mausoleum of the king who built the capital city of
Seuthopolis, Seuthes III (330-301 BC). The gold wreath of the ruler and other gold objects were found in it. And an incredible bronze male head, interpreted as the
portrait of Seuthes III himself
, was found only a few feet in front of the entrance of the tomb. According to the unanimous opinion of experts, the statue was made for a live model and was the work of one of the great ancient Greek artists in the 4th century BC. Another tumulus, not far from the one of Seuthes III, was found, in which there was an unplundered grave containing the king’s untouched bronze armour, Greek pottery with exquisite ornamentation and numerous objects made of precious metals. However, the gem among these finds is the funerary mask of solid gold weighing almost 700 grams. The realistic features of the depicted dynast again brilliantly illustrate the skills of the ancient artists.
Similar Topics from Ancient Bulgaria Archive
»
The Ferscoes at the Thracian tomb near Kazanlak - mural paintings by the Thracian painter Kodzimasis?»
The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak Introduction»
The 2400 year old Golden Mask of Thracian king found by Georgi Kitov»
Odrysian kingdom»
Ancient Thracian city of Seuthopolis
