Unique coin with the face of the Rome’s emperor Caracalla and Orpheus at the other side holding tunic is one of the hottest topic, because of the fact that she confirm the theory that Orpheus is Bulgarian. He is standing on caves that are symbolizing the Rhodopes and is performing with lyre, propped up on his left knee. This coin has been found by treasure-hunter 18 years ago, but subsequently has been redempted by famous businessman, who gave it to Nikolai Ovcharov’s archaeological expedition, that is working up on the studies at the Thracian settlement near the village of Tatul. As Nikolai Ovcharov says, this bronze coin confirm that Orpheus has Bulgarian and not Greek provenance. The fact that this coin has been mint at Philipopolis (nowadays Plovdiv) is proof that till the Roman epoch Orpheus has been one of the divinities of the city and the near centers in the eastern Rhodopes. There is only one coin like this. The rare copies are from the time of emperors Antoninus Pius, Geta and Caracalla. At these from Pii and Geta, Orpheus is surrounded from listening to his music animals, when at the coins from Caracalla the musician is siting on cave, symbolizing the Rhodopes.
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Two other important Thracian megalithic sanctuaries have been discovered near the rock city of Perperikon. On of them is the temple of the Great Goddess-Mother, located high in the mountains. This is natural horizontal cave, 22 m long, with south-north orientation, additionally shaped by the human tools. The cave was cut in the shape of a gigantic womb. A semicircular altar niche that represents the symbolic uterus is cut from the north.
Continue reading The Temple-Womb of the Great Goddess-Mother and the Tomb of Orpheus

The Roman figurine confirms the hypothesis that this was the ancient singer’s sanctuary i have talked you about in my previous post ( Tatul - the possible tomb of Orpheus ). A unique Roman bronze statuette of Orpheus was discovered during archaeological excavations near the village of Tatul, Momchilgrad region. The figurine dates back to the end of 1-2 century AD. “We are talking about a wonderful figurine of a man with a specific hairdo and excellent proportions of the body. His left hand rests on a lyre and he holds a plectrum in his right hand,” explained for Standart daily Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov from the Museum of Archaeology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) who heads the team of experts working near Tatul.

Continue reading Bronze Statuette of Orpheus Discovered in Bulgaria

A bulgarian expedition of archaeologists, lead by Nikolai Ovcharov, is studying a unique tomb that belongs to the ancient people of Thrace (what is today Greece and southern Bulgaria). But could the tomb belong to the well known musician Orpheus.

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For more than a century already, archaeologists have searched for the remains of the famous temple where Dionysus had an oracle. It is believed that, when made, the discovery will be as important as that of Troy and Mycenae. Very little is known about the temple today and the only thing which is know for sure is that it was in the Holy Rhodope mountains.

The ancient Greek historian Herodotus is the main source of information about the temple of Dionysus. In his famous History, Herodotus gives an account of the march of Xerxes’ immense army on Greece in 480 BC. As the huge invasion force was slowly making its way along the Aegean coast, many Thracian tribes sent envoys to pledge their allegiance to Xerxes. Only the Satrians, who inhabited the Rhodope, chose to ignore him: “The Satrians however never yet became obedient to any man, so far as we know, but they remain up to my time still free, alone of all the Thracians. […] These are they who possess the Oracle of Dionysus; which Oracle is on their most lofty mountains. Of the Satrians those who act as prophets of the temple are the Bessians.” Indeed, the Satrians went down in later historical accounts as Bessians.
Continue reading The Temple of Dionysus on Holy Mount Rhodope