The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak

published on 5/9/12 11:57 AM

Photo: imagesfrombulgaria.com

The Bulgarian town of Kazanlak is known as the town of roses. For more than 300 years now, local people have been growing the oil-yielding rose. The local producers of rose oil have gained world popularity due to the quality of their product. Situated in the so-called Rose Valley in Central Bulgaria, Kazanlak has also been an attractive place for Bulgarian and foreign tourists. The region is also known as the Valley of Thracian Kings, as a great number of archaeological findings have been discovered here. One of the most valuable monuments is the Kazanlak Thracian tomb, included in the top 100 tourists sites of Bulgaria. Scientists suppose that this is the tomb of Roigos – the son of Thracian ruler Sevt the Third. The tomb dates back to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC. That was the time when Sevt the Third ruled the Odrissi kingdom. Today the remains of the ancient capital city of the Thracians lie on the bottom of the Koprinka dam near the town. Historian Ivan Ivanov told us that when UNESCO experts visited the tomb for the first time in 1966, they were truly impressed by the findings. In 1979 the Thracian tomb was included in the UNESCO list of protected monuments.

“The Thracian tomb near Kazanlak was discovered by accident in 1944 by soldiers digging trenches in the Tyulbeto Hill,” Ivan Ivanov says. “Unfortunately, the tomb was robbed in ancient times. What remained were two skeletons – of a man and a horse, ceramics and an amphora. The most important finding, however, were the frescoes. This is the only Thracian tomb with well-preserved frescoes. The tomb consists of a corridor and two chambers. The frescoes show a battle between Thracians warriors and their enemies, as well as a farewell lunch of a Thracian leader with his wife.”

The Thracian leader is depicted with a wreath on his head. His wife is sitting on a throne. According to the historian, grief can be read in the eyes of the woman. She does not want to lose her previous life as according to Thracian traditions, she was to be buried with her husband.

“Next to the wife of the leader, two young women can be seen. One is holding a box, probably containing jewels. A coachman is holding a galloping team of 4 horses is also seen. Not a single scene is accidental. There are musicians depicted too, which confirms the fact Thracians loved music. Thracians were renowned winemakers in ancient times and wine is also part of the depicted scene. In order for the unique frescoes to be preserved, constant temperature and humidity are kept in the tomb. That is why it opens for visits only with a permission of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture. In 1984 an exact copy of the tomb was built and it is open for visitors all year round.”

The historian also pointed out the fact that it was in the region of Kazanlak where archaeologist Georgi Kitov discovered a unique 23-carat gold mask of a Thracian ruler.

English: Alexander Markov

По публикацията работи: Lina Ivanova

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The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak

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