Borovo Treasure
Encyclopedia
The Borovo Treasure, also known as the Borovo Silver Treasure, is part of the Thracian treasure
. It is a set of five silver-gilt
items discovered in late 1974 while ploughing a field in Borovo
, Bulgaria
.
The treasure is kept in the history museum at Ruse.
items:
, Ruse, in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the plow severely damaged objects, but after extensive restoration work, the damage is nearly invisible.
The mystery remain about the reason for the treasure being buried at that particular site, because no tumulus
was found at the location.
from 383 to 359 BC. It is for this reason that the treasure is considered to be from the early to mid fourth century BC.
Other Thracian treasures:
Thracian treasure
The Thracians were skillful craftsmen. They made beautifully ornate golden and silver objects such as various kinds of vessels, rhytons, facial masks, pectorals, jewelry, weapons, etc. They used to bury rich hoards of precious objects both to hide them in times of enemy invasions and unrest as...
. It is a set of five silver-gilt
Silver-gilt
Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver gilded with gold. Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually silver-gilt; for example most sporting trophies, medals , and many crown jewels...
items discovered in late 1974 while ploughing a field in Borovo
Borovo, Bulgaria
Borovo is a town in Ruse Province, Northern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Borovo Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 2,330 inhabitants....
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
The treasure is kept in the history museum at Ruse.
Items
It consists of a table set of five Silver-giltSilver-gilt
Silver-gilt or gilded/gilt silver, sometimes known in American English by the French term vermeil, is silver gilded with gold. Most large objects made in goldsmithing that appear to be gold are actually silver-gilt; for example most sporting trophies, medals , and many crown jewels...
items:
- Three rhytaRhytonA rhyton is a container from which fluids were intended to be drunk, or else poured in some ceremony such as libation. Rhytons were very common in ancient Persia, where they were called takuk...
, each a different size, and with a different base. The largest has a figure of a sphynx and bears the inscription: "[Belongs to] Cotys from [the town of] Beos.", as well as the name of the craftsman, Etbeos. The second has a figure of a horse, and the third, the smallest, has a bull. Each are half figures.
- A large, two-handled bowl: This item is decorated with a relief of a deer being attacked by a griffinGriffinThe griffin, griffon, or gryphon is a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle...
.
- A rhyta jug with images gods at a feast, scenes showing the mythological cycles, with images of DionysusDionysusDionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
and HeraclesHeraclesHeracles ,born Alcaeus or Alcides , was a divine hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus...
, satyrSatyrIn Greek mythology, satyrs are a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus — "satyresses" were a late invention of poets — that roamed the woods and mountains. In myths they are often associated with pipe-playing....
s, griffons, and sphinxes.
Discovery
The discovery was made while ploughing a field approximately 2 km from the village of BorovoBorovo
Borovo refers to:* Borovo, Bulgaria, a town and municipality in Bulgaria* Borovo, Croatia, a village and municipality in Croatia* Borovo Naselje, part of the city of Vukovar, Croatia,* Borovo, Republic of Macedonia, a village in Kriva Palanka municipality...
, Ruse, in Bulgaria. Unfortunately, the plow severely damaged objects, but after extensive restoration work, the damage is nearly invisible.
The mystery remain about the reason for the treasure being buried at that particular site, because no tumulus
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
was found at the location.
Origins
The inscription on the sphynx rhyta indicates that the treasure may have been a gift to a local Getic ruler from king Thrace Cotys I (382-359 BC). He reigned the Odrysian KingdomOdrysian kingdom
The Odrysian kingdom was a union of Thracian tribes that endured between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC. It consisted largely of present-day Bulgaria, spreading to parts of Northern Dobruja, parts of Northern Greece and modern-day European Turkey...
from 383 to 359 BC. It is for this reason that the treasure is considered to be from the early to mid fourth century BC.
See also
- Persian-Sassanid art patternsPersian-Sassanid art patterns- Patterns :Characteristic patterns of the Persian-Sassanide art exhibits similarity to the art of the Bulgars, Khazars, Sak-Scythian, and have recurred at different locations in Central Asia...
- Thraco-CimmerianThraco-CimmerianThraco-Cimmerian is a historiographical and archaeological term, composed of the names of the Thracians and the Cimmerians. It refers to 8th to 7th century BC cultures that are linked in Eastern Central Europe and in the area north of the Black Sea....
- Treasure of NagyszentmiklósTreasure of NagyszentmiklósThe Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós or Treasure of Sânnicolau Mare is an important hoard of twenty-three early medieval gold vessels, in total weighing 9.945 kg, found in 1799 near the town then known as Nagy Szent Miklós or Groß-Sankt-Niklaus in northern Banat The Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós or...
- Zoomorphic style
Other Thracian treasures:
- Panagyurishte TreasurePanagyurishte treasureThe Panagyurishte Treasure is a Thracian treasure excavated on December 8, 1949 by three brothers, Pavel, Petko and Michail Deikov who worked together at the region of “Merul” tile factory near the town of Panagyurishte, Bulgaria. It consists of a phiale, an amphora and seven rhytons with total...
- Rogozen TreasureRogozen treasureThe Rogozen Treasure , called the find of the century, was discovered by chance in 1985 by a tractor driver digging a well in his garden in the Bulgarian village of Rogozen. It consists of 165 receptacles, including 108 phiales, 55 jugs and 3 goblets. The objects are silver with golden gilt on some...
- Valchitran Treasure
- Lukovit TreasureLukovit treasureThe Lukovit Treasure is a silver Thracian treasure found in 1953 near the town of Lukovit, Lovech Province, north-western Bulgaria. It consists of two groups of objects: plates, applications for horse bridles and vessels, 9 phiales, 3 ewers and a bowl....