Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
UNESCO World Heritage list since 1979.
Kazanlak tomb was discovered by accidentally in 1944 near the Valley of Roses.
The numerous burial mounds in the Kazanlak area (more than 500), together with the remains of Thracian settlements, including Seuthopolis, the only Thracian city that has been completely excavated, preserved and researched, show that the area was inhabited by a large Thracian population, which reached the height of its cultural development during the 5th to 3rd centuries BC.
The tomb is part of a large Thracian necropolis. It comprises a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing a Thracian couple at a ritual funeral feast.
The monument dates back to the 4th century BC. Seven brick tombs were discovered in the necropolis, four of which are of the beehive type. The use of brickwork in the making of tombs is typical for the area of king Seuthopolis III, nowhere else in Thrace were bricks used so widely in building. Similar domed tombs were found in Thrace, southern Russia and Asia Minor.
In Kazanlak’s tomb chamber were found the remains of a man and woman, probably Thracian noble family. Probably the tomb was robbed in antiquity, because very few objects were found. In order to be preserved, access to the original Kazanlak Tomb, is strictly limited. Accessible for the tourist is the tomb replica next to the original one.
Kazanlak’s tomb world fame is due to its unique paintings, which are the best-preserved examples of ancient painting. The walls of the corridor and the burial chamber are covered with sophisticated decorations, which occupy an area of 40 m2. They show certain moments of a Thracian ruler’s life, his life on Earth, in Heaven and as a military leader. Because today we do not know the composition of the paints, which were used by the Thracians, the original paintings can not be restored with absolute accuracy.
In 2008, by using infrared and ultraviolet rays, Prof. Konstantin Boshnakov, managed read the full inscription on the dome of the tomb, which says: "Kodzimasis paintings" and below it "Roigos son of Seuthes". The painter Kodzimasis was a famous painter, and Roigos was a ruler of the Odrysian kingdom of Thrace around 280 BC, son of king Kotis.
Inside the actual burial chamber of the Kazanlak tomb, facing the low rectangular entrance, are drown the figures of a man and woman, a married couple. The murals are memorable for the splendid horses and for a gesture of farewell, in which the seated couple grasp each other's wrists in a moment of tenderness and equality.
Around the two main figures are depicted many women and men. Some of them are servants, laborers, grooms, musicians.
The significantly higher figure with a tray is probably the Mother Goddess, who welcomes the dead in the underworld.
It should be noted that the few survived frescoes from the Thracian times, show the remarkable way of representation of people, animals and objects. The images are very vivid paintings and seem to have volume. Similarly display we can see only during the Renaissance.
"Kazanlak Tomb-Valley of the Thracian Kings".
Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seutes III, and is part of a large Thracian necropolis.
The tholos has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture.
These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period.
Kazanlak Tomb - Musicians
The Kazanluk tomb
The Thracian ruler and the noble Thracian woman from the "Funerary Feast" scene
