An exhibition dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the discovery of the unique necropolis at Trebenishte near Ohrid opened its doors this evening at the National Archaeological Museum. The exhibition is the result of the joint work of archaeologists from NAIM to BAS, the Archaeological Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia, the National Museum of Serbia, the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and Museum – Ohrid, and also thanks to the good partnership between the cultural and scientific institutions of the three countries.
The exhibition is under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture. “I am very excited, because this landmark exhibition will present exceptional cultural values that have never before been visited in a Bulgarian museum, but are an important part of the history that formed our common Balkan identity. For the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, it is a matter of honor to support the realization of this long-standing common dream of three countries. The finds from Trebenishte are valuable in many different aspects and continue to bring added value to our lives today – they unite us in our common work to build a common future and preserve our identity as friendly Balkan countries,” commented the Minister of Culture Krastyu Krastev. Trebenishte is a message from the past that reminds us in the present that the common human values we share make us the same in diversity, he stressed.
“The opening of the exhibition in Sofia is a long-awaited event. We have been working together on this project since 2017. For the first time in Bulgaria, we are showing finds from Trebenishte from the three countries. I am happy that the project was evaluated and supported at the state level,” said Associate Professor Dr. Hristo Popov, Director of NAIM at BAS.
In 2019, the exhibition was presented to the general public in Skopje. By virtue of the cooperation agreement between the three museums – NAIM, NIAMSM and the National Museum of Serbia, it will be in Sofia until March 2024 and in Belgrade in 2025. The exhibition includes items from the necropolis that have never been exhibited before together.
The necropolis near the village of Trebenishte, 14 km from Ohrid, was accidentally discovered by the Bulgarian troops during road construction at the end of the First World War in the spring of 1918. The first five graves were excavated by Bulgarian officers, who handed over the findings to the Bulgarian administration in Ohrid . Later, the Bulgarian state managed to send the archaeologist Karel Shkorpil, who studied graves 6 and 7. In the graves, warriors were buried with their equipment, gold insignia (distinctive signs), silver and bronze vessels, silver ornaments, etc. The objects date the necropolis to the second half of the 6th and 5th centuries BC.
A large part of the finds from the first seven graves are today part of the permanent exhibition of the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia. Newly restored finds are also presented in the exhibition. On the Serbian side, findings from archaeological research conducted by Prof. Nikola Vulich in the 1930s were shown. The Macedonian side shows finds from field studies in the period 1953-1954 and from 1972, as well as grave finds from the necropolis at Gorna Porta from the city of Ohrid, discovered in 2002.
The exposition is accompanied by a poster exhibition presenting the history of the studies, as well as printed editions in Bulgarian and English. It can be seen from October 10, 2023 to March 24, 2024.
Trebenishte is a 2,500-year-old mystery. Generations of archaeologists have been trying to uncover the history of the unknown aristocrats buried near Lake Ohrid in the 6th century BC, the exhibition organizers say.
Trebenishte is the most famous archaic necropolis in the Balkans: its 13 extremely rich graves have earned it the nickname the Valley of Gold and have been spreading its fame around the world for 105 years.
Here are the most interesting exhibits in the exposition:
Funeral mask, made of thin gold leaf. The mouth and eyes are closed, and a bee is depicted above the nose. Along with the mask, a large number of objects made of gold, silver and bronze were found in the grave, along with helmets and other types of weaponry. It can be assumed that the mask belonged to a king or ruler of a vast tribal community.
Golden hand-shaped plate with a ring. The golden hand has a symbolic meaning – protection of the most vulnerable physical executor of the “commands of the spirit” of the high-ranking deceased. The hand has a ring on the ring finger. It is realistically made and is decorated with a horizontal “braid” frieze at the bottom.
Bronze krater with volutes, defined as one of the masterpieces of ancient toreutics (artistic metalwork). To the neck of the sumptuously decorated vessel are applied on each side three massive figures of cows with their heads turned frontally, and the lower part of the handles are shaped like winged gorgons, whose figures pass from the waist down into a pair of snakes crawling along the shoulders of the krater.
Golden Breastplate, made of one whole sheet of gold. At the ends there are two small holes for sewing. In the middle is a circular medallion with two lions. Decoration also includes rosettes, lotus flowers and dots. Given that some of the motifs appear on other objects, archaeologists suggest that a wood matrix was used. The golden breastplate is among the symbols of high social status and its owner was undoubtedly a representative of the elite.
Gold dice from the Museum of Ohrid. They are hollow, made of thin gold leaf with small circles stamped on the sides.
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2023-10-11 03:48:03
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