Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov looks at the replica of the Panagyurishte Gold Treasure in the newly-opened museum in the town of Panagyurishte. Photo by BGNES
Bulgaria marked Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 60 years since the discovery of its most famous archaeological treasure from Ancient Thrace – the so called Panagyurishte Gold Treasure.
The anniversary was marked with the opening of a special museum dedicated to the treasure in the town of Panagyurishte, which was opened by the Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.
The museum will have on permanent display a full-size replica of the Panagyurishte Gold Treasure whose originals are usually displayed at the National History Museum in Sofia if they are not touring the world making the civilization of Ancient Thrace famous all around the globe.
The new Panagyurishte museum was made possible through the donation of two brothers – Luka and Ivan Angelovi who provided all funds for its construction.
The Panagyurishte Treasure was found on December 8, 1949, by three brothers – Pavel, Petko and Michail Deikovi, who worked together at the region of “Merul” tile factory near the town of Panagyurishte, Bulgaria.
It consists of a phial, an amphora and seven rhytons with total weight of 6,164 kg of 23-karat gold. All of the objects are richly and skilfully decorated with scenes from Thracian mythology, customs and life.
It is dated to the 4th-3rd centuries BC, and is thought to have been used as a royal ceremonial set by the Thracian king Seuthes III.