Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece at the Getty Villa

 

Portrait of King Seuthes III, 310 – 300 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound, near Shipka, Bulgaria
Bronze, with copper, alabaster, and glass for the eyes
Object: 32 × 28 × 27.9 cm
National Archaeological Institute with Museum – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia
Photo: Todor Dimitrov
VEX.2024.2.159

 
 

Ancient Thrace and the Classical World

Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece

November 4, 2024 — March 3, 2025

 

The ancient land of Thrace, (comprising present-day Bulgaria and parts of Romania, Greece, and Turkey), was home to a tribal culture renowned for their skill as warriors and horsemen, as well as for their wealth in precious metals. Thracians produced superb gold, silver, and bronze works used in aristocratic pursuits, such as warfare, horsemanship, and banqueting. This exhibition features many objects that were discovered in Thracian lands during modern times, shedding light on this little-known culture and its interactions with Greece, Persia, and Rome over the course of two millennia (about 1700 BCE–300 CE).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exhibition Preview

 

Helmet, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Agighiol, Romania
Silver with gilding
Object: 27 × 19 × 23.5 cm
National History Museum of Romania, Bucharest
Image © MNIR 2023, Photo: Marius Amarie VEX.2024.2.47

Spouted Wine Vessel with Lion-Griffin Handles, 475 – 450 BCE
Found in the Kukova burial mound, Duvanlii, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 27 × 25 × 16 cm
National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.157

Relief with Two Thracians, made in Achaemenid Iran, 500 – 480 BCE
Found at Persepolis, Iran
Limestone
Object: 59 × 52 × 12 cm
Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Vorderasiatisches Museum
Image: bpk Bildagentur / Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Vorderasiatisches Museum / Photo: Olaf M. Teßmer/Art Resource, NY VEX.2024.2.6

Greave (Knee and Shin Guard) with a Female Head, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Vratsa, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 46 × 18 × 18 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Vratsa
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.203

Attic Red-Figure Calyx Krater, made in Athens, Greece
Attributed to the Villa Giulia Painter (Greek (Attic), active about 470 - 440 B.C.)
460–450 B.C.
Terracotta
Object: 42.7 × 43.3 cm (16 13/16 × 17 1/16 in.)
Gift of Dr. Paul Flanagan
80.AE.71

Relief Dedicated to Bendis, made in Athens, Greece, 350 – 325 BCE
Marble
Object: 52.1 × 83.8 × 13 cm
British Museum, London, 1895,1028.1
Image © The Trustees of the British Museum VEX.2024.2.1

Offering Dish with Chariots, made in Athens, Greece, 500 – 400 BCE
Found at the necropolis near Duvanlii- Chernozemen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 20.5 × 20.5 × 3 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.121

Relief with a Panther, 400 – 350 BCE
Found in the Zhaba Mogila burial mound, near Strelcha, Bulgaria
Limestone with pigment
Object: 93 × 107 × 36 cm Historical Museum, Strelcha
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.180

Jug with a Goddess on a Panther, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Rogozen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 13.5 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Vratsa
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.197

Jug with a Goddess on a Panther, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Rogozen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 13.5 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Vratsa
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.197

Jug with a Goddess on a Panther, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Rogozen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 13.5 × 8.5 × 8.5 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Vratsa
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.197

Drinking Horn with a Horse, 500 – 400 BCE
Found at the necropolis near Duvanlii-Chernozemen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 22.5 × 20.2 × 8.4 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.119

Jug with a Chariot, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Vratsa, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 9 × 8 × 6.5 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Vratsa
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.174

Female Bust, Possibly a Thracian Mother Goddess, 200 – 100 BCE
Found in Galiche, Bulgaria Silver with gilding
Object: 18.3 × 18.3 × 4.4 cm
National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.160

Woman with a Three-Headed Serpent, 400 – 300 BCE
Found near Letnitsa, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 6 × 4.5 × 1.5 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Lovech
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.96

Wine Cup with Herakles and Auge, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Rogozen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 13.6 × 13.6 × 2 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Vratsa
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.196

Drinking Horn with a Goat, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 14 × 8.7 × 8.9 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.127

Wine Cup with Lion-Griffins, 400 – 300 BCE
Found in Rogozen, Bulgaria
Silver with partial gilding
Object: 19 × 19 × 4 cm
National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.172

Wine Cup, 350 – 250 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound, near Shipka, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 5.9 × 15.5 × 9.5 cm
Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.58

Offering Dish with Chariots, made in Athens, Greece, 500 – 400 BCE
Found at the necropolis near Duvanlii- Chernozemen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 20.5 × 20.5 × 3 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.121

Helmet with an Appliqué of Athena, 350 – 250 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound, near Shipka, Bulgaria
Bronze, silver with gilding
Object: 26 × 16.5 × 25 cm
Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak VEX.2024.2.62–.63

Spouted Wine Vessel, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 29.1 × 14 × 10.1 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.126

Spouted Wine Vessel, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 29.1 × 14 × 10.1 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.126

Oak Wreath, 325 – 300 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound near Shipka, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 18 × 46 × 0.3 cm
Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.57

Relief with the Heads of a Satyr and Nymph, 375 – 350 BCE
Found at Mesembria, Bulgaria
Terracotta and pigment
Object: 19 × 55.5 × 20 cm
Ancient Nessebar Museum
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.99

Tombstone of Iulia, 100 – 200 CE
Found in Aheloy, Bulgaria
Marble
Object: 156 × 49.5 × 9.5 cm
Regional Historical Museum, Burgas
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.53

Spouted Jug with the Head of Athena, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 20.2 × 5.6 × 4.1 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.131

Spouted Jug with the Head of Athena, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 20.2 × 5.6 × 4.1 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.131

Spouted Jug with the Head of Aphrodite, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 19.6 × 7 × 6 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.132

Shell-Shaped Container, 350 – 250 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound, near Shipka, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 4 × 17.6 × 16 cm
Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.82–.83

Shell-Shaped Container, 350 – 250 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound, near Shipka, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 4 × 17.6 × 16 cm
Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.82–.83

Wine Cup with Selene, made in Athens, Greece, 500 – 400 BCE
Found at the necropolis near Duvanlii- Chernozemen, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object: 13 × 18.8 × 3 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.120

Three-Part Vessel, 1500 – 1000 BCE
Found near Valchitran, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 28 × 27.9 × 6.2 cm
National Archaeological Institute with Museum – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.148

Offering Dish, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 24.7 × 24.7 × 3.9 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Рlovdiv.
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.125

Shell-Shaped Container, 350 – 250 BCE
Found in the Golyama Kosmatka burial mound, near Shipka, Bulgaria
Silver with gilding
Object (open): 19.5 × 17.6 cm Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.82–.83

Offering Dish, 325 – 275 BCE
Found in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria
Gold
Object: 24.7 × 24.7 × 3.9 cm
Regional Archaeological Museum, Рlovdiv.
Photo: Todor Dimitrov VEX.2024.2.125

Jug with Thracian Warriors, made in Athens, Greece, about 425 BCE
Found in the Gyaurskata burial mound near Karnobat, Bulgaria
Terracotta
Object: 18 × 13 × 8.9 cm
Historical Museum, Karnobat VEX.2024.2.56

Jug with Thracian Warriors, made in Athens, Greece, about 425 BCE
Found in the Gyaurskata burial mound near Karnobat, Bulgaria
Terracotta
Object: 18 × 13 × 8.9 cm
Historical Museum, Karnobat VEX.2024.2.56

Jug with Thracian Warriors, made in Athens, Greece, about 425 BCE
Found in the Gyaurskata burial mound near Karnobat, Bulgaria
Terracotta
Object: 18 × 13 × 8.9 cm
Historical Museum, Karnobat VEX.2024.2.56

 
News 15Editorial TeamArt of the Ancestors, Steven G. Alpert, Asian Art, Island Southeast Asian Art, Oceanic Art, Asiatica, Ethnographica, Ethnographic Art, Art Collection, Fine Art, Primitive Art, Indonesian Art, Tribal Art, Eyes of the Ancestors, Dr. Reimar Schefold