Thracian tomb from the royal valley (8 photos)

This attraction in the vicinity of the Bulgarian city of Kazanlak is not the most famous among tourists. But there is something elusively attractive and mysterious about her.





The Thracian tomb is a tomb built for the Thracian ruler Roigos at the end of the 4th - beginning of the 3rd century BC. e. Of course, the tribes that inhabited the territory of modern Bulgaria at that time were very developed culturally. One of the most famous representatives of this people is Spartacus, who led the uprising of gladiators and slaves in Italy in 73–71 BC. e.







The tomb is a small room with a narrow corridor leading to a round chamber. The outside of the building is crowned with a cone-shaped roof. The interior design impresses with its subtle aesthetics. Looking at these frescoes, it is difficult to believe that they were created not in our days, but in ancient times.





In the center of the composition is an image of a funeral ritual. The key figures are the ruler himself and his wife, who sadly bowed her head, trying to come to terms with the inevitable and let her beloved husband go to the world of the dead. The royal couple is surrounded by servants with gifts. The one closest to the king has three grenades in his hands. According to ancient beliefs, this fruit symbolizes eternal life. That is, this is a hint of resurrection.





The top of the dome is decorated with a scene depicting chariot competitions. Stylistically, the frescoes are very reminiscent of Greek ones (perhaps they were created by a Greek master), but the way of life itself is completely Thracian. Only five colors were used in its creation: black, red, yellow, white and blue. But this did not prevent the author from accurately conveying the idea.



To maintain the condition of the frescoes, a special temperature regime and optimal humidity level are maintained in the chamber. The tomb is closed to tourists, but an exact copy of it has been built nearby. But, if you believe reviews on the Internet, if you wish, you can get into the original cell by making an agreement with the caretaker.

In fact, these frescoes are the only known example of Thracian painting that has survived to this day.