DIADEM WITH THE ASCENTION OF ALEXANDER

53.1. DIADEM WITH THE ASCENTION OF ALEXANDER

Constantinople

First half of the 10th century Gold, enamel 5,4 x 4,4 cm (plate)

53.2. A PAIR OF EARRINGS

Byzantium 10th century Gold, pearls 12,3 x 5,2 cm; 12 x 5,2 cm

53.3. EARRING

Byzantium

10th century Gold, pearls 10.6 x 5 cm

53.4. A PAIR OF EARRINGS

Byzantium 10th century

Gold, pearls, emerald, amethyst 10 x 4 cm; 9,7 x 4 cm

53.5. EARRING WITH FLORAL PATTERNS AND A PEACOCK

Byzantium 10th century Gold, cloisonne enamel, pearls 10.7 x 4,3 cm

53.6. EARRING

Byzantium 10 century Gold, enamel, pearls 7 x 4 cm Veliki Preslav Museum, Inv. N 3381.9 M. V.

53.7. BILATERAL NECKLACE WITH PENDANTS

Byzantium

Late 9th – early 10th century Gold tour bulgaria, cloisonne enamel, pearls, rock crystal, glass 57 cm; 2,5 x 2 cm (plate)

The enamel centre of the decoration features the images of the Virgin Orans; on the trapezoidal plate the figure is flanked by two crosses. The side plate and medallions bear stylized floral patterns, birds and cruciform motif.

53.8. MEDALLION

Byzantium 10th century Gold, amethyst, pearls 6,9 x 6 cm

53.9. TWO MEDALLIONS

Byzantium 10th century Gold, emeralds, pearls Diam. 6,5 cm

53.10. NECKLACE BEADS 8 pieces

Byzantium 10th centuries Gold

1,6 x 8 / 0,9 cm; 10,90 g

53.11. NECKLACE BEAD (?)

Byzantium 10th century Rock crystal 1,8 x 1,4 x 1,2 cm

53.12. NECKLACE PENDANT

Byzantium 10th century

53.13. PENDANT

Byzantium 10th century Gold

2.1 x 1,1 cm; 5,5 g

53.14. PENDANTS (?)

2 pieces Byzantium 10th century

1,7 x 1,3 cm; 1,4 /1,4 g

53.15. SIGIL WITH THE SCENE OF THE ANNUNCIATION

Constantinople 5ff1 – 6th century, reworked in the first half of the 10th century Rock crystal, gold 3.1 x 1,9 cm; 12,25 g

Inscription in Greek on the gem between the two figures: XfAIPIEfTICMOC] (Annunciation)

53.16. FINGER RING

Byzantium 10th century Gold, garnet 1,8 cm (diamond circle); 2,1 cm (diamond bed); 8,65 g

53.17. FINGER RING

Byzantium 10th century Gold 2 x 0,75 cm; 5,9 g

53.18. BUTTONS

2 pieces Byzantium First half of the 10th century Gold, cloisonne enamel, vitriol paste 3 cm

53.19. BUTTONS 3 pieces

10th century Gold 1.5 x 0,9 x 0,55 cm; 1 x 1,6 x 0,5 cm; 1.5 x 1 x 0,4 cm; 6,36 g

53.20. ORNAMENTATION

Preslav 9th century Gold 2,2 x 2,2 x 0,85 cm; 5,38 g

53.21. ORNAMENTATIONS 7 pieces

Preslav 10th century Gold 1,4 x 0,4 cm; 0,7 – 8,3 g

LITURGICAL EMBROIDERY WITH THE COMMUNIONOFTHE APOSTLES

50. LITURGICAL EMBROIDERY WITH THE COMMUNIONOFTHE APOSTLES

15th – 16th century

Red purple silk, blue linen lining, bullion 56 x 42 cm

Liturgical text in Greek: HIETAI EE AYTOY nANTEE TOYTO EETIN TO A1MA MOY TO THE KAINHE AIAOIKHE TO YT1EP HMQN KAI nOAAON EIE A0EEIN AMAPTrON AMHN

Drink all of you from this [chalice]. This is my blood that from the New Testament [that was shed] for us and for all to be absolved of sins. Amen

In the early 20th century it was among the sacred attributes of the Church of St. Clement (older St. Theotokos Peribleptos) in Ohrid, Macedonia

51. LITURGICAL EMBROIDERY WITH ST. VIRGIN ORANS

Constantinople

1216 Red silk, linen lining, bullion 75 x 55 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on either sides of the nimbus: MH[TH]P 0[E0]Y (Mother of God); on the frame: + O CAPKA AABON EE AnEIPANAPOY KOPHC / + TPOnOIC AOPACTOIC O 0[E0] Y n[A]TP[0]C AOTE, / + HN NYN OPOME[N ANOPQnOIC] [WPOKEIMENHN / + EIC ECTIACIN KAN nACI nAPAEIAN. / + AEEAI TO AOPON EK OEOAOPOY TOAE / + KOMNHNOAOYKA KAI AOYKAINHC M[APIAC] / + KOMNHNO0YOYC THC KAAHC CYZYHAC / + ANTIAIAOY AE WYXIKHN [COTHJPIAN +

Thou, Word of God, Father who was born in an inexpressible way from the unmarried Virgin, Thou belongest to people in order to feed them though none is worthy of that, accept this gift from Theodore Ducas and from his good wife Maria Ducaena Comnenogeneta and give them in return the salvation of the soul

Coming from the Curch of St. Sophia in Ohrid tour bulgaria, Macedonia

52. PROCESSIONAL CROSS

Constantinople 11th century Bronze

45 x 27 x 0,3 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: I(HCOT)C X(PHCTO) C NH – KA at the terminations of the arms, and MHXAHA next to Archangel Michael

Provenance unknown

53. THE PRESLAV TREASURE

The treasure was discovered in Kastana, a few kilometers northeast of Preslav. It is associated with the efflorescence of the Capital city of Tsar Symeon, between the late 9tk and early l(Tk cen-tury, Most probably it belonged to an aristocratic family and was buried in the fourth quarter of the 10th century when Knyaz Svetoslav of Kiev invaded Preslav twice before the town surrendered to Constantinople in 971.

The treasure had been accumulated in the course of years and consists mainly of jewelry as well as of some fragments of plates (of a rhyton), spoons and coins.

The objects are made of gold, silver and bronze, combined with colour enamel, precious stones, pearls and rock crystal. The decoration employs floral and geometrical patterns, images of mythological creatures from the Eastern tra-dition, and also images of birds peculiar of the Christian symbolism.

SEGMENTS OF A BELT

31. 6. SEGMENTS OF A BELT (?)

Odessos 6th century Gold, pearls, opal, green enamel 35,2 x 0,75 cm; 39,8 g Varna, Regional Museum of History,

32. PECTORAL CROSS – ENCOLPION

34. NECKLACE

A reconstruction 5th – 6th century Rock crystal, cornelian Tsarevets Hill, Veliko Tarnovo

35. TREASUREFROMAK-ALAN,TURKEY

Five belt appliques, 420 gold and 2 silver coins Byzantine workshop 7th century Gold 28,82 g total weight of the appliques; 22 carat gold Accidental find on March 1913, during the Balkan War, while digging trenches at the Chatal Tepe po-sitions, next to the village of Ak-alan, Turkey

The coins belong to Maurice Tiberius (582 – 602), Phokas (602 – 610), and Herakleios with his son Her-

akleios Constantine (610 – 641). Most probably the treasure was buried about the mid 7th century during one of the raids against Constantinople tour bulgaria.

Byzantium 10th -11th century

Silver 5,4 cm; l. of the rosette 0,013 cm

Discovered during the archaeological research of the administrative centre near the fortress of Per- perikon Kardzhali, Regional Museum of History,

37. MODEL OF A MATRIX FOR PRODUCING A METAL ICON WITH THE SCENE OF THE ANNUNCIATION

Constantinople? 12th – early 13th century Bronze 10,5 x 12,7 x 1 cm Provenance unknown Star a Zagora, Regional Museum of History,

38. MEDALLION FROM AN ICON

Byzantium First half of the 12th century Bone gold plated Diam. 2,8 cm; t. 0,2 cm

Discovered together with three more medallions from the same icon during archaeological research of the Medieval fortress of Assara near Zvezdel Mine, Kardzhali region Kardzhali, Regional Museum of History,

A round plate bearing the bust image of an angel in relief.

39. MEDALLION FROM AN ICON

Byzantium First half of the 12th century Bone, the gilding now damaged Diam. 2,8 cm; t. o,2 cm

Discovered in the Medieval fortress of Assara near Zvezdel Mine, Kardzhali region Kardzhali, Regional Museum of History,

A round plate bearing the bust image of a saint – warrior in relief.

40. MEDALLION FROM AN ICON

Byzantium

First half of the 12th century Bone gold plated Diam. 2,8 cm; t. 0,2 cm Discovered in the Medieval fortress of Assara near Zvezdel Mine, Kardzhali region Kardzhali, Regional Museum of History,

A round plate bearing the bust image of a saint – warrior in relief.

41. MEDALLION FROM AN ICON

Byzantium

First half of the 12th century Bone gold plated Diam. 2,8 cm; t. 0,2 cm Discovered in the Medieval fortress of Assara near Zvezdel Mine, Kardzhali region

A round plate bearing the bust image of Christ Pantokrator in relief.

42. PLATE Restored

Probably Corinth Second half of the 12th – early 13th century Ceramics, engobe H. 4,8 cm; diam. 24,4 cm

Discovered during archaeological research in Paleocastro area, Anhtalo, Burgas regton

Three animal figures engraved on the bottom – a horse, a running rabbit above it, and likely a similar figure below the horse’s legs. Coiling ivy (or wine) sprouts on both sides of the horse

CANDLESTICK

43. CANDLESTICK Restored

Local potter’ s workshop 12th – 13th century Ceramics H. 22,7 cm Discovered during archaeological research in Paleocastro area, Anhialo, Burgas region

44. PLATE Restored

Probably Constantinople Second half of the 12lh – early 13lh century Ceramics, engobe H. 4,4 cm; diam. 18 cm

Discovered during archaeological research in Paleocastro area, Anhialo, Burgas region

45. BOWL Restored

Probably Constantinople 12th – early 13th century Ceramics, engobe

H. 8,2 cm; diam, 21,6 cm

Discovered during archaeological research in Paleocastro area, Anhialo, Burgas region

46. CERAMICS

Byzantium, Constantinople, Mesambria Second half of the 12th – early 13th century Red and white clay, glaze Discovered in the territory of the northern coast of the Old Town in Nessebar, as well as within the area of the antique and Early Byzantine necropolises. Some of the pieces come from the research in 2007 and 2009,

Old Nessebar Museum tour bulgaria, Inv. NN 2891, 126, 149, 150, 152, 267, 168, 169, 170, 280, 287-2007; 316,373-2009 T. M., M. D.

47. CERAMICS

Byzantium 12th century Fine light beige clay; gold and red engobe

Discovered during the archaeological research of the Medieval settlement at the road station of Ka- rasura – Rupkite, Chirpan region, in 1988

Chirpan, Museum of History,

48. ICONOSTASIS

A hypothetical reconstruction

Preslav 10th century Painted glazed ceramics 50 x 120 cm; central icon 21,8 x 13,6 x 0,5 / 0,6 cm; tiles with vaulted sides 15,5 x 12,5 cm

Inscriptions in Greek

Tiles with vaulted sides to the left, first pair: 1) O AITIOL] n[E]TPOL (St. Peter) A[…]; 2) O AiriOZ] lOANlNHL] O XPTLOL[TOMOL] (St. John Chrysostom); second pair: 1)0 A[TIOL] AJMBPOLIOL] O ME A IOAANO[L ] (St. Ambrose of Milan); O A[TIOL] …; third pair: 1) O AjriOL] NIKOAAOL (St. Nicholas); 2) O AjriOZ] A6ANAJZI0Z O] METAL (St. Athanasios the Great); fourth pair: 1) …; 2) [O AFIOL…] AAEEANAPHAL (St. Cyril of Alexandria); fifth pair: 1) … TAO … (St. Paul)

Preslav. The fragments were discovered together with many other artifacts during archaeological research in the course of 1969 – 1978. All of them were in a scrap pit in the area of a workshop for painted ceramics in the Palace Monastery.

Preslav, Museum of Archaeology

49.ICON WITH THE TWELVE GREATFESTIVALS (DODEKAORTON)

Byzantium

12th and the second half of the 14th centuries Serpentine, silver gilt, wood 16,38 x 13,5 x 2,15 cm; central panel 9,1 x 7,9 cm

Inscriptions in Greek on the central panel: O EY[A]TTEAYEMOE (Annunciation); H X[PIETO]Y TENNHEIE (Nativity); [H] YIAriANTH (Presentation); H BAHTIEIE (Bap-tism); H METAMOP0OEIE (Transfiguration); H ETEPEIE TOT AAZAPOT (the Raising of Lazarus); H BAIO0OPOE (the Palms Day); H EATPOEIE (Crucifixion); H ANAETAEIE (Resurrection); H ANAAHWIE (Ascension); H TIENTIKOETH (Pentecost); H KOIMHEIE TIE 0[EOTO]K[OY] (the Koimesis of the Virgin)

Inscriptions in Greek on the frame, left top clockwise: O ATIOE TEOP[T]I[OE] (St.

George); H ETIMAEHA (Etimasia); O ATIOE AHMETPIO[E] (St. Demetrios); [O A] HOE [MAPKIOE (St. Mark); [O ATI]OE EAIA[E] (St. Elijah); O ATIOE NIKOAAOE (St. Nicholas); O ATIOE AIAMHANOE] (St. Damian); O ATIOE nANTEAE-HMO[NO]E (St. Panteleimon); O ATIOE KOEMAE (St. Cosmas); O ATIOE AOANAEIOE (St. Athanasios); [O ATIOE TPITOPIOE O OH[OAOT]OE (St. Gregory the Theologian); O A[HOE] IOA[NNHEE] (St. John)

It was among the sacred attributes of the Church of St. Clement (older St. Theotokos Peribleptos) in Ohrid, Macedonia

National Museum of History,

THE VARNA TREASURE

31. THE VARNA TREASURE

The treasure was fortuitously found in Varna in 1961, during construction works, at the corner of Knyaz Boris I and Makedonia streets, 1,5 m be-low the today’s walking level. The spot is about 500 m north – east to the Late Antiquity fortress walls of Odessos, near the Roman necropolis of the town (AD 2nd – 3rd centuries). At the area of the find there is evidence of funerals dating from the 4th – 6th centuries.

It has been probably kept within a leather sa-chet and might have been part of a larger treasure

consisting of gold jewelry belonging to ecclesiastical or secular persons. The presence of additional artifacts and fragments suggests the treasure has been divided in two parts at least, and submitted by the Church or by Odessos authorities in the second half of the 6th – early 7th century to Barbarians (probably the Avars who invaded the Balkans in 580 – 582) in return for captives; the local bishop Martin attested to a similar initiative — in 544 he succeeded in receiving from Emperor Justinian a special privilege for the church community in town (Just. Nov. CXX, 4)

The treasure consists of eight objects or frag-ments of 22-carat gold, precious and semi-precious stones: pearls, garnet and malachite of a total weight of 417 g. They were produced in different periods between mid 5th and mid 6th centuries, using various techniques peculiar of the Early Byzantine goldsmith’s art as forging, engraving, chasing, filigree, granulation, incising, intaglio and encrustment. Some of the pieces were prob-ably fashioned in the imperial workshop of Con-stantinople, as the bracelets tour bulgaria, the incised diadem which is the only one known of its kind, and per-haps the necklace. The rest of the jewels were like-ly produced in the workshops of Odessos, which were very active in the course of 4th – 6th centuries.

31.1. DIADEM

Constantinople Second half of the 5th century Gold, pearls, green gems (emeralds?) 32,5 x 1,3 cm; 16,4 g

31.2. DIADEM A fragment Odessos 6th century Gold, opal, pearls, glass 19 x 1,3 cm; 40,8 g Varna, Regional Museum of History, lnv. N III 560

31.3. NECKLACE

Odessos

Late 5th – 6th century Gold, pearls, glass L. 25,6 cm; 25,6 g Varna, Regional Museum of History, lnv. N III 561

31.4. PECTORAL CROSS -ENCOLPION

Odessos 6th century Gold, garnet, malachite 7,3 x 5,2 x 0,75 cm; 37,5 g

Byzantium

Second half of the 6th century Gold, filigree, amethyst 3,9 x 2,5 cm Sadovets, Pleven region, discovered during archaeological research in 1934, in the vicinity of a Late Antiquity fortress together with 54 gold coins and 50 copper coins dating from the reign of Justinian (527 – 565) to Maurice Tiberius (582 – 602)

31.5. BRACELET

(the other one of the pair is now in a process of conservation) Constantinople 6th century Gold, pearls, glass, enamel 6,3 x 3,4 cm; 109,4 and 112,3 g Varna, Regional Museum of History,

TWO THEODOSIAN CAPITALS

7. TWO THEODOSIAN CAPITALS

Workshop on the Island of Prokonnesos in the Sea of Marmara (?) 5th – 6th century Marble

H. 39,5 cm; diam. 34,5 cm

The village of Maryan, Elena area, Lovech region

8. CAPITAL WITH HUMAN FACES

Eocal workshop 6th century Sandstone

H. 33 / 34 cm; diam. of the base 20 cm; abacus 34 x 35 cm

Discovered accidentally in the fields of the village of Belopoptsi, Sofia region

9. CAPITAL WITH HEADS OF RABBITS

Workshop on the Island of Prokonnesos in the Sea of Marmara 5th century Marble

H. 40 cm; diam. 35 cm; abacus 41 x 41 cm

The capital entered the Museum in 1914 brought from the town of Obzor, Burgas region

10. CAPITAL WITH TWO CORNUCOPIAE

Local workshop Late 5th – early 6th century Limestone H. 30 cm; diam. 39 cm; abacus 44 x 64 cm

Discovered in a Medieval church in the village of Lyutibrod bulgaria tour, Vratsa region, together with 13 more Ionian Kaempfer capitals from the same date, now in the Museum of Vratsa.

11. BALCONY SLAB OF A PULPIT

Local work, Constantinople type 6th century Grey sandstone 1,36 x 1,42 x 0,23 m

Discovered in Sofia, at the corner of Saborna and Kaloyan streets, during construction works. Prob-ably the pulpit belonged to a church dedicated to St. George. The slab was found together with some fragments of the pulpit railings decorated with embossed crosses.

12. SLABS AND COLUMNS FROM ALTAR SCREENS A reconstruction

A PAIR OF SLABS

Workshops on the Island of Prokonnesos in the Sea of Marmara 5th – 6th century

Marble

1,15 x 0,93 x 0,14 m; 1,17 x 0,96 x 0,12 m

Discovered during archaeological research of a ba-silica in Hisar, Plovdiv region, next to the southern side entrance

A PAIR OF COLUMNS

Workshops on the Island of Prokonnesos in the Sea of Marmara 6th century Marble

H. 1,10; 0,25 X 0,23; h. 0,99; 0,21 x 0,21

Discovered in the fortress ofTsepina, the village of Dorkovo, Plovdiv region

13. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th century Alabaster H. 12 cm; diam, of the body 7,4 cm; diam. of the opening 4 cm

Discovered in the altar area of an Early Christian basilica in Odessos (Varna) during archaeological research Varna, Regional Museum of History, lnv. Nil 1130

The reliquary is shaped as a flask.

14. RELIQUARY COMPLETE WITH TWO BOXES

Asia Minor (Syria)

5th century

Discovered in Dzhanavara, by the southern bank of the Varna Lake, 4 km southwest of Varna. A find of 1920 in the area of a church from the Early Christian age. It was in the altar, in a niche in the eastern wall of a small crypt built in bricks. The reliquary and the boxes were found undamaged in the church. The reliquary was in a fabric sack, the inner box was wrapped in dark cloth. The reliquary contained fragments of human bones and a piece of wood probably the Golgotha Cross, which turned into ashes the minute they were uncovered and the air was let inside. The same church treasured other relics of saints found near the pulpit.

WALL PAINTINGS FROM TOMBS IN THE NECROPOLIS OF SERDICA

The mosaic depicts the early Christian notion of the Paradise – the Garden of Eden, composed of symbols.

2. WALL PAINTINGS FROM TOMBS IN THE NECROPOLIS OF SERDICA 3 fragments

4th century Fresco 0,72 x 1,04 x 0,25 m 0,55 x 0,80 x 0,16 m 1,5 x 0,93 m

From tombs in the Eastern Early Christian necrop-olis around St. Sophia Church in Sofia

Decorated with candelabra and wine sprouts. K. M.

3. WALL PAINTING WITH THE IMAGE OF AN ANGEL

A fragment Triumphal Arch First half of the 4thcentury Fresco 1,40 x 1,60 m

A sector of the murals the interior. Removed from the arch in the Red Church, Perushtitsa, Plovdiv region, in 1920!

An Angel holds a medallion with Agnus Dei in hands raised above his head.

4. EPITAPHSFROMTHEEARLYCHRISTIAN NECROPOLIS OF SERDICA

5th- 6th centuries 4.1 MARBLE 39 x 43 x2,2 cm Inscription in Latin in 3 lines

+ HIC R …V1ESC1T/ T. IOANNES FIUVS bulgaria tour QEORGIINEVSTRIS

Epitaph ofTlitus]Ioanns, son of the illustrious Georgios

The inscription accompanied by a palmette and an ornament

4.2 MARBLE 21 x 51 x 5 cm Inscription in Latin in 3 lines

+ HIC REQUIESCET U1R THEUPREPIUS / EPISCOP +

Epitaph of the most beatific man Bishop

4.3 MARBLE

24 x 26,5 x 2,5 cm Inscription in Latin in 3 lines + DECIUS HIC I FAMULUS … / ANDRAE Epitaph ofDecius, servant of Saint Andrew An ivy leaf carved below the inscription

4.4 SANDSTONE

27 x 27 x 4,5 cm Inscription in Latin in 4 lines

+ CONTANTIA / NUSICEST POS / ITU- SUTREQI / ES CATIN CELI +

Epitaph of Constantine, interred to rest in heaven

A serpent carved below the inscription

5. EPITAPH OF EUGENIA DEACONESS

Local work June 12th 538 Marble 1,18 x 0,65 x 0,08 m 13-line inscription in Greek:

Here rests Eugenia who died as a deaconess, once living in the house (= church) of the famous Apostle Andrew, and ending her pious life on 12th June, indictio I under the reign of our God-like and devout Emperor Flavius Justinian, great Augustus and Autocrat, when the Consul was Flavius Julius

Discovered at Nebush site, nearby the Mineral Baths of the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad re-gion, set up in the altar of the local church.

6. PORTRAIT OF A MAN

Eocal work out of a local stone 6th century Sandstone H. 26 cm; w. 11 cm; d. 19 cm

Discovered within the debris of a Byzantine fortress near Obzor (former Gyozeken, Kozyak grad), Burgas region.

One of the rare world examples of the heroes of the new age – a stiff, universal mask covering a soul striving for the God.

RELIQUARY

20. RELIQUARY

Southeastern Europe or Asia Minor Second half of the 5th – 6th century Limestone 20 cm; w’ 15 cm; h. 17,5 cm

Accidental find from Obzor (former Gyozeken), Burgas region

NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 2047

Incised decoration on the lid, representing a blooming cross with ivy branches springing from its base.

21. CHALICE

Constantinople

Silver 14 x 14 x 10 cm

Stamps with imperial monograms:

Discovered accidentally in Nova Nadezhda (a sec-tor of Dimitrov grad), Southeastern Bulgaria, in 1965, in the area of a Medieval fortress

Haskovo, Museum of History, Inv. N A 3031

22. STAMP FOR THE CONSECRATED BREAD

Odessos or the region 5th – 6lh century Terracotta

10,3 x 4,2 cm

Greek characters: on the round surface – illegible; below – characters in positive: O KH and small caps below the cross:

An accidental find from Ossenovo, Varna region, as there are a Late Antiquity and Early Byzantine fortress with a church and a tomb with wall paint-ings from the 4th century

23. CENSER

5th – 6th century Bronze 9 x 4,5 cm Borets bulgaria tour, Plovdiv region

24. CYMBAL BELLS

2 pieces Constantinople (according to late Vassil Vassilev) Second half of the 6th century

Bronze

15,5 x 16,9 cm; 14 x 16 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on one of them: + LEPTIOT nPELBTTEPOT + (To Presbyter Sergiu); on the other one – a monogram encrusted with a silver thread

Discovered together with two more similar bells and other artifacts in a large pithos in Augusta Traiana – Vereia – Star a Zagora, in 1907

The purification of Christ

Discovered in 1910 in Vinitsa – today a residential area of Varna (Kambur Cheshma)

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

26. LAMP

Late 4H1 – mid 5th century Bronze 15 x 31 cm Star a Zagora (Augusta Traiana – Vereia)

The lamp belongs to the single-holder type. The cover is decorated with a sculptured male head with a helmet facing a dolphin. The handle is shaped as a cross.

Byzantium, Augusta Traiana – Vereia (?)

6th century Bronze H. 46 cm

Discovered together with a large number of metal objects probably meant to be re-used in some of the workshops in the town during the late 6th century

28. MIRRA NEEDLE

5th – 6th century Bronze 21 cm Sadovets, Pleven region

29. MIRRA NEEDLE

5th – 6th century Bronze L. 19,5 cm Sadovets, Pleven region

30. CHANDELIERS

2 pieces, reconstructed Byzantium 6th century

31.5

Silver

H. approximately 60 cm; 70 cm The fragments were discovered in the fortress of Sadovets, Pleven region, together with many other precious artifacts mentioned in this catalogue.

The chandeliers are shaped as columns with a capital (one of them) and a vase (the other one), decorated with floral ornaments. The one with the capital bears the stamp of Emperor Justinian (527 – 565).

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

The culture of the Empire

The artistic laboratory comprised the centers in these territories and thus created the culture of the Empire. Teams of architects and skillful man strayed far and wide to meet the requirements of various layers of the society. They employed to many replicas the models produced in the most prominent work-

shops in Byzantium. Rich imperial gifts or perhaps commissions of the Bulgarian aristocrats to the workshops in the Capital city or the major seats of the Empire gave splendour to life.

Veliki Preslav, the Capital city of Bulgaria in the course of less than a century, sensed most vigorously the cultural breath of Byzantium. The entire city was splendid – the buildings, the garments, the table, and the ceremonial adopted also from the Byzantine court. Even the scarce remains of the grandeur reveal the pursuit of reaching the prestige of Byzantium and leveling to it. The workshops for painted ceramics achieved acme, the stone tracery on the walls acquired the impression of chiaroscuro. Within the jewels and everyday objects we find the amalgamation of the Bulgarian vogue and taste, and the artistry and techniques of the Byzantine workshops.

The fabulous Preslav Treasure well illustrates this synthesis. The good fortune has bestowed the idea of the true level of luxury often described by the authors of the 10th century. It alone has survived the plunder – to show us the magnificent enamels and precious stones glowing on the gold of the crown and the necklace or the rest of the exquisite heavy jewels gathered in haste and buried into the ground to reach us and prove the myth. We have also the extraordinary cross – reliquary decorated with images and scenes executed in niello technique. Still another value is the pectoral icon with the image of St. Virgin Mary bulgaria tour.

The significance of all that the Bulgarian collections treasure lies in its origins and its location in territories still covered by Bulgaria as they offer good possibilities for interpretation. This refers to the numerous artifacts of every day standards as well as to the technological inventions or the huge amount of coins and seals.

The artistic heritage and the works associated with the religious practice – liturgical objects, embroideries and painted holy images add a peculiar prestige to this exhibition. Four icons present the assembly of the most remarkable works of the easel painting known from the collections of the Bulgarian museums – the ceramic icon of St. Theodore from Veliki Preslav (10th century) – the only one known of its kind, the outstanding mosaic icon of St. Virgin Mary from Thrace – a precious imperial gift (13th – 14th century), the icon of St. Virgin from Nessebar in silver facing donated by the uncle of the Bulgarian Tsar Ivan Alexander (1342), and the two – sided icon from Poganovo Monastery (14th century), incredible in its artistry. A gallery of painted images from the Church of St. Nicholas in Melnik, and wall paintings from churches and artifacts from the post-Byzantine Age shape the notion of this profound wealth and illustrate the eternal relationship between Bulgaria and Byzantium.

Here we may find the deep sense of the exhibition revealing the nature and the spirits of the Bulgarian Medieval culture.

Margarita Vaklinova

1-FLOOR MOSAIC FROM THE APSE OF ST. SOPHIA CHURCH IN SOFIA (SERDICA)

First half of the 4th century

Opus tesselatum, Opus vermiculatum; tesserae of fine-grain marble with grey and cream-coloured spots, red ferrous quartz, cream-coloured quartz, fine-grain calcareous sandstone, quartz in ochre, blue-greyish dolomite, greenish andesite, glass 2,70 x 2,60 x 0,10 m

Discovered during the archaeological research of St. Sophia Church in 1893, flout 1 m frdoze Oie Zoor. It decorated the apse of the earliest cemetery church in eastern Serdica necropolis.