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

WHY BULGARIA WITHIN THE BYZANTINE WORLD

PREFACE

WHY BULGARIA WITHIN THE BYZANTINE WORLD? For this area of the European space in which the Bulgarians found their homeland, belonged for good and all to a cultural circle setting its profound mark on the fate and culture of all the nations that created states during the Middle Ages.

Bulgaria, established in the seventh century, was all an enemy, an ally, a rival, and a partner of the Eastern Empire we name Byzantium. The seats in the Balkans became the ground of its culture where the Antiquity proceeded to the Middle Ages. There the deep-rooted traditions preserved their triumphs to transform them into an integral part and wealth of the new sovereigns of the territories of the Bulgarians.

Byzantium was the mightiest source of ideas, patterns, model examples and rivalry for the Bulgarians. Captivating its territory from the Empire, the newborn state became related with it, waged wars against it, clashed with it, adopted models in all the spheres of life or freed itself, fell under its impact still searching its friendship, or fought for supremacy. In the course of nearly two centuries (10th – 12th), it fell again within the state and political system of Byzantium as this circumstance enriched it still further on.

This quite complicated picture of the relations between Bulgaria and thousand of years old Empire, enriched by the spirits of its predecessors and the variegated ethno – cultural amalgamation of its heterogeneous population reflected on and can be illustrated by the material and artistic reaching.

Bulgaria belonged actively to the Medieval Christian world and shared its cultural values thanks again to its affiliation to the Byzantine circle. Thus, the territories of the future state of the Bulgarians have preserved till our day the trace of a large-scale development connected with the spread and recognition of the world religion. Temples and monasteries were set up even in the most secret recesses of the Byzantine Balkan provinces between 4th and 7th centuries. Today their ruins spring up from the soil, like St. Sophia in Serdica, the Old Metropolitan Church in Mesambria bulgaria private tours, the Red Church in Perushtitsa, or the basilica in Belovo, to let us appraise this soil as an artistic seat and integral part of the cultural commonwealth of Byzantium.

The sculptural workshops on the Island of Prokonnesos in the Sea of Marmara worked for the decora-tion and furnishing of these elite edifices. The most exquisite pieces of work designed for the imperial constructions of the Capital city of Constantinople were employed as model examples. The light coming from the temple windows swept up the multi-colour mosaics on the floors and inspired life in scenes and images on the walls. The painted tombs in the necropolis of Serdica, the floor mosaic of St. Sophia Church, and the angels on the arches of the Red Church almost two hundred years later outline the course and the achievements of the artistic creation.

SIGHTS IN THE OLD TOWN

1. The Fortress Complex on Nebet Tepe

2. Antique – Revival Period Ensemble on Vitosha Sreet.

3. Antique Theatre

4. Antique Stadium

5. Hisar Gate Architectural Ensemble

6. Jumaya Mosque

7. Mevlevi Hane (Puldin Restaurant)

8. St. Marina Metropolitan Church

9. Holy Virgin Cathedral

10. SS. Constantine and Helena Church

11. Architectural Ensemble on Tsanko Lavrenov Street

12. Architectural Ensemble on Dr. Chomakov Street

13. Architectural Ensemble on Kiril Nektariev Street

14. Haji Panayot Lampsha House (Balabanov house)

15. Stepan Hindliyan House

16. Nikola Nedkovich House

17. History Museum. ‘Bulgarian Revival Period Exhibition’. (Dimiter Georgiadi House}

18. ‘Book-printing in Bulgaria’ Exhibition (‘Hristo G. Danov Museum-house}

19. Ethnographical Museum (Argir Kuyumjioghlu House}

20. ‘Alphonse de Lamartine’ Museum-collection (Georgi Mavridi House)

21. ‘Hippocrates’ Pharmacy (Dr. Sotir Antoniadi)

22. City Art Gallery (Girls’ School)

23. City Art Gallery Icon Collection

24. ‘Tsanko Lavrenov’ Permanent Exhibition (Kirkor Mesrobovich House)

25. ‘Zlatyu Boyadjiev’ Permanent Exhibition (Dr. Stoyan Chomakov House)

26. ‘Georgi Bojilov-Slona’ Permanent Exhibition (Skobeleva House)

27. Danchov House

28. The Yellow School (First Bulgarian School)

NATIONALINSTITUTEOF ARCHAEOLOGY WITH MUSEUM-SOFIA AUGUST 24TH – SEPTEMBER 30TH 2011

The exhibition is organized by the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum – Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with the kind contribution of National Museum of History bulgaria private tours – Sofia Regional Museum of History – Haskovo Regional Museum of History – Kardzhali Regional Museum of History – Stara Zagora Regional Museum of History – Varna Regional Museum of History – Veliko Tarnovo Museum of Archaeology — Veliki Preslav Old Nessebar Museum Museum of History – Chirpan Museum of History – Pomorie

The exhibition has been accomplished by Margarita Vaklinova, Bissera Tomova, Yordan Gatev, Snezhana Goryanova, Katya Melamed, and the Laboratory for analyses, concervation and restoration of NIAM – Sevdalina Neykova, Petya Penkova, Plamen Bonev, Maria Tasseva

Designer Elena Boyadzhieva, National Museum of History

The annotations in the Catalogue are work of

A. M. – Alexander Minchev

B. T. – Bissera Tomova

C. T. – Constantine Totev

D. K. – Daniela Kodzhemanova

D. Y. – Dimitar Yankov

E. B. – Elka Bakalova G. G. – George Gerov

K. M. – Katya Melamed

L. D. – P. – Lyudmila Doncheva – Petkova

M. D. – Metodi Daskalov M. I. – Mariela Inkova

M. V. – Margarita Vaklinova P. D. – Peter Dimitrov S. G. – Snezhana Goryanova

S. S. – Stanislav Stanilov

T. M. – Todor Marvakov T. T. – Totyu Totev

Y. G. – Yordan Gatev Y. B. – Yuliana Boycheva

Photographer Krassimir Georgiev Translation Katya Melamed

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.

ZLATYU BOYAJIEV’ PERMANENT EXHIBITION

(Stoyan Chomakov House), 18 Saborna Street

The exhibition displaying the work of the great artist Zlatyu Boyadjiev (1903 – 1976) was opened in 1980 in this representative period-house. The multitude of canvases, some of imposing size, is displayed in all rooms of the big two-storey house. In the courtyard in front of the house there is monument to the honoured artist .

The noble Revival house, where the exhibition has been set out, was built for Dr. Stoyan Chomakov in 1860. It was a very modern-looking house for its time although it was a solid sym-metrically designed building with facades decorated in the classical style widely spread in Europe at the time. Dr.Chomakov was one of the first academically trained physicians in Plovdiv and was a champion for an autonomous Bulgarian church in the Revival bulgaria private tours.

After the Liberation the heirs gave the house as a present to King Ferdinand. In the 50s of the 20th c. it housed a branch of the Ivan Vazov Public Library until the time it was entirely renovated and given over for the setting up of the exhibition of the works by Zlatyu Boyadjiev.

‘GEORGI BOJILOV – SLONA’ PERMANENT EXHIBITION

(Skobelev House), 1 Knyaz Tseretelev Street

This Revival house is adjacent to the Hippocrates Pharmacy. Kostadin Kaftanjiyata, a Bulgarian from the town of Stara Zagora, built it in the 60s of the 19th century. In the years after the Liberation and until her death here lived Olga Sko- beleva (1823 -1880), mother of the Russian General Skobelev. She became known for her charity work in aid of the victims of the Turkish atrocities in South Bulgaria during the April Rising and the Liberation War. In gratitude for her concern for the orphaned children in Thrace, the Bulgarians have called her ‘Mother Skobeleva’. A memorial park has been dedicated to her off the Istanbul highway in the outskirts of Plovdiv.

At present the house is occupied by the Plovdiv branch of the ‘Future for Bulgaria’ Foundation. It was with the contribution of the foundation that in 2003 a permanent exhibition of the work of the prominent artist Georgi Bojilov-Slona was arranged. The end-wall of the house, facing Saborna Street is decorated with a commemorative panel dedicated to the artist and executed in paintings and mosaics to the design of Dimiter Kirov.

Apart from the period houses of great artistic and architectural value, Old Plovdiv possesses some buildings of lesser architectural merit but associated with significant events in the past. These are historic places marked with commemorative inscriptions. On Saborna Street opposite the Holy Virgin Cathedral stands the house of Dr. Rashko Petrov, a physician with a medical degree and a prominent revolutionary, who participated in the First Bulgarian Legion in Belgrade in 1862.

There he became friends with Vasil Levski – the ‘Apostle of Liberty’, who often stayed at Dr. Petrov’s house when in Plovdiv. Right after the Liberation War in 1878 the house was the seat of the interim Russian representation headed by the Imperial Commissioner Prince Alexander Dondukov-Korsakov. Next-door to Dr Rashko’s place is the house where Dr Konstantin Stoilov, an eminent Bulgarian politician and statesman, Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 1894 to 1899, was born.

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

Along Slaveykov Street

Along Slaveykov Street there are several Revival houses connected with Petko R. Slaveykov’s stay in Plovdiv in 1881 – 1883, when Plovdiv was the capital Eastern Ru- malia. He lived in the asymmetrical Revival house of Bedros Basmajyan, now housing the Home of the Teacher and bearing the name of the great public figure, poet and writer. Close by is the so-called Slaveyk- ov School, established in the distinguished- looking house of Georgi Panchev, where Petko Slaveykov taught. Another place is Slaveykov Cafe or Georgi Moraliyata’s Tavern frequented by the elderly teacher for his morning coffee. At the corner of Kiril Nektariev and Architect Hristo Peev Streets there stands an asymmetrical house from the end of the 18th c. the home for many years of the renowned artist Georgi Dan- chov Zografina.

He was a revolutionary, an associate of Vasil Levski’s, an exile in Anatolia and a volunteer in the Russo-Turkish Liberation War. The house has been recently reconstructed by the Chamber of Crafts in Koblents – Germany and now houses a vocational school. At the upper end of Dr. St. Chomakov Street is the home of the first mayor of Plovdiv after the Liberation, Atanas Samokovets bulgaria private tours, a prominent public and political figure, brother of the Revival artist Stanislav Dospevski.

Artin Gidikov

The corner of Artin Gidikov and 4th January Streets is occupied by the entirely renovated large symmetrical house of Artin Gidikov, an Armenian social figure and benefactor to Armenians and Bulgarians alike. On Saborna Sreet opposite the imposing building of the Girls’ Secondary School there is a memorial plaque reading that the Russian Consulate lay on this site before the Liberation. It was headed in 1957 – 1877 by the Revival figure and man of letters Naiden Gerov and on several occasions visited by Vasil Levski. A very small section of the historic consulate has survived to our time.

One of the most remarkable historic buildings in the Old Town is the Yellow School, called thus because of the colour of its walls. Actually this is the first Bulgarian secondary school to be opened in Plovdiv in 1868, a successor to the well-established diocesan SS. Cyril and Methodius School. The solid building was designed and erected by the well-known Bratsigovo master-builder Todor Dimov. The school is two-storey with an elevated ground floor and sparingly decorated but dignified facades.

On the corner of the building on Tsar Ivaylo and T.Samodumov Streets stand the well-preserved inscriptions in Bulgarian and Osmanli Turkish engraved on a commemorative tablet stating that ‘this public secondary school’ was built in 1868 by the good will of Sultan Abdul Azzis Khan. The yellow school or the SS. Cyril and Methodius First Bulgarian Secondary School is unique in Bulgaria for being still used as an educational establishment. It houses the folklore department of the Music Academy in Plovdiv.

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,

The first modern Bulgarian school in Plovdiv

The City Art Gallery of Plovdiv was set up in 1952. Its permanent exhibition is arranged in the historic building of the Girls’ School. The first modern Bulgarian school in Plovdiv, opened in 1850, was housed in a building on this site. It was also known by the name of SS. Cyril and Metho-dius Plovdiv Eparchial School. It was here that the day of the creators of the Bulgarian alphabet was first celebrated on May 11th 1856 on the initiative of Naiden Gerov and Yoakim Gruev.

Thus May 11th became an all-Bulgarian holiday during the Revival. In 1868 the Boys’ School grew into a secondary school and moved into another building, while the newly-founded Girls’ School was accommodated here. Soon after the Liberation the number of students increased and, moreover, it became necessary to build a girls’ secondary school, too. So in 1881 the present imposing building was erected on the site of the old school. It was designed by Joseph Schnitter, an architect from Plovdiv.

ICON COLLECTION

of the City Art Gallery 22 Saborna Street

The icon collection of the City Art Gallery of Plovdiv was founded in 1975. It was laid out in the school at the SS. Constantine and Helena Church. The icons in the exhibition belong to the 15th -19th centuries. They are remarkable works of art produced in Plovdiv and its area, but also in other parts of South Bulgaria bulgaria private tours. There are icons painted by the most eminent Revival artists such as Zahari Tsanyov from Tryavna, Hristo Dimitrov and his sons Dimiter and Zahari Zograf from Samokov, Nikola Odrinchanin and other representatives of the Tryavna, Samokov and Adrianople Schools of painting.

The old-world school building housing the collection has original architecture. It is a long rectangular structure whose shorter walls end in imposing triangular pediments, imparting to the house the appearance of an antique temple. The foundations of the building stand right on the fortress wall of the acropolis south of Hisar Gate and next to the so- called Round Tower.

‘TSANKO LAV RE NOV’ P ERMANENT EXHIBITION

(Kirkor Mesrobovich House) 11 Artin Gidikov Street

This exhibition of the work of the great artist Tsanko Lavrenov (1896 – 1978) has been displayed on the spacious ground floor of the Mesrobovich period-house since 2002. The paintings belong to the City Art Gallery fund of Plovdiv.

The house was built in 1846 on a perfectly symmetrical plan and has ceilings opulently decorated with woodcarving in all the rooms on the ground and upper floor. Its original owner Kirkor Mesrobovich, a notable Armenian from Plovdiv was a big landowner and money-lender and one of the founders of the ‘Brothers Mesrobovitch’ firm which continued in business for decades before and after the Liberation.

There is a second exhibition on the ground floor – of Mexican art, which displays works by Mexican artists of the 20th century. The rich collection was presented to Bulgaria on the occasion of the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian State and was first shown to the public in 1981 on its present site.