Posted on 08/20/2004 3:54:16 PM PDT by blam
Ancient golden mask unearthed
August 20 2004 at 06:14PM
Sofia, Bulgaria - Bulgarian archaeologists have unearthed a 2 400-year-old golden mask in the tomb of an ancient Thracian king, a newspaper said on Friday.
The mask bears the image of a human face and is made of 500 grams of solid gold, the project's lead archaeologist Georgi Kitov told the local Trud daily.
The discovery was made on Thursday near the village of Shipka, 200 kilometres east of Sofia.
Kitov, who is at the excavations site, could not be reached immediately for comment.
Dozens of Thracian mounds are spread throughout this region, which archaeologists have dubbed 'the Bulgarian valley of kings' in reference to the Valley of Kings near Luxor, which is home to the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs.
"This unique mask looks even better than the famous image of King Agamemnon," the Greek hero described by Homer in the Iliad, Kitov was quoted as saying.
"This is the first Thracian mask of solid gold ever found," he was quoted as saying, adding that previously archaeologists had only found masks covered with golden foil.
Kitov suggested that the mask could belong to King Seutus III, the Thracian king who ruled these lands in the fifth century BC.
The tomb was covered with six stone slates, each weighing at least two tons. The king's remains have not yet been found, but excavations at the tomb continue, Kitov said.
In addition to the golden mask, archaeologists discovered a golden ring with a rower's image as well as many bronze and silver vessels, the report said. - Sapa-AP
Gold! Takes a licking and keeps on ticking!
Smokkkinnnnnnnn!
The local version of the New York Times for the dyslexic?
And closed at $410.55 today, up another $5.
It mightily resembles the find Schliemann mistook for "the face of Agamemnon," although it probably wasn't.
Tends to mean "labor" in the Slavic languages. Russia has or once had a journal of this name.
Big volume burst at the end, upticking. Monday might be interesting.
The Schliemann mask.
You know, while this is a good find, I've always wondered about the morality of digging up someone's burial spot.
I mean, personally, I wouldn't care. When you are dead, you're dead. But there seems to be a degree of inconsideration in the act when done to people who would most certainly object.
I bet that after this find the locals will upend every stone within 50 miles, and both genuine and bogus artifacts will hit the market in few weeks.
Doesn't the man holding the mask look very much like the mask?
Is it just me or does this golden mask look like the guy holding it?
The mask looks like spitting image of the guy holding it in that picture (sans big brows and hat).
That is very good work.
He's the great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandson of the guy depicted in the mask. That's why the family resemblance.
You Mean like this school teacher?
Looks like they wanted to make sure the king would not be getting up again.
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