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
That's the death mask. It would have been made of gold foil.
Looks like my Solid Gold Rolex®: a-w-e-s-o-m-e!
Looks like me at my last prop blast thingy.
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That was my initial thought as well.
:-)
The Bulgarian mask is a lot more sophisticated, isn't it? Look at the modeling of the ears, for example.
The picture seems to be gone already. As I recall from last night it was finely detailed work. I always liked the look of a big lump of gleaming gold, anyway.
Hope to see a picture of this mask sometime soon. Very interesting.
Thanks!
Ancient bronze head discovered
BULGARIAN archaeologists have unearthed a 2300-year old bronze head depicting an ancient Thracian ruler in a find they called unique for the era, a newspaper reported today."This massive bronze head dates back to the 4th century BC ... and is the first discovery of its kind, as no similar metal objects of Thracian art have been found," the project's lead archaeologist, Georgi Kitov, told the Bulgarian daily 24 Chasa.
Dr. Kitov, who is at the excavation site, could not be immediately reached for comment.
The head weighs 10kg and bears the image of a balding bearded man, most likely a Thracian ruler, Dr. Kitov was quoted as saying. ...
"The bronze head apparently was severed from a whole statue and then buried in a ritual aimed at appeasing Thracian gods," Dr. Kitov told 24 Chasa.
In August, Dr. Kitov's team unearthed a 2400-year old golden mask in the tomb of an ancient Thracian king located in the same area.
Did it look like this except more yellowish?
I didn't read anything about a throne ...
Well that does come after a Thrace in a thmall Thraight.
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