Archaeologists discovered a lead seal by Tsar Simeon I the Great. The finding is seen as a real sensation in the scientific circle.
Tsar Simeon I the Great ruled Bulgaria from 893 to 927 and his reign marked the heyday of Bulgarian medieval history. Under his rule Bulgaria grew into the largest European power both politically and in territory. But his successful armed campaigns, Simeon was also acclaimed for his persistent cultural, literary and educational policies which formed the basis of the Christian Orthodoxy in newly baptized Bulgaria.
The team of Prof Margarita Vaklinova and Irina Shtereva found the royal seal south to the cathedral of the royal family in the ruins of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom's capital of Veliki Preslav.
Ten similar seals are known to have been found so far and only four of them are kept in museums, the rest are private property.
The seal was categorically dated to after 917 when the battle of Aheloy (or Achelous) took place. The battle of Aheloy is considered to have been one of the goriest in middle ages. Total over 90ÿ000 people are believed to have lost their lives it, about 70ÿ000 of them ? Byzantine soldiers
The adverse shows an image of Christ surrounded by an inscription running roughly like "To victorious Simeon, may he live long". The reverse features an image of the Bulgarian ruler holding the symbols of power in his hands. The image is surrounded by another inscription reading "Simeon, in the name of Christ, ruler of the Romans."
For this namely inscription, the archaeologists are explicit that the seal was minted after the battle of Aheloy.
Author: Biliana Vesselinova | Source: Standart [September 08, 2010]
