“The Thracians? I don’t know much about them. Was that a culture here in Bulgaria during the Roman era?” the main character of the book asks.
So, here is the answer. With pictures of typical Thracian treasures similar to those depicted in my novel.
As mentioned in the book, the Thracians "came before the Romans! Thrace was a country in this part of the world before the rise of the Greeks and the Romans. Its territory included Bulgaria, parts of Greece, and parts of Turkey."
What do we know about the Thracians?
"The Thracians included a distinct group of militant tribes that lived in this area, and they had their own language, kings, burial customs, and cultures. They fought against the ancient Greeks and Persians, were conquered by Philip of Macedonia and later by the Romans. Considered to be ruthless warriors, they were hired by their conquerors as mercenaries, and apparently they enjoyed the looting and pillaging that came in the wake of their battles."
"The Thracians were skilled metal workers, adept at creating the finest jewelry and working with the most-valued metals. The Thracians were a highly militaristic tribal people, feared throughout the Balkans as they expanded their sphere of influence. Their wealth rivaled that of the surrounding countries of that age. Their sculptures were crafted with remarkable artisan skills and were often crowned with semiprecious stones. The Thracians were knowledgeable in the science of viniculture and engaged in elaborate drinking rituals. They believed in resurrection after death and buried their leaders in opulent tombs full of objects that would be used in the afterlife."
Many of the Thracian rulers were buried in the area near Kazanlak in central Bulgaria, an area which is known as the Valley of the Thracian Kings. It is believed that there are nearly 1,500 funeral mounds in the region dating back to Thracian days. Pictured below is the entrance to a reconstructed Thracian tomb near Kazanlak.
What happened to the Thracians?
“The Thracians were subjugated by Alexander the Great and later were conquered by the Romans… As a people, the Thracians eventually became Hellenized and later yet, they were subjects of the Roman Empire until finally their culture and language disappeared—a forgotten chapter in history."
Not forgotten! This ancient people play a major role in Valley of Thracians.
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