Tomb

Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo

Bulgaria Aleksandrovo Tentative World Heritage Site
Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo
Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo · Wikipedia

About

The Aleksandrovo tomb is a Thracian burial mound and tomb excavated near Aleksandrovo, Haskovo Province, South-Eastern Bulgaria, dated to c. 4th century BCE. On December 17, 2000, the tomb was accidentally uncovered by an earth-moving machine.

Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo

Looters subsequently entered the tomb, damaging some of its frescoes. In 2001 Bulgarian archaeologist Georgi Kitov led a rescue excavation of the tomb, discovering a round chamber of about 3 meters (9.8 ft) in diameter, accessible through a small antechamber and a tunnel, approximately 6 meters (20 ft) long. Both the antechamber and main chamber are decorated with well-preserved frescoes that reflect the artist's knowledge of Late Classical and Early Hellenistic art.

Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo

The fresco in the main chamber depicts a hunting scene where a boar is attacked by a mounted hunter and a naked man wielding a double-axe. The double-axe is interpreted as representing royal power, the naked man as representing Zalmoxis, the Thracian solar god corresponding to Zeus. A graffito in the chamber inscribed with the Thracian name Kozemases indicates either the tomb's noble patron or its artist.

Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo

The Thracian tomb of Alexandrovo is dated at early 4th century BCE. Wall paintings...