Thracian Tomb of Aleksandrovo

Near the city of Haskovo, in the heart of the Thracian plain, is a Thracian temple-tomb from the 4th century BC. It is a World Heritage Site due to the importance of the unique paintings found there, among them a one-of-a-kind depiction of the Thracian god Zalmoxis. The tomb itself is closed to visitors, but there is an exact reconstruction (replica) of it in the Museum of Thracian Treasures of the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, established by the Japanese on a nearby hill.

In the modern museum, you can see gold treasures from the Neolithic period, artifacts and treasures discovered in Thracian tombs, as well as a reconstruction of the Alexandrovo Tomb Temple, which consists of a long access corridor and a round chamber at the end.

In the round chamber, there are seven bands of paintings, from bottom to top. In the ceiling is a golden sun, and around it a band of human figures busy hunting—four black wild boars and a stag with antlers. According to the interpretation of the site’s discoverer, archaeologist Georgi Kitov, the hunting scenes are symbolic and represent the victory of the forces of good over evil, the triumph of order (cosmos) over chaos, which is represented by the black boar. One of the figures is seated on a panther skin and wears special clothing—probably the king or a priest. In front of him is the figure of an elderly, naked, heavyset man holding a double axe above his head—a symbol of divinity—and this is likely a representation of the god Zalmoxis.

In the damaged lower band, figures of people are seen drinking, dancing, and playing music—probably engaged in religious worship involving singing and dancing according to the Orphic tradition. In the corridor, figures of people are shown fighting against Amazons and other mythological beings. War and victory are symbolic—representing the internal struggle against chaos and the triumph over death.

The nearby city of Haskovo is a large city by Bulgarian standards (close to 200,000 people). In the city, you will find a citadel from the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire, and next to it a chapel with a statue of Mary holding Jesus in her arms. This is the largest statue of Mary with the baby Jesus in the world; it was built at the initiative of the local mayor in the 2000s and appears in the Guinness Book of Records. In addition, the city has an important historical museum, several interesting churches, a clock tower, and a beautiful pedestrian street.

aleksandravo tomb bulgaria