Ancient Thrace is still mainly associated with the emblematic figure of Orpheus and various Thracian kings such as Rhesus and Tereus, who punctuated the Greek mythological world. Yet this region, located between the Aegean and Black Seas, actually witnessed the rise of a powerful kingdom headed by a people called the Odrysae. Stimulated by its numerous exchanges with the Greeks, the Macedonians, the Persians, and the Scythians, the Odrysian kingdom forged its own identity around a turbulent warrior aristocracy. In recent years, the vitality of Bulgarian archaeological research has spurred a rediscovery of Thracian civilization, epitomized by exceptional tombs that convey the economic, social, cultural, and artisanal wealth of the Odrysian kingdom. This exhibition catalogue explores ancient Thrace by looking at various components of the Odrysian kingdom. On show for the first time will be several complete sets of major tomb furnishings, allowing comparison of previously unseen items with similar material found in Greek city-states along the coast.
