A Bulgarian archaeologist has unearthed an ancient gold mask and a ring featuring an “Olympic” rower in what he called an unrivaled find in the study of classical antiquity.
Georgi Kitov told Reuters Friday that the artifacts were from the 5th century B.C. and likely belonged to a leader of the Thracians, the dispersed tribes who once lived in parts of what is now modern-day Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Turkey and Greece.
“The mask is a portrait of a Thracian king, from what I believe is the tomb of Teres,” Kitov said.
He said the portrait, found Thursday, may be a more significant find than the so-called Mask of Agamemnon, one of the most famous images of Greek antiquity and centerpiece of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
“It is sensational and has no comparison in the world,” he said. “The Mask of Agamemnon was made of gold foil and weighs only 60 grams [2.1 ounces], while this mask weighs 690 grams [24 ounces] and is of solid gold.”
Dedicated to Olympic athletes
Kitov said the ring, found near the mask, featured what looked like an Olympic rower in midstroke.
“I think it’s an Olympic rower. The relief is so dynamic and striking,” he said of the 15-gram (0.5-ounce), solid gold band. “We are dedicating this find to our rowers in Athens. It’s a sign that they should win a gold medal.”
Bulgarian rowers are poised to compete in the Olympic Games in Athens Saturday. Bulgarian two-time world champion Rumyana Neykova is a one of three favorites in Saturday’s women’s single sculls competition.
'Very significant' find
The head of the Bulgaria’s National Museum of History, Bozhidar Dimitrov, said although he had not seen the mask or ring, he believed them to be authentic due to Kitov’s reputation and experience.
“If it’s a mask, and it’s from the start of the fifth century, then it is very significant,” he said. “We have discovered several Thracian masks, but never one of gold.”
The Thracians lived on the fringes of the Greek and Roman civilizations, often intermingling and clashing with the more advanced cultures until they were absorbed around A.D. 45.
Archaeologists have discovered a large number of artifacts in Bulgaria’s Thracian tombs in recent decades, providing most of what is known of the culture, as it had no written language and produced no lasting records.
