Thracian tomb of Aleksandrovo kurgan

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Coordinates: 41°58′58″N 25°43′9″E / 41.98278°N 25.71917°E / 41.98278; 25.71917

Hunting scene on the main chamber fresco

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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^[1], 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^[2] or its artist.^[3]

The Thracian tomb of Alexandrovo is dated at early 4th century BC.^[4] Wall paintings exhibit the change in appearance due to Greek influence.^[4] In the wall-paintings beards, tattoos, cloaks, boots, hats, top-knots have disappeared.^[4] Greek footwear replaces their boots.^[4] The tomb may be that of Triballi.^[5]

Also other changes are seen such as Thracians wearing gold or bronze torcs around their necks (usually three).^[4]

See also

• Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak
• Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Webber, Christopher. "The Alexandrovo Tomb and other Recent Discoveries", Slingshot 216, July 2001, pp 47-50
2. ^ ^{a b} Theodossiev, Nikola, "The tholos tomb at Alexandrovo: Thracian funerary paintings in a broader context", 2005
3. ^ Petrov, Irko. "The Thracian Tomb in Aleksandrovo", Haskovo, 2007
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} The Thracians 700 BC-AD 46 (Men-at-Arms) by Christopher Webber and Angus McBride, 2001, ISBN 1-84176-329-2, page 19
5. ^ The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 6: The Fourth Century BC (Hardcover) by D. M. Lewis, ISBN 0-521-23348-8, 1994, page 463

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