Cultural Richness and Syncretism in North-East Bulgaria
- Mattia Baldoni
- 20 set 2019
- Tempo di lettura: 4 min
North-Eastern Bulgarian Archaeological sites are widely appreciated for their preservation and their importance. Witnessing the millennial historical development of this region, these places show an interesting overlapping of civilizations and peoples. Since Prehistoric Age, through Thracian and Roman period, objects and sites perfectly represent that historical succession, clearly showing an important and mutual influence among societies and cultures. Contacts, trades, as well as wars, were the engine of these material and cultural exchanges, shown through evident signs of syncretism in styles and artefacts’ subjects.
Some examples of this syncretism and cultural richness can be recognized in many archaeological sites and museums in North-East Bulgaria, as we appreciated during our 4-days observation trip all over the region.
Regional History Museum, Silistra (Website: http://www.museumsilistra.com/)
One of these amazing examples can be found at the Regional History Museum of Silistra. Here, among excellent Ancient Age relics, there is a great representation of these cultural mix.
This is a limestone sun clock, found in Durostorum (name of Roman settlement - Silistra) and dated around II/III centuries A.C.
In the central part [Pictures 1 & 2], it is described the Orpheus myth, clearly derived from Greek tradition. The cantor, wandering in Rhodope Mountains, is playing his harp, calling around him animals from the forest, attracted by the sound of his musical instrument. The scene is located between two columns, on the top of which there are other two mythologic subjects. They represent two Egyptian deities, Isis [Picture 3] and Serapis [Picture 4], results of the syncretism that already involved Nile Roman province. As many historic civilizations, this mixture of subjects from ancient and foreign cultures represented references to classical and culturally rich societies, taken as inspiration without refusing their own values’ superiority.
Roman Tomb, Silistra
Roman Tomb in Silistra is a wonderful example of Roman murals, well preserved in forms and colors. Dated around the middle of the 4th century, it is considered to be an emblematic creation of late antique civilization, showing the border of two civilizations and two cultural patterns.
The subject is a rich, probably aristocratic family from the region. The settled pagan decorative system tells us that the owner was definitely a pagan, despite the presence of elements from the new Christian worldview. The rich mural decoration (geometric, plant, animal and human figures, hunting scenes, family couple and their servants) bears the hallmarks of the post-Constantine era. Thanks to this style, we can state that the author was a gifted artist, who probably came from the Eastern provinces of the Empire (Egypt or Syria).
The central panel depicts the master of the tomb in full height, dressed in the costume of a noble Roman commander - a magistrate, probably a patrician, who holds an imperial diploma in his hand - a codicil. Next to him is his noble wife, and on both sides are directed by servants who serve utensils and utensils for ritual washing, toilets, and the elements of the master's costume - a magistrate. It’s interesting to highlight syncretic aspects also in patron’s “dressing code”. One of the male servants is carrying a pair of trousers, a garment derived from Scythian tradition.
Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari (Website: http://sborianovo.com/en/objects/the-sveshtari-tomb-with-the-karyatids-11.html )
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari is a great example of artistic mixture among Greek and Thracian civilizations. Indeed, it is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getae, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hyperborean and Hellenistic worlds, as the tomb's architectural decor shows us. Ten half-human, half-plant caryatids surround the coffin in the main chamber, while the decorations of the lunette clearly show Greek architectures elements, such as triglyphs and columns with Ionic order capitals. Also, the vault represents the only example of this type found so far in the Thracian lands.
History Museum, Razgrad
(Website: http://www.abritus.org/index.html)
History Museum of Razgrad and Abritus archaeological site offer a wide range of artefacts, found in the nearby region. Matrixes [Picture 1] and votive tiles, shown in the Museum, represent the best of the cultural mixture between the civilizations, that lived in the area. One of the most important matrixes represents the God Sabazios, riding a Thracian horse [Picture 2]. This kind of knight is a typical example of Thracian culture and art. Thracian horsemen's depictions are very common and easily recognizable in many regional sites. Sabazios, linked also to Greek-Roman mysteries, is the perfect instance to show links between these civilizations and their cults. Indeed, in another tile, Sabazius is forged with a Roman helmet and cloak [Picture 3].
Other matrixes show us several gods and myths, coming from Greek and Latin religions, as Zeus, Hera and Ares [Picture 1]. We can also clearly recognise Cybele, and some of Hercules’ far-ranging adventures. The most common is the representation of the fight with Nemean Lion [Picture 2] and victorious hero holding lion skin [Picture 3]. It’s also interesting the figure of Hecate, Greek goddess of magic and necromancy [Picture 4]. Particularly venerated in Thrace, thanks to her Pre-Indo-European origins, the goddess represents a link with Indian and Asian cults. Anyway, the identity of the goddess is still under dispute, due t many similarities with Persian Mithra. Despite she is represented with her usual symbolic animal, a dog, and she is wearing the peculiar crown, she isn’t three-formed or three-faced, exactly like in the earliest Greek depictions. Traditionally, she was also depicted alongside the god Hermes and the Anatolian mother-goddess Cybele [Picture 5]
These examples of syncretism state the cultural richness of this region, flourishing since Ancient Age thanks to crossroad-role of this area, place of meeting among several civilizations.
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