There’s always something enchanting about treasures. A treasure is like a time capsule, offering a glimpse into our history, culture, and society. In times past, there had been a number of silver treasures being discovered in Bulgaria. The Rogozen Silver Treasure is the largest treasure to be discovered in Bulgaria. Found on the obscure Rogozen Island, it was touted by some to be the “find of the century”.
Like the Borovo Silver Treasure, the Rogozen Silver Treasure was unearthed by a man on a tractor. In 1985, Ivan Dimitrov was going to dig a well in a vegetable garden in the heart of the village when he uncovered some silver objects about 50 cm below the ground. After some digging, he turned over 65 pieces of ancient silver to the museum in Vratsa. Thereafter, excavators unearthed a further 100 silver objects, bringing the total number to 165; consisting of 108 phiales, 54 jugs, and 3 goblets. A large portion of the silver vessels were embellished with gold.
Dating back to the 5th and 4th century BC, the Hogozen Silver treasure is an extraordinary example of the opulence of the Thracians. Judging from some of the inscriptions on the vessels, some of the items were believed to have belonged to a Thracian king. In total, the Hogozen treasure weighs close to 20 kg. On many of the items, rich elements connected to Greek and Thracian mythology are evident. The entire hoard was believed to be collected by a noble family over a long period and some of the vessels were supposedly brought in from other nations. However, the bulk of the treasure was unmistakably Thracian.
One of the most intriguing images of the Hogozen Silver Treasure is the scene of Heracles’ Rape of Princess Auge. Almost naked, the princess is seen in a submissive pose, her right hand inviting the right hand of a fully naked Heracles to her neck or chin. Meanwhile, Heracles places his right foot over Auge’s left foot, indicating his dominance, though he appears to be a little dejected. On some of the artifacts, there are images of horses, fish, snakes, deers, and griffins. There are also a number of objects with some interesting symbols and patterns.
If you wish to view the Rogozen Silver Treasure, you have to make a trip to the National Museum of History in Sofia, Bulgaria. It will most definitely be an enlightening experience. Perhaps, you have to wait another day. For now, you can receive the top dollar for silver from a top silver buyer. If you want to sell silver, don’t wait another day.
