site.btaSozopol Archaeological Museum Contributes Four Artefacts to Forthcoming Ancient Thrace Getty Museum Exhibition

The Archaeological Museum in Sozopol has contributed four artefacts to an upcoming exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, the museum’s Director, Dimitar Nedev, told BTA. The Ancient Thrace and the Ancient World. Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece exhibition features more than 150 artefacts. It will be on between November 3 and March 3, 2025.  

"The exhibition is an emanation of the policy of Bulgaria's Ministry of Culture to promote the cultural heritage of antiquity, especially the Thracian treasures. Sozopol, and particularly the exhibits from ancient Apollonia, always accompany these treasures. Why? Because it is the most ancient city on the territory of modern Bulgaria. And since its foundation at the end of the 7th century BC, it has had a special function - the Hellenic influences that penetrated the lands of ancient Thrace passed through this city. It was here that the urban culture and civilization of the Western Pontic coast was born, which spread in the following centuries on Thracian soil,“ Nedev told BTA. 

The museum has already sent the valuable artefacts, including the already well-known Apollonia jug. This provides valuable information about the connection between Thracian and Hellenic civilizations that underlie contemporary European civilization. 

The most prized exhibit

“The most valuable exhibit that shows this interpenetration between Thracian and Hellenistic civilization is the Apollonian jar. It is a 5th century BC cantharid vessel that depicts Thracians. There are two such jars in the world. They are exclusively related to the history of ancient Apollonia. One is from the collection of the Sozopol Archaeological Museum. The other one was discovered dozens of years ago near Karnobat, inland to the west, but it is also related to the trade of Apollonia, to the lands of Ancient Thrace," said the Director of the Sozopol Archaeological Museum. Nedev pointed out that the jug is unique not only for its iconography. It depicts scenes of Thracian warriors descending from the mountain or returning from hunting in their typical clothing and equipment. "It is also interesting for its shape. That is why this priceless exhibit is often present in the exhibitions that the Bulgarian state organizes abroad," said Nedev. 

Bowl with inscription dedicated to Apollo the Healer

The exhibits that the Sozopol Museum has already sent to Los Angeles include a large bowl, datable in the period 580 - 560 BC, with a votive inscription dedicated to Apollo the Healer. In the ancient world, the city of Apollonia was famous for its temple built in honor of the eponymous God for the surrounding lands.  

"This temple was on St. Kirik island. The history here is very interesting, because years ago in the corpus of Bulgarian ancient inscriptions, prof. Mihailov published a stone inscription with the name Apollo Iatros (Healer), which was then lost over the years, probably the local fishermen used it as a weight for their nets. Now colleagues have recently discovered a ritual pit on St. Kirik island and this bowl, along with many interesting zoomorphic vessels from the same period, the inscription says that someone from Knidos gave this bowl to the god Apollo Iatros. Researchers disputed for a very long time where this temple was located. The latest research, led by Assoc. Prof. Kristina Panayotova proved conclusively that the temple of Apollo the Healer was there (on St. Kirik's Island). It was also famous for the colossus that adorned the temple and stood 13 meters high, very expensive and decorated with gold. So Apollonia was among the richest cities on the Western Black Sea coast. And the cult and administrative core with the temenos (fief) was on the island. Three temples have already been found side by side, a large altar with a pedestal where the statue probably stood. 

This is the most important archaeological evidence for this statue, which later Loculus, capturing Apollonia, took to Rome and it was lost when the city was destroyed in its western part by the barbarians. Another testimony to this temple is an issue of coins in different denominations which represent the statue of Apollo Iatros. So this bowl is one testimony to the role, importance and wealth of this city. This bowl will also be on display in Los Angeles. An amphoriskos from this early period is also involved," Dimitar Nedev further added. 

The Stele of Deinis - the other remarkable monument from Sozopol

The small amphora was discovered in the port of Sozopol at the beginning of the last century, but it is in the possession of the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, he said. Also from there will be shown one of the most notable monuments originating from Sozopol - the stele of Deinis.

"It is the earliest stele discovered in the country. On it, Deinis is represented in a full-length statue, feeding his dog with a leg of sheep. 

“The discovery is dated to the early 5th century BC or the beginning of the Early Classical era. The Archaeological Museum - Sozopol is famous for having the largest collection in the country of painted ancient Greek vases. Part of its participation in this national exhibition includes a work by the Apollonian master, the Director of the Archaeological Museum in the town revealed. 

When iconography and vase painting deteriorated in the 4th century BC, it was the Apollonian master who stood out as a painter of great detail and finesse. He made mostly large format, polychrome incense vessels, using white, blue and green paint and gold leaf. The themes on his works vary - mythological subjects are most often encountered, but there is no shortage of examples with epinedria (name of ancient games, may be misspelt). Many of his works were found in Sozopol as early as the 1930s. German art historians and scholars of antiquity called him Apollonia Mahler. 

He painted hydras, but mostly lekythes (vessels for holding oil) in the Eleusinian cycle or in the Eros - Aphrodite cycle, Nedev explained, adding that one of his vessels has been sent to Los Angeles.  

The exhibition also includes a lekythos from Sozopol, which belongs to the National Archaeological Museum. Although the Sozopol  Archaeological Museum will participate with four objects in the exhibition, eight of the artefacts in it are related to the seaside town, as the rest will be provided by the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.