Three tombs with mural paintings have been discovered near the town of Kazanlak so far. They prove the wide use of art of painting as a detail of inside decoration of the Thracian tombs during the Hellenic period. Undoubtedly the most interesting tomb is the Kazanlak Thracian Tomb.
The tomb was discovered by chance in 1944 during the digging of one of the hills in Kazanlak park “Tulbe”, which looked like a natural hilly eminence.
In the burial chamber have been discovered little objects, which is a sign that the tomb was plundered in the antiquity. But there has been discovered a skillfully made silver pitcher. Her neck is decorated with gilt sash fretted with laurel leaves.
Despite the small number of finds we can say that two people have been buried in the burial chamber.
In
accordance with its architecture the Kazanlak Thracian tomb is said to be a
unique building. The frame of the tomb consists of a brick burial chamber, where
there is suchlike beehive,bell-like
dome.
The burial chamber is connected
with cramped brick corridor where there is a rectangular door that gives access
to it. The tomb has been brick-built. The bricks in the corridor are
rectangular, but in the beehive premise they are trapezium-shaped.
Kazanlak tomb is famous for its unique mural paintings. They are said to be a masterpiece in the antique Thracian art. That’s the reason that the Kazanlak Tomb is among the finds of the greatest historical value.
On the frieze on the eastern wall
has been painted an encounter between two armies. Central position takes two
warriors, faced with each other.
In the burial chamber there is a wide frieze in figured art of painting, where a polyfigured composition is presented with the topic “Funeral treat”. There is noble Thracian couple. There are many other women and men too, two richly saddled horses and other four splendidly ornate horses. The highest part of the dome is divided into three parts. In every part there is a swift tearing cavalry. Young coachmen’s figures are full of tension.
The discovery of the Kazanlak Thracian tomb gives archaeologists many new possibilities of research work. Her unique architecture and incredible mural paintings help the investigation of the art and culture of Hellenism, because Thracians are not only bearers but also sharers in the formation. Today the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak is an important historical and cultural record, which attracts hundreds of tourists from all over the world with its uniqueness.