The tomb “Golyamata Kosmatka” near Kazanlak is the biggest, the richest and the oldest one ever found in the territories of Bulgaria. The architecture of the tomb is unique not only for Bulgaria, but also for the whole world. It dates back to 5th century B.C. The find turns the scientists’ idea of the beginning of the Thracian kingdom upside down. 2400 years the premises have been left standing which is a great illustration of the incredible skills of Thracian builders and architects.

The tomb had been built as a temple but after that it was turned into mausoleum. The great king Sevt the 3rd who was a ruler of the Thracians was buried in it. He lived in the end of 4th and in the beginning of 3rd century BC. He built the town Sevtopolis (the town of Sevt) which was his capital. He was the only one who named a town after himself. The village was made wholly of stone and adobe and there was a palace and a temple. Sevt fought against Macedonian rulers and he won the battles.

“Golyamata Kosmatka” is over 20 metres high and its diameter is about 200 metres. The door of the tomb is made of marble and the ancient gods Apolon and Dionis are displayed on it. The building includes a 13 metres long corridor made of wooden beams. There are also three other premises which are approximately 26 metres in length. The entrances of the first and second chambers were blocked up with stone walls. The doors were made of marble and were decorated with human images and imitations of steel nails, as well as with plastic ornaments coloured mainly in blue and red. These are the first doors of this type found in our country.The entrance of the third chamber was only one left open. This chamber was built in a granite block which weighs 60-70 tones.

In the main chamber which is rectangular and vaulted a skeleton of a horse was found. The archeologists found there also a sarcophagus (60 tones weight). The floor and the couch were littered with plenty of golden objects. The vessels were perhaps left there to be in use of the dead in his after life. There were also golden threads with which the litter was decorated. The archeologists came upon a great treasure of 73 objects (including 20 golden ones). The finds’ general prime cost is about tens of millions of euro.

Ones of the most valuable objects found in the tomb are:

• A golden crown (300 grams, 45 centemetres) which is covered with golden acorns and oak leaves. It’s dated back to the end of 5th century BC, in spite of the claim of some scientists that before the mid of 4th century there weren’t any golden crowns.

• Golden lion with an open mouth.

• Golden deer with strongly branched horns- which the scientists define as a very fine workmanship.

• A golden pot for drinking wine(about 300 grams)

• Golden horse - trappings with an image of a black person.

• Golden sword and sheathe tied with 10 golden rings.

• An image of a warrior with a pike.

• Female heads - perhaps of goddesses.

• A bronze plate with a bas-relief image of swastika.

Just in front of the tomb archeologists found a bronze head. This is a man’s head approximately 35-40 years old with expressive features - curly hair, enormous moustaches and beard and beautiful eyes. At first, archaeologist considered that this was a sculpture of the head of Zeus. Further examination, however, proved that they were not right. Thus, the head is connected with the legend of Orpheus. The ceremonial funeral for the ancient Thracians after Orpheus is rather unusual. The dead person’s body is torn apart in 7 pieces because 7 is the sacred number of the Thracians. Then these pieces are buried in different places usually pointing to the four directions of the world.

Only two kilometers away from the ‘Golqmata Kosmatka’ other stunning objects have been found. One of the most impressive finds is the golden mask of the Thracian king Teres. Very interesting is also the 15-gram golden ring on which a rower is portrayed. Golden chain armour and parts of other ancient equipment were found, as well.