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Cut-out detail; background removed. The jug has a narrow neck and side handle. On its body a lion bites a hind.
Silver jug

Rogozen Treasure · Antiquity

Who hid 165 silver vessels?

Who owned the silver, and why was it buried?

9 scenes · 3 min · Sources · 19

StartListen

A garden channel reveals the first vessels. Archaeologists find another hundred. Shapes, images and inscriptions help explain the find, but leave questions about its owner.

The jug has a narrow neck and side handle. On its body a lion bites a hind.

Part 1 · Antiquity

A channel reaches silver

In 1985 a man digs a water channel in his vegetable garden in Rogozen, in the Vratsa region. Along with earth, he finds silver vessels. The archaeologists’ account names him as tractor driver Ivan Dimitrov. This first group contains 65 vessels, buried about half a metre deep.

Dimitrov tells the mayor, who informs the museum in Vratsa. Rescue excavation begins: archaeologists investigate to preserve both the objects and the evidence around them.

Listen to scene · 1

Synthetic voice · 0:30
Sources · 2
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Иво Иванов; интервю с археолога Нарцис Торбов Рогозенското съкровище вече четири десетилетия разказва за живота на траките БНР — Радио България · 2026
The case and transparent supports are modern. The vessels are arranged for display, not as they lay in the pits.
Geographic context, without historical bordersGeographic context, without historical borders12
Geographic context, without historical borders

Part 2 · Antiquity

Another hundred, five metres away

On 6 January 1986 the archaeologists discover a second pit. It lies five metres northwest of the first. Inside are another 100 silver vessels. Together the two groups make 165.

There are no traces of a grave or ancient settlement in the first pit. So we cannot say the vessels were gifts for a dead person. Rogozen is the place of discovery. Vratsa is the city of the museum whose archaeologists investigate the find.

Listen to scene · 2

Synthetic voice · 0:29
Sources · 4
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Société nationale des Antiquaires de France (minutes; presentation by Georges St. Popov) Vie de la société — Séance du 25 juin Bulletin de la Société nationale des Antiquaires de France · 1987 · 1986 · 152
  3. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Rogozen — village of discovery: geographical record
  4. OpenStreetMap contributors Регионален исторически музей — Враца, node 2549846342 OpenStreetMap / Nominatim
An open bowl with a raised centre, called an omphalos. Silver and gold-coloured patterns alternate around it.

Part 3 · Antiquity

A bowl with a raised centre

A phiale is an open bowl. The raised part at the centre of its base is called an omphalos. In the photograph, silver and gold-coloured patterns alternate around it. This is gilding: a thin layer of gold over silver, rather than a solid gold vessel.

1 · Omphalos
An omphalos is the raised boss at the centre of a phiale’s base.
2 · Gilded ornament
The gold-coloured areas are gilding over silver. They do not make the entire vessel gold.
3 · Bowl rim
The rim surrounds an open bowl. This is a phiale, rather than a narrow-necked jug.

Listen to scene · 3

Synthetic voice · 0:16
Sources · 5
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Фиали Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  3. Société nationale des Antiquaires de France (minutes; presentation by Georges St. Popov) Vie de la société — Séance du 25 juin Bulletin de la Société nationale des Antiquaires de France · 1987 · 1986 · 152
  4. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  5. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver omphalos bowl Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
The jug has a narrow neck and side handle. On its body a lion bites a hind.

Part 4 · Antiquity

The lion on the jug

This jug has a narrow neck and a side handle. On its body a lion attacks a hind, a female deer. The craftsperson made both mane and legs visible on a small curved surface. Other images show human figures and winged creatures.

1 · Lion
The lion is above the hind. The decoration rises above the surface: this is called relief. Short lines outline its mane.
2 · Hind
The hind is the animal attacked by the lion in this scene on the vessel.
3 · Handle
The handle curves along the jug’s side. It is used to hold the vessel.

Listen to scene · 4

Synthetic voice · 0:15
Sources · 7
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Кани Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  3. Adam Jones File:Thracian Gilt Silver vessel 5th–4th centuries BCE Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  4. Adam Jones File:Thracian Gilt silver vessel Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria by MH 02.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  5. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  6. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH 01.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  7. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher lion attacking a deer Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 5 · Antiquity

Point to the bowl

Which description fits the photographed phiale?

  1. An open bowl with a central boss.
  2. A narrow-necked jug with a side handle.
  3. A vessel made entirely of solid gold.
Why is that?

The boss is the visible raised centre of the open bowl’s base.

Correct · An open bowl with a central boss.

  1. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  2. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver omphalos bowl Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Listen to scene · 5

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 2
  1. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  2. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver omphalos bowl Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
A silver jug with a handle, human figure and animal heads. The figure’s identity cannot be established from the photograph alone.

Part 6 · Antiquity

Disloyas’s signature

Some vessels have inscriptions in Greek. They contain names of people and settlements. Disloyas is read as a maker’s name.

A name can tell part of a vessel’s story. It does not show who last owned all the vessels.

Listen to scene · 6

Synthetic voice · 0:13
Sources · 6
  1. Александър Фол Въведение в проблематиката Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Фиали Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  3. Michel Sève (notices 259–261); collective bulletin by Philippe Gauthier, Georges Rougemont, Jean Bousquet, Simone Follet, Laurent Dubois, Olivier Masson, Bruno Helly, Pierre Cabanes, Miltiades B. Hatzopoulos, Jacques Tréheux, Monique Bile, Charlotte Rouéché, Jean Bingen, Catherine Dobias-Lalou Bulletin épigraphique, notices 259–261 Revue des Études Grecques · 1988 · 101 · 293–491 (used p. 336)
  4. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Заключение Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  5. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  6. Регионален исторически музей — Враца The “Rogozen Treasure” Room Exhibition

Part 7 · Antiquity

Activity: the path to the second pit

Put these actions in order, earliest first.

  1. The initial vessels are found.
  2. The mayor informs the museum.
  3. Archaeologists begin excavation.
  4. The remaining vessels are found.
Why is that?

The chance find leads to the museum being notified. Excavation begins before the second group is found on 6 January 1986.

Correct order

  1. The initial vessels are found.
  2. The mayor informs the museum.
  3. Archaeologists begin excavation.
  4. The remaining vessels are found.
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Иво Иванов; интервю с археолога Нарцис Торбов Рогозенското съкровище вече четири десетилетия разказва за живота на траките БНР — Радио България · 2026

Listen to scene · 7

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 2
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Иво Иванов; интервю с археолога Нарцис Торбов Рогозенското съкровище вече четири десетилетия разказва за живота на траките БНР — Радио България · 2026
A photograph of the museum room in 2008. The glass cases document the find’s later museum history.

Part 8 · Antiquity

Why did the silver stay underground?

One explanation is that the vessels were hidden during military danger. Another explanation is that burying them was an offering to a goddess. These are interpretations. Our sources give no account from the person who buried them. We do not know why that person never came back for them.

Listen to scene · 8

Synthetic voice · 0:17
Sources · 6
  1. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  2. Александър Фол Въведение в проблематиката Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  3. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  4. Регионален исторически музей — Враца The “Rogozen Treasure” Room Exhibition
  5. Иво Иванов; интервю с археолога Нарцис Торбов Рогозенското съкровище вече четири десетилетия разказва за живота на траките БНР — Радио България · 2026
  6. Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia File:Vratsa-museum-Rogozen-treasure-22.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Part 9 · Antiquity

Match the vessels and signature

Match each name to its evidence in the story.

  1. Phiale · Open bowl with a central boss
  2. Lion jug · Narrow neck and side handle
  3. Disloyas · Name read as a maker’s signature
Why is that?

Shape distinguishes the phiale from the jug. Disloyas’s signature is written evidence about making, not a vessel name.

  1. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  2. Michel Sève (notices 259–261); collective bulletin by Philippe Gauthier, Georges Rougemont, Jean Bousquet, Simone Follet, Laurent Dubois, Olivier Masson, Bruno Helly, Pierre Cabanes, Miltiades B. Hatzopoulos, Jacques Tréheux, Monique Bile, Charlotte Rouéché, Jean Bingen, Catherine Dobias-Lalou Bulletin épigraphique, notices 259–261 Revue des Études Grecques · 1988 · 101 · 293–491 (used p. 336)
  3. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher lion attacking a deer Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons

Listen to scene · 9

Synthetic voice · 0:03
Sources · 3
  1. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  2. Michel Sève (notices 259–261); collective bulletin by Philippe Gauthier, Georges Rougemont, Jean Bousquet, Simone Follet, Laurent Dubois, Olivier Masson, Bruno Helly, Pierre Cabanes, Miltiades B. Hatzopoulos, Jacques Tréheux, Monique Bile, Charlotte Rouéché, Jean Bingen, Catherine Dobias-Lalou Bulletin épigraphique, notices 259–261 Revue des Études Grecques · 1988 · 101 · 293–491 (used p. 336)
  3. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher lion attacking a deer Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons

A new find for your collection

An inscribed name is evidence for a vessel’s history; it does not establish the final owner of the whole collection.

SveshtariTen women beneath the stone ceilingCompare how objects express wealth and power.Kazanlak Tomb · KazanlakHands beneath the domePanagyurishte Treasure · PanagyurishteGold from the clay pit

People in this story

Ivan DimitrovDisloyasAlexander Fol

Sources

  1. Иво Иванов; интервю с археолога Нарцис Торбов Рогозенското съкровище вече четири десетилетия разказва за живота на траките БНР — Радио България · 2026
  2. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Заключение Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  3. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Откриване Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  4. Michel Sève (notices 259–261); collective bulletin by Philippe Gauthier, Georges Rougemont, Jean Bousquet, Simone Follet, Laurent Dubois, Olivier Masson, Bruno Helly, Pierre Cabanes, Miltiades B. Hatzopoulos, Jacques Tréheux, Monique Bile, Charlotte Rouéché, Jean Bingen, Catherine Dobias-Lalou Bulletin épigraphique, notices 259–261 Revue des Études Grecques · 1988 · 101 · 293–491 (used p. 336)
  5. Александър Фол Въведение в проблематиката Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  6. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Кани Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  7. Регионален исторически музей — Враца Рогозенското съкровище / The Treasure of Rogozen
  8. Регионален исторически музей — Враца The “Rogozen Treasure” Room Exhibition
  9. OpenStreetMap contributors Регионален исторически музей — Враца, node 2549846342 OpenStreetMap / Nominatim
  10. Богдан Николов; Спас Машов; Пламен Иванов Рогозенското тракийско съкровище — Фиали Тракийското съкровище от Рогозен. София: Издателство на Българската академия на науките; научен редактор Иван Маразов. Дигитална транскрипция: kroraina.com · 1988
  11. Adam Jones File:Thracian Gilt Silver vessel 5th–4th centuries BCE Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  12. Adam Jones File:Thracian Gilt silver vessel Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria by MH 02.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  13. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver omphalos bowl Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  14. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  15. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH 01.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  16. Adam Jones File:Thracian gilt silver pitcher lion attacking a deer Rogozen Treasure Vratsa Bulgaria MH.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  17. Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia File:Vratsa-museum-Rogozen-treasure-22.jpg Wikimedia Commons
  18. Société nationale des Antiquaires de France (minutes; presentation by Georges St. Popov) Vie de la société — Séance du 25 juin Bulletin de la Société nationale des Antiquaires de France · 1987 · 1986 · 152
  19. Wikimedia geographical database contributors Rogozen — village of discovery: geographical record

Images

Adam Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The jug has a narrow neck and side handle. On its body a lion bites a hind.

Open source

Full attribution

Photo: Adam Jones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Ancient object in a museum display. Cut-out detail; background removed.

Adam Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The jug has a narrow neck and side handle. On its body a lion bites a hind.

Open source

Full attribution

Photo: Adam Jones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Ancient object in a museum display. Processed image.

Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The case and transparent supports are modern. The vessels are arranged for display, not as they lay in the pits.

Open source

Full attribution

Photo: Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Museum display, 2008; not an excavation photograph. Processed image.

Adam Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

An open bowl with a raised centre, called an omphalos. Silver and gold-coloured patterns alternate around it.

Open source

Full attribution

Photo: Adam Jones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Ancient object in a museum display. Processed image.

Adam Jones · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A silver jug with a handle, human figure and animal heads. The figure’s identity cannot be established from the photograph alone.

Open source

Full attribution

Photo: Adam Jones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0. Ancient object in a museum display. Processed image.

Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A photograph of the museum room in 2008. The glass cases document the find’s later museum history.

Open source

Full attribution

Photo: Vassia Atanassova - Spiritia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Museum display, 2008; not an excavation photograph. Processed image.

Geographic context, without historical borders

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso · Public domain · Natural Earth

Open source

Full attribution

Tom Patterson · Nathaniel Vaughn Kelso