Treasure of Zlatinitsa–Malomirovo

Gold and silver greave (knee-piece)

The Treasure of Zlatinitsa–Malomirovo is a rich ancient Thrace gold and silver treasure from the 4th century BC, the time of the Odrysian Kingdom. The Zlatinitsa–Malomirovo Treasure was discovered in 2005. Excavations were carried out after the large mound had been targeted repeatedly by treasure hunters trying to loot it. The mound was part of a large necropolis. The Malomirovo-Zlatinitsa tomb was merely a hole in the ground – a shaft with wooden walls and wooden floor. But what it held immediately identified it as a burial site of a Thracian ruler. He died at the age of 18-20.

One of the two deer head-shaped gold-coated silver rhytons

The remains of one of the ritually sacrificed horses carried in its haunch a calcified arrowhead (showing that the piece had remained there for a long time). The incredible preservation was likely due to a high salt content.

A gold laurel wreath with an image of ancient victory goddess Nike was found along with 29 gold rosettes which attached to a leather band placed on the dead Thracian ruler’s head at the time of his burial. A ring from the Zlatinitsa – Malomirovo Treasure depicts a scene from ancient Thracian mythology. The huge gold seal ring was worn by the unknown Thracian ruler on the little finger of his left hand.

In Thracian mythology the Great Mother Goddess offers a phiale (bowl) to the Horseman – King (the Thracian Horseman) in order to make him part of the world of gods.

The armaments found included an iron sword of the makhaira type typical for the Thracians, 200 bronze arrows, 7 spears, an iron chain armor, and a bronze Chalcidian type helmet. On his feet, the buried Thracian ruler had a pair of leather moccasins, the first such find.