Schatz von Preslaw
The Preslav Treasure was found in autumn of 1977 at the vineyard in Castana, 3 km to the north - west of the second Bulgarian capital – Veliki Preslav. The excavations that followed revealed more than 170 golden, silver and bronze objects including 15 silver Byzantine coins belonging to Constantine VII and Roman II (945 and 959) and artifacts dating far back to the period between 3 rd and 7 th centuries[1][2].
The Preslav Treasure was concealed during the turbulent events between 969 and 972 - when Preslav was conquered first by Kiev royal prince, Sviatoslav[3] and two years later by the Byzantine Emperor, John Tzimisces.
Several techniques of jewelry making were used in producing adornments, buttons, appliques etc: not limited tocasting in moulds, toreutics, welding of small gold balls (granules) or fine gold wire (filigree), inlays of pearls and multi-colored enamel.
Byzantine earrings - gold, emeralds, amethysts, pearls - 10th century[4]
Double-sided necklace, cloisonné enamel, rock-crystal, amethysts - 10th century
Among the numerous objects two are of special interest and originality. There is a necklace consisting of 13 gold plates, strung on a fine gold chain. From hang, again on chains, 7 drop-like medallions. On each of them and on the plates themselves are represented various images. By means of multicolored enamel are depicted the images of the Holy Mother and other saint, birds, beautiful leaves and other ornaments.
The owner of the necklace was probably under the protection of Virgin Mary, who is portrayed on both central medallions. It is possible that Tsar Petar gave this beautiful jewelry as a wedding gift to his bride, Maria-Irina, the Byzantine princess, in 927 in Constantinople. We assume that the necklace was a wedding present because the images of water-birds symbolize family happiness and fidelity.
References
- ↑ Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 5001250 (Cambridge Medieval Textbooks) by Florin Curta (2006)
- ↑ East Central and Eastern Europe in the Early Middle Ages by Florin Curta (2005)
- ↑ Dutch Contributions to the Thirteenth International Congress of Slavists: Ljubljana August 15-21, 2003 - Linguistics (Studies in Slavic & General Linguistics) by Peter Houtzagers, Jenneke Kalsbeek, and Jos Schaeken (2003) p.392
- ↑ Sacred Art, Secular Context: Objects of Art from the Byzantine Collection of Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. by Asen Kirin (2005) p.84