The Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós

The Treasure of Nagyszentmiklós is a valuable collection of twenty-three 10th century gold vessels found in 1799 in Nagyszentmiklos, Torontál County, Hungary -- now Sânnicolau Mare, Transylvania, Romania. The vessels are of different shapes and sizes and are manifactured using very high quality gold, mostly 21- and 22-carat gold. Their electic nature gives rise to many different theories about the treasure’s origins. After deciphiring the vessels’ inscriptions, it is assumed that the treasure was collected and kept in the dining halls and treasury of the Bulgarian khans and tsars since their migration across the Caucasus; it was exhibited and kept in the throne room of the palace built and lived in by Tsar Simeon the Great after the transfer of the Bulgarian capital-city from Pliska to Preslav in 893 (Prof. Ivan Dobrev).

No. 1. Ewer

No. 2. Ewer

No. 3. Ewer

No. 4. Ewer

No. 5. Ewer


No. 6. Ewer

No. 7. Ewer

No. 8. Bowl

No. 9 and No. 10. Bows (the two bowls are similar -- only one is shown here)

No. 11 and No. 12. Cups

No. 13 and No. 14. Goblets with an ox head

No. 15 and No. 16. Flat-shallow ladles

No. 17. Drinking horn

No. 18. Zoomorphic bowl

No. 19. Box

No. 20. Small bowl with a clasp for hanging

No. 21. Small bowl with a clasp for hanging

No. 22 and No. 23. Cups

Currently, the treasure of Nagyszentmiklós is on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Copies of the vessels are also on display in the National Museum of History in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Links:
Unique Bulgaria: Съкровището от Наги Сент-Миклош (Bulgarian).
Unique Bulgaria: Коментар към едно писмо (Bulgarian).

Baba Vida - the only authentic castle in Bulgaria

Baba Vida is a medieval fortress in Vidin, northwestern Bulgaria. The name of the castle means "Granny Vida".

A common view

The construction of the fortress began in the 10th century over the foundations of the Roman fortification „Bononia”. It was finalized in the 14th century during the rule of tsar Ivan Sratsimir when it was the most important fortress and the tsar’s dwelling in the capital Vidin. The main parts of the structures are preserved to this day.

The moat surrounding the fortress.
When necessary, the moat was filled with water from the Danube river

The single entrance to the fotress

The court
(The reconstructed entrance and exhibited stone cannon-balls /bottom-left/)

Inside door

Part of the museum exhibit

Night photo

Link: Unique Bulgaria: Баба Вида - най-добре запазената крепост в България (Bulgarian).

The Rila Monastery, Bulgaria

In the year of 865 prince Boris I (baptismal name Michail) converted the Bulgarians to Christianity. In the begining of X c. hermit Saint John of Rila, The Miracleworker, established a great confraternity of his disciples and followers, not far from the today’s monastery's location. Through the ages The Holy Rila Monastery became the Bulgarian Jerusalem. It was a seat of spiritual learning for monks, bookmen, teachers, painters, wood-carves, icon-painters. The Monastery has been a lighthouse and a place of wonderworking power and spiritual support to the Christian people of Bulgaria, especially during the time of slavery under the Turks (XIV-XIX centuries).

The main church of the Rila Monastery

The Tower of Hrelyu (the oldest surviving structure in the monastery)

An exhibit in the monastery’s museum

A monk’s chamber in the monastery

Here are some of the frescoes in the main church of the monastery:

Last Judgement

The Holy Virgin surraunded by 32 saints

The dormition of Saint Ivan Rilski

Archangel Michael

Link: Unique Bulgaria: Rila Monastery (Bulgarian).