Ancient Gold the Wealth of the Thracians

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Thracians, a people living to the north of Greece in ancient times, were known as both warriors and poets. Until recently, little was known about this enigmatic people. Since the Thracians had no written language of their own, historians had to rely on accounts of their life and culture left by Greek and Roman authors. During the past thirty years, however, a number of Thracian archaeological sites have been excavated and studied, and these have revealed a people of extraordinary sophistication. We now know that the Thracians traded with every civilization in the eastern Mediterranean, and that their splendid metalwork, including bridle ornaments, liturgical vessels, and jewelry, was of the highest quality. This illustrated book is the first comprehensive treatment of the remarkable achievement of the Thracian people. Art historian Ivan Marazov and his fellow authors, all distinguished specialists in various aspects of Thracian studies, have analyzed a wealth of evidence from a number of sources - literary, linguistic, archaeological, and ethnographic - to form a picture of life in ancient Thrace. Ancient Gold: The Wealth of the Thracians accompanies an exhibition opening at the Saint Louis Art Museum in February 1998 and traveling to seven museums in the United States.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

This beautiful catalog of an important exhibit currently touring the United States gives a rare window into the little-known history of ancient Thrace. Unlike its better-documented ancient counterparts, Greece and Rome, Thrace is not now a household word. It was a small, fragmented but influential country in what is now southern Bulgaria. Thrace had a heritage of war, music, and poetry; traditionally, it was the birthplace of both Orpheus and Aries. Because the Thracians had no alphabet of their own, what literary accounts are available were written by their neighbors, a chancy means of analysis at best. A better way to consider Thracian life is through its eloquent art. Hundreds of photographs gleam here with astonishingly beautiful objects, but this is not just another pretty face -- there is substance as well. Scholarship is strong, with essays by noted Bulgarian scholars. Highly recommended for both art and ancient history collections. Mary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh

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