The exhibition "Treasures from Bulgaria. Gold of the Thracian warriors' caused a real sensation in the European Parliament on its opening night on  October 11. The exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria jointly with the MEP Mr. Emil Stoyanov, who initiated this idea.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov, EP President Jerzy Buzek, Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, Ministers Nikolay Mladenov and Liliana Pavlova, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, Chairman of the EPP Group, Joseph Daul, Deputy Culture Minister George Stoev and tens MEPs were among the official guests at the opening. Huge tail arched in front of the Bulgarian treasures.

Emil Stoyanov welcomed the audience with visible emotion pointing out it is the first time when the shining culture of the Thracians came to the European Parliament, to the heart of Europe.

The President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek said in his speech: "This exhibition is a huge event, it shows that Bulgaria was the heart of European culture 2500 years ago." He added that one day, nobody will remember the word "crisis" that is repeated so much now, but everyone will always remember the culture shown right now here around, which he considered as a great chance.

"Today Europe witnesses something unseen, which is only a small part of the immeasurable value on the treasures of Bulgaria. I am proud that our heritage caused such a furore!", said the Minister of Culture Rashidov. He is confident that soon, these treasures will visit the Louvre as well. “Bulgarian talent is unique and the world should know about it", said Minister Rashidov.

In her speech, Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva admired the ordinary people, who discovered the treasures in Panagyurishte, Borowo and Rogozen and had left these treasures to the history. She named them one by one. "It is a great honor for me as a representative of the European Commission and as a Bulgarian to take part in the opening of this exhibition", said Ms. Georgieva. 

Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov said in his speech that the exhibition was a tiny part of the rich Bulgarian treasure and anyone who saw this small part of the culture of Bulgaria, would have a different attitude towards our country. Prime Minister thanked Rashidov, Stoyanov and all those who helped for the exhibition."These peaces of art are priceless. Their price is greater than the cost of the now a day crisis. This heritage has no price!", said Boyko Borisov. He pointed out that in these difficult times Bulgaria has managed to build two museums, has been working on two more new museums, and started making an unique underground archaeological museum in the very downtown of Sofia, so that everyone who comes to Bulgaria will see unique historical artefacts. PM didn’t miss the opportunity to add that today Bulgaria is the best guarded frontier of Europe, the best limit of the Schengen area.

     The expositions aims to popularize the enormous potential of the Bulgarian cultural heritage exposing its input to the European cultural treasury. On display are Thracian artefacts from several Bulgarian museums, some of which have left the country for the first time.

The full-length reconstruction of the Thracian warrior is accomplished by exhibiting a slam and greaves from Pletena, Gotsedelchev region, a chain armour and golden breastplate from Chernozem, and a long sword (romphaea) – one of the most frightening Thracian weapons. The horse protome with the placed appliqués for breast decoration, and the rein from the Letnitsa treasure, recall the Thracian cavalry, valued by all ancient military commanders. The images on the applications detail the royal ideology and the value trials that the Thracian aristocrats had to pass on their way to immortality.

The Panagyurishte and Borovo treasures, the “Apollo set”, the three jugs from the Rogozen treasure and the golden jug from the Mogilanska Mound illustrate the incredible importance of the rituals for the rulers and for Thracian society. The shapes decorating the containers and the inscriptions reveal the Thracians’ mythological notions and the ways of establishing diplomatic relationships between the ruling royal dynasties of the Odrysians, Tribalae and the Getae.

The exhibition includes also some of the objects discovered in the aristocratic burial near Zlatinitsa village, Elhovo region – a golden royal wreath, one of the silver rhyta, a bronze tympanon, and a silver greave decorated with mythological scenes, etc. From the sumptuous gifts discovered in the burial of a ruler or a co-ruler in Topolchane village, Sliven region, known in particular for the golden burial mask, the following objects have been included: two silver rhyta, a silver helmet, a ring with a portrait image of the aristocrat-warrior who has transcended to the Beyond, two golden phialae, a gold-plated silver goblet (cup), and horse trappings. The finds from Topolchane village belonging to the History Museum – Sliven, leave the country for the first time. The golden mask itself is not traveling with the exhibition, but is represented by a gigantic photo next to another such photo of the other Thracian mask – the one from the “Valley of the Thracian Kings”.