Exhibition "Sborianovo – Nature and Monuments, Gods and People" Presented in Bratislava
On September 19, the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Bratislava presented the exhibition "Sborianovo – Nature and Monuments, Gods and People," part of the "Traveling Exhibitions" collection of the State Institute for Culture at the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The exhibition, authored by Professor Diana Gergova, showcases one of Bulgaria's most fascinating archaeological reserves, included on the UNESCO list.
This traveling documentary photo exhibition aims to highlight the Sborianovo Archaeological Reserve, and it is part of Bulgaria’s public and cultural diplomacy efforts. It has been exhibited in numerous museums and institutions through the initiatives of Bulgarian embassies and other organizations. In a congratulatory letter to Mrs. Vanya Radeva, Director of the Bulgarian Cultural Institute, Mrs. Snezhana Yoveva-Dimitrova, Director of the State Institute for Culture, stated: "Such initiatives provide an excellent opportunity for Bulgarian history and cultural heritage to reach new audiences, and we can confidently say that they play a key role in strengthening cultural ties and fostering mutual respect between the Bulgarian and Slovak people. This is an exceptional opportunity to promote Bulgaria’s cultural and historical heritage."
“Mrs. Diana Gergova is one of the most fortunate Bulgarian archaeologists, having discovered world-class sites. Sborianovo is a center that reflects the high level of Thracian civilization, its interaction with ancient cultures, and its contribution to European cultural and historical heritage,” said Mrs. Vanya Radeva in her introduction of the author.
After the opening, a multimedia presentation followed, during which two of Professor Diana Gergova's books were presented: "Demir Baba Teke – The Bulgarian Jerusalem", co-authored with Katerina Venedikova, and "The Getae Who Immortalize". Sborianovo – a national reserve and archaeological park – can be called the Bulgarian Jerusalem because it is a place of pilgrimage for Christians, Muslims, and non-believers alike. The second book is dedicated to discoveries in the spiritual and political capital of the Getae – Daousdava-Helis. The guests were visually acquainted with how Getae and Thracian burial mounds looked, as well as with the burial gifts, including beautiful gold jewelry, luxury ceramics, and chariots with precious ornaments. Some of the tombs even contained the skeletons of the rulers' beloved wives and horses. The guests asked dozens of questions about the ancient past and the similar rituals of the Thracian, Getae, and Celtic tribes in Europe. This was possible because the Slovak Archaeological Society, a co-organizer of the event, had several of its archaeologist members in attendance.
The traveling exhibition of the State Cultural Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the lecture with the presentation of Professor Diana Gergova’s latest books were organized at the invitation of the Slovak Archaeological Society, the University of Trnava's Department of Classical Archaeology, the Bratislava Archaeological Museum, and Comenius University.
The event took place under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Vasil Petkov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria, and was attended by Bulgaria's Minister Plenipotentiary, Mrs. Viktoria Melamed, Consul Mrs. Gabriela Primova, diplomats, representatives of cultural institutions, archaeologists, scholars, and members of the Slovak and Bulgarian communities.