The golden Treasure of Nad St. Miklos can be seen until October 30th at the first Bulgarian capital Pliska. It is assumed that the beautifully machined and decorated vessels belonged to the founder of the Bulgarian state Khan Asparuh. According to one theory, it is even more old and belonged to his ancestor Khan Kubrat. Other scholars argue that the treasure is aggregate and objects collected from various collections of rulers.
The treasure is dated based on inscription found on it in a proto Bulgarian language, according to which it is made in 693 years after Christ, during the reign of Khan Asparuh. For protobulgarian origin speaks also a figure of a rider displayed on one of the vessels. The treasure is found by two Bulgarian brothers – gardeners digging in their land.
In the decoration of the vessels meet ornaments inherent in different cultures – Christian crosses, Bulgar runic characters, motives inherent in the Sasanian and Byzantine art.
The city Nad St. Miklos, where is dug the golden treasure lies within the boundaries of present-day Romania. The treasure was given as a present to the Austrian emperor and today the original can be seen in Vienna. The only copy in the world of the 23 vessels with a total weight of 10 kg is exposed until October 30th at Pliska. The treasure is made of 22 carat gold.
While you are in Pliska, you have a chance to look at the first Bulgarian capital, built in the 7th century AD by the founder of Bulgaria Khan Asparuh. The majestic ruins are located 70 km from Varna and 20 km from Shumen. Initially, the ramparts of Pliska, around which the city had grown, were made of wood, but at the time of Khan Krum were built stone buildings and castle whose ruins can be seen today.
In front of the museum in Pliska can be seen two large tents, which will give you an idea how lived the Bulgarians in the past. Pliska is also the historical scene of the Christianization of the Bulgarian people in the mid-ninth century. Himself the ruler Tzar Boris I accepted the new faith in 864 AD. From those times has remained for generations the great basilica, which still impresses today with its size. Over 886 AD in it are welcomed the Saints Cyril and Methodius, which give the Cyrillic alphabet to the Bulgarians and to all other nations who still use it today.
