VASSIL BOJKOV COLLECTION

The Vassil Bojkov Collection comprises of archaeological materials, accumulated over the years. It includes artifacts, made of different materials, dating from 4 000 BC to the 6^th century AD.\r\n\r\nThe more significant classes of artifacts are: arms and weapons, harness parts and decorations, adornments and belt appliqués, metal and clay household and cult objects, metal and stone sculpture.\r\n\r\nThe impressive selection of bronze, silver and gold vessels represents the core of the Collection. This significant group comprises vases and utensils ranging from the 8^th century BC to the 6^th century AD, which were issued from workshops situated on the entire ancient world: Middle and Near East, Asia Minor, continental and island Greece, North Aegean coast, the neighboring to Greece Thrace and Macedonia, Scythia on the North Black Sea steps, as well as Etruria and South Italy (Magna Graecia), the Iberian peninsula. Among the most noteworthy is the group of bronze and silver horns and rhyta without analogue in the world.\r\n\r\nBronze vessels of various types represent a large part of the Collection: oinochoae (wine jugs), situlae (buckets), hydriae and amphorae (large containers for water and wine), phialae (libation plates), cups, ladles, strainers, etc.\r\n\r\nThe silver vases and utensils, and the various forms of silver drinking cups decorated with gilded figures represent a separate category. The Collection houses three gilded silver vases representing Orpheus, which are the sole depictions of the mythical musician known on metal vessels to this date. His name is written on one of them – Orpheus. Equally rare on metal ware are the representations of Theseus and Helen, the famous ancient Greek heroes, which adorn some gilded silver cups. Some of the vases bear the names of their owners, dedications to various gods, or the weights of the cups: they represent exceptional value.\r\n\r\nVassil Bojkov Collection is presented in exhibitions in several world capitals.