So far, statues of the mother goddess and the god of health, tumulus (the name given to mounds formed by piling up soil containing a tomb or cemetery), a medicine furnace and various coins have been found in the excavations so far.
Drawing, restoration and evaluation works of the artifacts unearthed from the site continue at the excavation house in Karaevli District.
This year, terracotta mother goddess figurines were found during excavations in the ancient city.
Dean of Istanbul Rumeli University Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Archaeological Research Office Coordinator and Head of Excavations Prof. Dr. Neşe Atik told the AA correspondent that the Thracians are an important civilization in terms of the cultural history of the world.
Stating that the Thracians had a large kingdom in the 4th century BC, Atik said, “The Thracian Kingdom covers a very large area. Along with our Thrace, it includes parts of Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Greece and Romania. It is a huge kingdom.” he said.
Reminding that all the known information about the Thracians was written by writers from other civilizations, Atik said, “The Thracians lived very richly. Incredible silver and gold vessels remained from them, but they have no written sources. It was written by the Hellenes, who admired and surprised the Thracians and were somewhat of their enemies. Later, the Romans “The life of the Thracians is described in written sources by Byzantine writers. We understand that they are a patriarchal people and a people who live on horseback. They are a very proud people and live with conquests.” he said.
– THEY BELIEVE IN IMMORTALITY
Explaining that they started the excavations from the highest part of the city, called the acropolis, Atik said that it was very important to find the sacred areas of the mother goddess and the god of health.
Stating that the Thracians have a belief in immortality, Atik said, “We know that the Thracian aristocrats are close to the king. The Thracians believe in the mother goddess and that the mother goddess symbolically marries the Thracian king and gives him immortality. The king can distribute immortality like the mother goddess. That’s why the aristocrats are close to her. So that they can attain immortality. There are human sacrifices. A Thracian stands up voluntarily and 3 Thracians throw spears at him and kill him. If he doesn’t die, he becomes evil-spirited. If he dies, he attains immortality. It’s an interesting society with different beliefs. When we uncover the things we know in written sources through excavations. ” he said.
Emphasizing that the Thracians are victims of widows in their religious beliefs, Atik said, “The Thracian rich have between 4 and 30 wives. When the man dies, he becomes a chosen wife. All his relatives and the public gather. The woman is sacrificed by cutting her throat at the man’s grave. No one is upset about this situation, but everyone is proud.” It is accepted as the source because it is believed that the sacrificed woman is immortal.” he said.
Atik noted that during the excavations, they found a medicine making pool, bronze and terracotta containers for storing medicine, and medicine measuring spoons made of bone.
Stating that they evaluated the Thracians as an important kingdom with their work in the field of health, Atik said, “We found medicine-making pools known from ancient sources that have not yet been found anywhere else in the excavation area. In these medicine-making pools, water comes and goes up to the ankles. There, the spiny sea snail is separated from its shells. Their meat is different. “It is used as medicine, and its shells are melted in the oven next to it.” shared his knowledge.
Source: www.star.com.tr
