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Iliana Iotova opened the exhibition of Thracian treasures, held under her patronage

 

Bulgaria has one of the oldest state traditions in Europe, an old land with many layered cultures, many influences. Bulgarian history has shown that you can put victory on the tip of the spear, but the greater victory is the victory of literacy, culture, spirituality. Bulgarians are proud bearers of spirituality and culture. With these words Vice President Iliana Iotova addressed the 500 people gathered at the opening of the Ancient Thrace and the Ancient World. Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece exhibition. More than 90 percent of all exhibits in the exhibition, which is held under the patronage of the vice president, are Bulgarian artefacts. Fourteen Bulgarian museums are participating with over 150 objects in the exhibition, which will last until 3 March 2025. The co-organisers of the exhibition are the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Culture.

 

When Dr Timothy Potts, director of the Getty Museum, and his team presented their idea to me in my office in Sofia a few years ago, they immediately won me over as an ally. And seven years later, this massive project is a fact, the Vice President said. Iotova thanked the efforts of the National Historical Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, pointing out that it is a leader in archaeological research in Southeastern Europe, among the leading scientific centres throughout Europe. The Vice President also highlighted the support of the Ministry of Culture.

 

The most important mission of this exhibition is not to break the link between generations, to preserve the knowledge of human kind. The exhibition shows not only fine objects, but the philosophy of a people with an extremely high spiritual culture. The most ancient message is that man is strong when he is together with others, then every difficulty recedes, Iliana Iotova said.

 

In her address, the Vice President pointed out that in 1972 the world's first specialised Institute of Thracology was established in Bulgaria. She quoted the words of its long-time director and world-renowned scholar Prof Alexander Fol: The spirit is humiliated when it cannot be compared with another spirit, but must be compared with the strength of the muscles. Unfortunately, today the spirit often meets the brute force of the muscles. But there are no muscles that can defeat the spirit - that is what history has bequeathed us, Iotova stressed. The Vice President presented the museum director with a replica of a rhyton from the Panagyurishte Treasure.

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