NEWS

The Vice President at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles: Bulgarian History Has Shown that Literacy, Culture and Spirituality Are Stronger than the Spear

2024-11-04 09:59:00
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.

MORE FROM NEWS

The Head of State: To Regain Democracy, We Must Not Waste the Energy and Hope from the Squares and the Opportunity to Change Bulgaria

1 January 2026 | 11:11
The popular consensus against the mafia is the big political event of 2025, said President Rumen Radev in his New Year's address

Vice President: The Bulgarian Church of St. Stephen in Istanbul Is a Symbol of Bulgarian National Unity

27 December 2025 | 13:01
155 years ago, the Bulgarian Exarchate marked the beginning of Bulgarian statehood, said Iliana Iotova, who was a guest at the temple celebration of the Iron Church

Rumen Radev: Bulgaria Is Interested in Using the Experience of the Republic of Korea to Increase the Efficiency of Public Administration

11 December 2025 | 18:06
The Head of State receives the Minister of Internal Affairs and Security of the Republic of Korea

Head of State Awarded the Honorary Presidential Medal to the President of Confindustria Bulgaria for His Contribution to the Development of Bulgarian-Italian Economic Relations

9 December 2025 | 21:09
Italian businesses make an important contribution to the growth of the Bulgarian economy and the development of its competitiveness and modernisation. This was stated by Head of State Rumen Radev during a ceremony at which he awarded the Honorary Presidential Medal to Roberto Santorelli, President of Confindustria Bulgaria.

ОТКРИТО УПРАВЛЕНИЕ

e-ДОКУМЕНТИ

BULGARIAN CHRISTMAS

SUPPORT A DREAM

JOHN ATANASOFF AWARD

CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY


Useful links