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MFA Exhibit Sheds Light on The Mystery of Buried Gold TreasureBy Shirley Moskow
The ancient Thracians created the oldest gold objects fashioned by human hands. In the dim gallery, spotlights dramatically illuminate spectacular gold and silver bowls, drinking vessels, jewelry, armor, tools and horse ornaments, some dating back as far as 7000 years. An exquisite 28-carat gold foil laurel leaf crown with tiny berries, made in the 4th century, around the time of Alexander the Great, appears freshly minted. It is among the more than 200 rare objects in the exhibition that were unearthed by farmers and others digging in the land once known as Thrace, that vast expanse of mountains and valleys on the Balkan peninsula north of Greece. Unearthed in 1984-85, the Rogozen treasure, consisting of more than 160 objects, was quickly labeled "the find of the century," Several items from that discovery are in the exhibit, including one of the most richly decorated Thracian vases ever found. The 4th century B.C. piece is ornamented with gilded figural scenes. One scene depicts two horsemen in trousers and chitons aiming their spears at a boar.
Mystery surrounds the ancient Thracians, who had no written language. We look for clues about them in the writings of their contemporaries. The first reference to them comes in Homer’s The Illiad. He calls them formidable enemies of the Greeks. And Solinus long ago began his description of them with "now we move on to Thrace and examine the most powerful tribes in Europe." From such accounts, we conclude that they were a force to be reckoned with in the ancient world. Scholars are intrigued by the mystery of the ancient Thracians. They look for clues in the exquisitely crafted silver and gold that vanished culture left behind. From the subjects and figures adorning the ancient objects, scholars surmise that the Thracians were immersed in a mythology similar to the Greeks. But while the Greeks were transforming mythology into literature, the Thracians still believed in the reality of their legends. Indeed, Thrace is said to be the birthplace of Ares, god of war, and Orpheus, the legendary poet and musician.
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Buried treasure plus mystery add up to an exciting exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston. Ancient Gold: The Wealth of the Thracians, Treasures from the Republic of Bulgaria, on view in the Michael and Lois B. Torf Gallery through June 6, is a dazzling display of buried treasure. The exhibit will conclude it national tour at The Detroit Institute of The Arts where it will be on view June 25 through August 29. 
The civilization that created these objects has disappeared, leaving behind no written records. Among the few facts that are known about the ancient Thracians is that they were governed by a military aristocracy and that they held their horses in high regard. Some of the most magnificent gold ornaments in the exhibition were made for horses. The warriors drank from gold cups and were especially fond of male jewelry. Rings, bracelets, and necklaces worn by men are on view along with the ornate, intricately crafted adornments worn by their wives.
Their carefully crafted metalwork was probably never part of the economic system. Rather, the gold and silver objects are believed to have been a status symbol of power, social standing and influence. They were sometimes exchanged by rulers for prestige. A story is told of an army general who had a large cache of gold. He could have hired 500 well-trained mercenaries, but when faced with a difficult war, he did not part with his precious metal to finance forces. 
"Thracian culture has long been only vaguely known, and at last, through these intricately worked gold and silver objects, the lifestyle and beliefs of these people are being revealed," says John Hermann, Jr., curator of classical art at the MFA. "The objects are beautifully and skillfully done, and the history behind them is just as fascinating."