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Sultan Mustafa III's Beliefs
Sultan Mustafa III, predecessor of Sultan Abdulhamit I, sought solutions to the failures of the Imperial Army, believing that the success of European powers was influenced by astrological factors. He was particularly impressed by Prussia’s victories in the Seven-Year War and attributed them to the influence of astrologers.
Mission to Prussia
In pursuit of astrological insights, Sultan Mustafa III sent Ahmet Resmi Efendi on a mission to King Frederick of Prussia, requesting the assistance of three astrologers. However, King Frederick responded by emphasizing the importance of a strong army, readiness for combat, and financial stability over astrological advice.
Foreign Experts’ Arrival
In 1776, Baron de Tott and a group of foreign experts were dispatched to Istanbul as part of efforts to reform the military. Their arrival marked a significant step forward, leading to the establishment of the school of military engineering and the school of sciences.
Sultan Mustafa III’s Legacy
Sultan Mustafa III’s father supported his son’s reform efforts and actively participated in state affairs, accompanying him on expeditions and discussions. Before his death during the Ottoman-Russian war, Sultan Mustafa III entrusted his reformist ideals to his son Selim, who would later ascend to the throne as Sultan Abdulhamit I Istanbul Fun Tours.
Selim’s Commitment to Reform
Following his father’s passing, Selim, then the heir to the throne, dedicated himself to further developing his reformist ideas. Encouraged by his father’s dying wish, Selim focused on refining his reform plans within the confines of the Palace’s “Kafes” apartments, preparing himself to undertake significant reforms upon becoming Sultan.
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Investigation into Alleged Atrocities
False Claims of Atrocities
Kiani Pacha, tasked with investigating atrocities committed by the Baslii-Bazouks, made startling claims to Mr. Schuyler. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that some of these claims were entirely baseless. For instance, the alleged killing of the wife and daughter of the Mudir of Avrat-alan was found to be untrue, as the Mudir had no daughter, and his wife was unharmed. Similarly, reports of the murder of the Mudir’s wife in Otluk-kui were debunked, as there was no Mudir in the village during the unrest.
Disputing Accounts of Turkish Women’s Deaths
Of the twelve reported cases of Turkish women killed, only five were investigated, revealing that three were entirely unfounded. Without knowledge of the villages where the other seven incidents purportedly occurred, further investigation was impossible, leading to doubts about the accuracy of these claims. Additionally, the gruesome tale recounted by Edib Effendi about the mutilation of a Turkish girl was deemed pure fiction, lacking any evidence or credibility Bulgaria Tours.
Events in Panagurishti
In Panagurishti, also known as Otluk-kui, nine Turks and two Turkish women were reported killed over a period of nine to ten days. However, examination revealed that all but two women and one zaptieh were killed while armed, suggesting they were actively involved in confrontations. Around twenty prisoners were captured during this time, all of whom were treated well until the arrival of the Turkish army, which subsequently released them.
Corroboration of Accounts
The validity of these findings is supported by multiple accounts from different sources, including a schoolmistress in Panagurishti. Upon further investigation and comparison with various testimonies, the consistency of the accounts became evident. Furthermore, the Turks themselves, both locally and in Philippopolis, did not claim a higher death toll than what was reported.
The investigation into alleged atrocities revealed discrepancies and false claims regarding the deaths of Turkish women and other incidents. Through careful examination and corroboration of accounts, it was determined that many of these claims lacked credibility. This underscores the importance of thorough investigation and skepticism when assessing reports of violence and unrest.
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Photo
Investigation into Alleged Atrocities
False Claims of Atrocities
Kiani Pacha, tasked with investigating atrocities committed by the Baslii-Bazouks, made startling claims to Mr. Schuyler. However, upon investigation, it was discovered that some of these claims were entirely baseless. For instance, the alleged killing of the wife and daughter of the Mudir of Avrat-alan was found to be untrue, as the Mudir had no daughter, and his wife was unharmed. Similarly, reports of the murder of the Mudir’s wife in Otluk-kui were debunked, as there was no Mudir in the village during the unrest.
Disputing Accounts of Turkish Women’s Deaths
Of the twelve reported cases of Turkish women killed, only five were investigated, revealing that three were entirely unfounded. Without knowledge of the villages where the other seven incidents purportedly occurred, further investigation was impossible, leading to doubts about the accuracy of these claims. Additionally, the gruesome tale recounted by Edib Effendi about the mutilation of a Turkish girl was deemed pure fiction, lacking any evidence or credibility Bulgaria Tours.
Events in Panagurishti
In Panagurishti, also known as Otluk-kui, nine Turks and two Turkish women were reported killed over a period of nine to ten days. However, examination revealed that all but two women and one zaptieh were killed while armed, suggesting they were actively involved in confrontations. Around twenty prisoners were captured during this time, all of whom were treated well until the arrival of the Turkish army, which subsequently released them.
Corroboration of Accounts
The validity of these findings is supported by multiple accounts from different sources, including a schoolmistress in Panagurishti. Upon further investigation and comparison with various testimonies, the consistency of the accounts became evident. Furthermore, the Turks themselves, both locally and in Philippopolis, did not claim a higher death toll than what was reported.
The investigation into alleged atrocities revealed discrepancies and false claims regarding the deaths of Turkish women and other incidents. Through careful examination and corroboration of accounts, it was determined that many of these claims lacked credibility. This underscores the importance of thorough investigation and skepticism when assessing reports of violence and unrest.
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Broken Promises and Ongoing Hardships
A Grim Reality
In the aftermath of the devastation inflicted upon Raddovo, the challenges facing its inhabitants loom large. Once home to thriving families, the village now lies in ruins, its once bustling streets reduced to rubble. The return of its people brings not relief, but a daunting reality of destitution and despair.
Lost Livelihoods
The loss of livestock strikes a crippling blow to the community’s livelihoods. Out of approximately 320 pairs of oxen that once toiled in the fields, a mere thirty-three pairs have been returned. Such a paltry number is wholly insufficient for the monumental task of harvesting crops and securing sustenance for the coming winter Guided Turkey Tours .
Bleak Prospects
With the onset of winter fast approaching, the prospects for Raddovo’s residents grow increasingly dire. Without the means to gather their harvests or rebuild their shattered homes, they face the specter of destitution. The promises of assistance from Turkish authorities ring hollow in the face of stark reality, as aid fails to materialize and assurances prove empty.
Broken Promises
The assurances of help and support from Turkish authorities appear to be little more than empty gestures, designed to placate European scrutiny. Despite promises of livestock restoration and assistance in reconstruction, the villagers find themselves abandoned to their fate. Instead of aid, they are met with the cruel demand for tax payments, a bitter irony in the wake of their suffering.
A Desperate Situation
The imposition of hefty taxes on a community ravaged by violence and loss is a cruel injustice. The burden of such demands weighs heavily on the shoulders of Raddovo’s residents, pushing them further into the depths of poverty and despair. Faced with insurmountable obstacles and broken promises, their future grows increasingly uncertain.
As Raddovo grapples with the aftermath of tragedy, its people endure a harsh reality of hardship and abandonment. Despite their resilience, the road to recovery appears long and fraught with challenges. In the face of adversity, they cling to hope, but their plight serves as a stark reminder of the injustices that persist in the wake of conflict.
0 notes
Photo
Broken Promises and Ongoing Hardships
A Grim Reality
In the aftermath of the devastation inflicted upon Raddovo, the challenges facing its inhabitants loom large. Once home to thriving families, the village now lies in ruins, its once bustling streets reduced to rubble. The return of its people brings not relief, but a daunting reality of destitution and despair.
Lost Livelihoods
The loss of livestock strikes a crippling blow to the community’s livelihoods. Out of approximately 320 pairs of oxen that once toiled in the fields, a mere thirty-three pairs have been returned. Such a paltry number is wholly insufficient for the monumental task of harvesting crops and securing sustenance for the coming winter Guided Turkey Tours .
Bleak Prospects
With the onset of winter fast approaching, the prospects for Raddovo’s residents grow increasingly dire. Without the means to gather their harvests or rebuild their shattered homes, they face the specter of destitution. The promises of assistance from Turkish authorities ring hollow in the face of stark reality, as aid fails to materialize and assurances prove empty.
Broken Promises
The assurances of help and support from Turkish authorities appear to be little more than empty gestures, designed to placate European scrutiny. Despite promises of livestock restoration and assistance in reconstruction, the villagers find themselves abandoned to their fate. Instead of aid, they are met with the cruel demand for tax payments, a bitter irony in the wake of their suffering.
A Desperate Situation
The imposition of hefty taxes on a community ravaged by violence and loss is a cruel injustice. The burden of such demands weighs heavily on the shoulders of Raddovo’s residents, pushing them further into the depths of poverty and despair. Faced with insurmountable obstacles and broken promises, their future grows increasingly uncertain.
As Raddovo grapples with the aftermath of tragedy, its people endure a harsh reality of hardship and abandonment. Despite their resilience, the road to recovery appears long and fraught with challenges. In the face of adversity, they cling to hope, but their plight serves as a stark reminder of the injustices that persist in the wake of conflict.
0 notes
Photo
Broken Promises and Ongoing Hardships
A Grim Reality
In the aftermath of the devastation inflicted upon Raddovo, the challenges facing its inhabitants loom large. Once home to thriving families, the village now lies in ruins, its once bustling streets reduced to rubble. The return of its people brings not relief, but a daunting reality of destitution and despair.
Lost Livelihoods
The loss of livestock strikes a crippling blow to the community’s livelihoods. Out of approximately 320 pairs of oxen that once toiled in the fields, a mere thirty-three pairs have been returned. Such a paltry number is wholly insufficient for the monumental task of harvesting crops and securing sustenance for the coming winter Guided Turkey Tours .
Bleak Prospects
With the onset of winter fast approaching, the prospects for Raddovo’s residents grow increasingly dire. Without the means to gather their harvests or rebuild their shattered homes, they face the specter of destitution. The promises of assistance from Turkish authorities ring hollow in the face of stark reality, as aid fails to materialize and assurances prove empty.
Broken Promises
The assurances of help and support from Turkish authorities appear to be little more than empty gestures, designed to placate European scrutiny. Despite promises of livestock restoration and assistance in reconstruction, the villagers find themselves abandoned to their fate. Instead of aid, they are met with the cruel demand for tax payments, a bitter irony in the wake of their suffering.
A Desperate Situation
The imposition of hefty taxes on a community ravaged by violence and loss is a cruel injustice. The burden of such demands weighs heavily on the shoulders of Raddovo’s residents, pushing them further into the depths of poverty and despair. Faced with insurmountable obstacles and broken promises, their future grows increasingly uncertain.
As Raddovo grapples with the aftermath of tragedy, its people endure a harsh reality of hardship and abandonment. Despite their resilience, the road to recovery appears long and fraught with challenges. In the face of adversity, they cling to hope, but their plight serves as a stark reminder of the injustices that persist in the wake of conflict.
0 notes
Photo
Bulgarian Economic Plans 1958-1980
Transition and Consolidation (1958-1960)
The Third Five Year Plan, spanning 1958-1960, marked the onset of the “great leap forward,” inspired by the Chinese Communists. However, this plan was interrupted in 1960 and seamlessly merged into the subsequent “Fourth” Five Year Plan to align with the General Perspective Twenty Year Plan envisioned by the Eighth Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
A pivotal development during this period was Todor Zhivkov’s 1959 “Thesis,” outlining the theoretical phases of socialism progressing into communism. The initial phase of the Third Plan witnessed the “consolidation” of collective farms (TKZS), reducing their number from 3,290 to 972. An extensive reorganization, mirroring Chinese communes, took place with new administrative districts. Agricultural reforms included a modern inventory with 40,000 tractors and 8,000 combines. A 650-million-ruble Soviet loan was secured on the brink of the Fourth Plan.
Fourth Five Year Plan (1961-1965)
The Fourth Five Year Plan (1961-1965) aligned with the directives of the General Perspective (1961-1980). Key goals included boosting industrial production, machine construction, chemical output, agriculture, livestock breeding, electric power, and steel. The plan aimed to meet consumer demands in food production and light industry. The ambitious vision called for accelerated production, surpassing other “people’s democracies” to achieve comparable economic development by 1980. This implied additional efforts and sacrifices from workers and peasants Guided Istanbul Tour.
General Perspective Plan (1961-1980)
The overarching goals of the General Perspective Plan (1961-1980) included complete nationalization across all economic sectors and erasing distinctions between industrial and agricultural labor forces. The plan aimed to eliminate differences in qualifications, workload, and urban-rural labor. The ultimate objective was to progress from the Socialist principle of distribution (“from everyone according to his ability, to everyone according to his labor”) to the Communist principle (“from everyone according to his ability, to everyone according to his needs”).
Communist planners envisioned economic integration within the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) by 1980. However, achieving this integration would demand more intense exploitation, potentially worsening labor conditions and delaying improvements in the working class’s living standards. These were the vital economic development guidelines set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party for the future.
0 notes
Photo
Bulgarian Economic Plans 1958-1980
Transition and Consolidation (1958-1960)
The Third Five Year Plan, spanning 1958-1960, marked the onset of the “great leap forward,” inspired by the Chinese Communists. However, this plan was interrupted in 1960 and seamlessly merged into the subsequent “Fourth” Five Year Plan to align with the General Perspective Twenty Year Plan envisioned by the Eighth Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
A pivotal development during this period was Todor Zhivkov’s 1959 “Thesis,” outlining the theoretical phases of socialism progressing into communism. The initial phase of the Third Plan witnessed the “consolidation” of collective farms (TKZS), reducing their number from 3,290 to 972. An extensive reorganization, mirroring Chinese communes, took place with new administrative districts. Agricultural reforms included a modern inventory with 40,000 tractors and 8,000 combines. A 650-million-ruble Soviet loan was secured on the brink of the Fourth Plan.
Fourth Five Year Plan (1961-1965)
The Fourth Five Year Plan (1961-1965) aligned with the directives of the General Perspective (1961-1980). Key goals included boosting industrial production, machine construction, chemical output, agriculture, livestock breeding, electric power, and steel. The plan aimed to meet consumer demands in food production and light industry. The ambitious vision called for accelerated production, surpassing other “people’s democracies” to achieve comparable economic development by 1980. This implied additional efforts and sacrifices from workers and peasants Guided Istanbul Tour.
General Perspective Plan (1961-1980)
The overarching goals of the General Perspective Plan (1961-1980) included complete nationalization across all economic sectors and erasing distinctions between industrial and agricultural labor forces. The plan aimed to eliminate differences in qualifications, workload, and urban-rural labor. The ultimate objective was to progress from the Socialist principle of distribution (“from everyone according to his ability, to everyone according to his labor”) to the Communist principle (“from everyone according to his ability, to everyone according to his needs”).
Communist planners envisioned economic integration within the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) by 1980. However, achieving this integration would demand more intense exploitation, potentially worsening labor conditions and delaying improvements in the working class’s living standards. These were the vital economic development guidelines set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party for the future.
0 notes
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A Hub of Education and Luxury Shopping
Education City – Qatar’s International Academic Hub
The government of Qatar has invested significantly in transforming Doha into the education center of the Middle East, notably with the establishment of “Education City.” Encompassing 12,950 square meters in the capital city, Education City hosts students from 60 countries and accommodates 3,000 elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as universities. The city’s commitment to education is further evident in events like the ‘Doha Debates,’ where influential political and academic figures discuss critical issues in the Arab world. Additionally, the Heritage Library, housing 51,000 books, 600 antique maps, 2,000 manuscripts, and 6,000 photographs, aims to become a premier research center in the Middle East.
Glorious Shopping Centers – Doha’s Luxury Retail Experience
In Doha, transportation primarily relies on taxis and rental cars, with buses serving as the main public transportation option. The popular and affordable “karwa” cabs, easily identifiable by their green color, are readily available near malls. While waiting times may vary Guided Tours Turkey, scheduling a cab in advance is advisable. Alternatively, “limo” taxis, often found at upscale hotels, offer a more luxurious but pricier transportation option. Notable shopping destinations include Villaggio, a Venetian-themed mall boasting luxury jewelry stores, renowned Western brands, and even a Venetian canal for boat rides. Aspire Centre’s City Center-Doha, opened in April 2001, stands as Qatar’s largest shopping center, featuring a wide range of products, including jewelry and fragrances. Some malls host ‘family days,’ restricting entry to single men, although exceptions may apply to Western tourists.
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Klissura's Unbearable Restraints
The Suffocating Grip of Oppression
This article delves into the suffocating grip of oppression that descended upon Klissura’s survivors, exploring the absurd regulations and stifling restrictions that further compounded their misery. Trapped within the remnants of their village, the people of Klissura faced a future marred by deprivation and hopelessness.
A Life Confined to Ruins
The survivors of Klissura found themselves shackled by oppressive regulations that dictated every aspect of their lives. Forbidden from seeking employment in other villages or even visiting friends and neighbors, the residents were condemned to a life confined to the ruins of their once-flourishing homes. This restriction not only stifled their opportunities for recovery but also served as a poignant symbol of the arbitrary control wielded by those in power.
The Strangulation of Livelihoods
Klissura was a hub of trade and small-scale commerce, with its residents engaging in winter journeys as far-reaching as Constantinople and Asia Minor. However, the oppressive regulations severed the lifelines of these resilient traders. The ban on leaving the village choked off avenues of income and commerce, pushing the people further into the abyss of poverty, with the impending winter casting a shadow of starvation and cold Tour Bulgaria.
Unanswered Calls for Liberation
The Mudir, recognizing the oppressive nature of these regulations, embarked on a futile quest for liberation. Three times he penned impassioned pleas for permission to allow those desiring to leave the village, to seek better prospects. Yet, his letters met with deafening silence. Similarly, his appeals for authority to reclaim cattle from a neighboring Turkish village echoed into the void, unanswered and ignored.
Winter’s Chill and Desperation
As Klissura braced for winter, the prospects grew dimmer each day. The inhabitants, restricted from seizing opportunities beyond the village borders, faced imminent destitution. The once-thriving community, renowned for its enterprising spirit, now languished in the bitter cold of oppression, its dreams of rebuilding dashed against the rocks of bureaucratic indifference.
Klissura’s Unbroken Spirit Amidst Chains
Klissura’s tale is not merely one of physical destruction but a narrative of dreams shackled and livelihoods strangled. The survivors, resilient in the face of despair, cling to an unbroken spirit that refuses to be extinguished. As the oppressive regulations persist, the international community must amplify its voice, demanding the removal of these chains and restoring to Klissura the freedom to rebuild, trade, and live beyond the ruins that now confine them.
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A Forest Interlude
Lunch by the Brigands’ Spring on the Road to Avrat-Alan
A Chance Encounter A Travel Companion from Otluk-kui
Continuing our journey towards Avrat-Alan, we found ourselves deep within the enchanting embrace of a forest. Seeking a moment of respite, we decided to halt for lunch, choosing a picturesque spot by the side of a spring known as the “Brigands’ Spring.” As we settled down for a brief reprieve, a curious addition to our party caught our attention—an unassuming young man astride a remarkably lean horse, equipped with a humble pack-saddle. A brief inquiry revealed that he hailed from Otluk-kui and had joined our group for the sake of safety.
Engaging in a conversation with Antonio, the young man divulged the purpose of his journey—to reunite with his sweetheart in Avrat-Alan, whom he hadn’t seen for three months due to the recent troubles in the region. Grateful for the opportunity to accompany our party, he willingly took on the role of a guide, a task that our two Zaptiehs seemed less certain about. The forest, though providing a serene backdrop, bore witness to the young man’s past misfortune. He recounted a harrowing experience at the same Brigands’ Spring a year prior when he fell prey to highwaymen, losing both money and clothing.
Love’s Perilous Paths Navigating Risk on Romantic Ventures
The revelation of the young man’s hazardous encounter shed light on the challenges faced by those attempting romantic journeys in this rugged terrain. In a land where even the pursuit of love can be fraught with danger, the young man’s decision to undertake the trip showcased the resilience of the human spirit against adversity.
As we enjoyed our lunch in the midst of nature’s splendor, the story served as a stark reminder of the uncertainties that permeated daily life in this region. Yet, armed with a sense of camaraderie and a healthy dose of humor, our party faced the potential risks with a measure of confidence. The shared laughter and camaraderie at the lunch spot by the Brigands’ Spring became a testament to the human capacity for resilience in the face of adversity Bulgaria Holidays.
With an inventory of approximately a hundred shots among our party, we indulged in a meal of cold chicken and mutton, refreshed ourselves at the spring, savored the pleasure of a post-meal smoke, and, in a lighthearted moment, scoffed at the notion of brigands posing a threat. The forest, with its dappled sunlight and gentle breezes, became a temporary sanctuary where the simple act of breaking bread transcended the challenges that lurked in the shadows.
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Temple of Diana at Ephesus
The aisles are divided into three bays corresponding to the main dome and two half-domes of the nave. The central bays (M,M) are screened off from the nave by lattice-work (N,N); the four green marble columns in the lower storey of either screen came from the Temple of Diana at Ephesus. The eight columns of porphyry separating the other bays from the four recesses are said to have been brought to Rome by Aurelian from the Temple of the Sun at Baalbek; they were given to Justinian by a patrician lady named Marcia, as a propitiatory offering for the salvation of her soul.
The capitals of all the columns are exquisite specimens of sculpture; and it is hard to tell what particular style of architecture they belong to, unless they are to be called Greco-Gothic. They are in imitation of a thistle, and are adorned with various monograms, chiefly those of Justinian and Theodora. According to an anonymous writer, they were gilt with real gold.
On the ceiling of the apse is a picture of Christ in the act of benediction, already referred to; the twelve medallions over the columns of the third aisle contained the bas-reliefs of the twelve apostles, which have been removed by the Turks. The black and white marble square within the basilica is supposed to be a model of the Temple of Solomon at Jerusalem.
The church was converted into a mosque immediately after the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, and Muhammad II. first said his prayers in it on Friday, 1st June, 1453. Mecca, towards which all Muhammadans turn their faces when praying, bearing S.E. from St. Sophia guided tours istanbul, prevented the Turks from placing the Mihrab (P) (altar), a stone or niche indicating the direction in which Mecca lies, where the Christian altar formerly stood, and necessitated the placing of the Mihrab between the eastern and southern windows, which consequently caused all the carpets and matting to be placed in the same direction, thus producing a strange architectural effect, by conveying the idea that St. Sophia is built with a slight slant.
Maafil-i-Humayun
Near the Mihrab is the Minber (Q) (pulpit), only used on Fridays, from which the Kiatib (reader) clad in a long red robe recites the Hutbeh or prayer for the Sultan. At St. Sophia, as in all other mosques which were formerly Christian churches, the Kiatib grasps a drawn sword as well as a Koran while reciting this prayer. The Maafil-i-Humayun (R), or the Sultan’s private pew, next to the Mihrab, on eight ancient columns, and surrounded by a shining sun, was erected by Messrs. Fossati during the last restoration of the mosque. The little gallery opposite the Minber is for the muezzins or chanters, who chant the service, and is called Maajil. Of the eight green shields high up, that to the right of the Mihrab bears the name of God; the one on the left the name of Muhammad; the remaining six bear respectively the names of the Caliphs, Abu – bekr, Omar, Hassan, Ali, Osman, and Hussein.
The two large alabaster jars for ablutionary purposes, on either side of the main entrance, were brought from the island of Marmora by Sultan Murad III. One of the two Mecca prayer-carpets on the walls, near the imperial pew and the Maafil, is said to have belonged to Muhammad II., and to have been used by him the first time he said his prayers in St. Sophia. On a stone in the wall of the south-east bay, just behind the Maafil, is the print of a bloody hand and its five fingers, ascribed by tradition to Muhammad II., the mark of a hand and five fingers having from the days of Murad I. been adopted as the ruler’s sign- manual, and being the origin of the imperial monogram. In the north-west part of the north aisle is a bronze-sheathed column with a hole in it, which Muhammadans believe to be always damp and to possess miraculous healing powers; sufferers put their finger into the hole and afterwards apply it to the afflicted part of their bodies, in the hope of a miraculous cure.
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WALL PAINTINGS FROM TOMBS IN THE NECROPOLIS OF SERDICA
The mosaic depicts the early Christian notion of the Paradise – the Garden of Eden, composed of symbols.
2. WALL PAINTINGS FROM TOMBS IN THE NECROPOLIS OF SERDICA 3 fragments
4th century Fresco 0,72 x 1,04 x 0,25 m 0,55 x 0,80 x 0,16 m 1,5 x 0,93 m
From tombs in the Eastern Early Christian necrop-olis around St. Sophia Church in Sofia
Decorated with candelabra and wine sprouts. K. M.
3. WALL PAINTING WITH THE IMAGE OF AN ANGEL
A fragment Triumphal Arch First half of the 4thcentury Fresco 1,40 x 1,60 m
A sector of the murals the interior. Removed from the arch in the Red Church, Perushtitsa, Plovdiv region, in 1920!
An Angel holds a medallion with Agnus Dei in hands raised above his head.
4. EPITAPHSFROMTHEEARLYCHRISTIAN NECROPOLIS OF SERDICA
5th- 6th centuries 4.1 MARBLE 39 x 43 x2,2 cm Inscription in Latin in 3 lines
+ HIC R …V1ESC1T/ T. IOANNES FIUVS bulgaria tour QEORGIINEVSTRIS
Epitaph ofTlitus]Ioanns, son of the illustrious Georgios
The inscription accompanied by a palmette and an ornament
4.2 MARBLE 21 x 51 x 5 cm Inscription in Latin in 3 lines
+ HIC REQUIESCET U1R THEUPREPIUS / EPISCOP +
Epitaph of the most beatific man Bishop
4.3 MARBLE
24 x 26,5 x 2,5 cm Inscription in Latin in 3 lines + DECIUS HIC I FAMULUS … / ANDRAE Epitaph ofDecius, servant of Saint Andrew An ivy leaf carved below the inscription
4.4 SANDSTONE
27 x 27 x 4,5 cm Inscription in Latin in 4 lines
+ CONTANTIA / NUSICEST POS / ITU- SUTREQI / ES CATIN CELI +
Epitaph of Constantine, interred to rest in heaven
A serpent carved below the inscription
5. EPITAPH OF EUGENIA DEACONESS
Local work June 12th 538 Marble 1,18 x 0,65 x 0,08 m 13-line inscription in Greek:
Here rests Eugenia who died as a deaconess, once living in the house (= church) of the famous Apostle Andrew, and ending her pious life on 12th June, indictio I under the reign of our God-like and devout Emperor Flavius Justinian, great Augustus and Autocrat, when the Consul was Flavius Julius
Discovered at Nebush site, nearby the Mineral Baths of the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad re-gion, set up in the altar of the local church.
6. PORTRAIT OF A MAN
Eocal work out of a local stone 6th century Sandstone H. 26 cm; w. 11 cm; d. 19 cm
Discovered within the debris of a Byzantine fortress near Obzor (former Gyozeken, Kozyak grad), Burgas region.
One of the rare world examples of the heroes of the new age – a stiff, universal mask covering a soul striving for the God.
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Balkantourist on the turning to Balchik
Each hotel has its own parking lot. The car repair service of Balkantourist on the turning to Balchik has good mechanics, spare parts and washing facilities. It is open from 7.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Tel. 6-53-16. There is a filling station open 24 hrs near the Kosharata restaurant. Near the Casino is a rent-a-car service open from .00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. Tel. 6-53-63.
Places of entertainment and night dubs offer pleasant and varied programmes.
Tsiganski Tabor (Gypsy Campj Night Club serves delicious dishes and excellent wines in Gypsy tents to the music of a Gypsy orchestra. Open from 9.00p.m. to 2.00 am.
Koukeri (Masked Dancers) Night Club — an original architectural building; ‘Koukeri’ dances are performed with quaint folk masks. The night club commands a marvellous view of the whole resort Open from 9.00 p.m. turkey sightseeing to 4.00 a.m.
Karakachanski Stan, The atmosphere is reminiscent of nomad Karakachan shepherd settlements in the Rhodopes. It is situated in the forest next to the Kolibite. Open from 4,00 p rh. to 2.00 a.m.
Vodenitsata — an original folk restaurant serving grilled chicken, kebabs, home-made sausages and freshly baked bread. Open from 9.00 a.m. to midnight.
Astoria Bar – a modern night club, open May to October. Interesting floor show, music and dancing. Next to Hotel Astoria. Open from 10.00 p.m to 4.00 a.m.
Caney Night Club — exotic atmosphere, Cuban cocktails, firstclass orchestra. Adjacent to Havana Hotel. Open from 4.00 p.m. to midnight.
Prifon Zarezan Restaurant. An original restaurant with a special room for wine-tasting. Bulgarian cuisine and a well- stocked bar. On the road to Varna. Open from 9.00 aan. to midnight.
Lovna Sreshta in a wood close to the Aladja Rock Monastery serves local game dishes. Orchestra. Open from 9.00 a.m, to midnight.
Picnic — a taverna in the heart of the forest near Lovna Sreshta. Grills and excellent drinks are served. Nightly programmes of folk songs and dances. Open from 5.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.
The Rocky Monastery
The Rocky Monastery three kilometres from Zlatni Pyas- satsi in one of the most picturesque areas of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is an old monastery carved from the rocks, consisting of an upper and a lower part. The cells are two and a half by two metres. 1 he church is 11.70 metres long, 5 metres wide and 2 metres high. The altar has two alcoves wit mural paintings. The monastery was most probably founded in the 13th-14th century. 300 metres away are the catacombs — cells carved out of the rock and probably used as dwellings by the monks.
The Museum of the Chalcolytic Necropolis (discovered in 1975) is to be found at the entrance of the monastery. It holds old ornaments, weapons and other artefacts.
The Varna Chalcolytie Necropolis, discovered in 1972 on the western outskirts of the city, is an exceptional find which aroused wide international interest The Necropolis dates from the end of the Chalcolytie period, 3,000 B.C By the end of 1976, 81 graves had been found, 25 of them symbolic graves with no skeletons In grave Number One, was a treasure-trove of ornaments, artefacts of solid heaten gold (23.5 carats), 3 bracelets, a rectangular plate, 2 thimbles, 6 rings, 28 round plates, 6 trapezium-shaped and 4 moon-shaped plates, 160 cylindrical beads, with a total weight of 1,091 kg, copper tools, flint knives, a bone knife, 2,095 beads and various ceramic pieces. In graves Number 2,3 and 15 gold artefacts were discovered such as plates, rings and beads. Grave Number 4 contained gold bracelets, plates, rings, beads and other things with a total weight of 1,518 kg, as well as two clay vessels full of gold ornaments.
In Grave Number 43 the skeleton was found of a man about 40-50 years of age with various rich ornaments as well as several hundred gold artefacts totalling 1,516 kilograms and other copper and clay vessels and ornaments. This must have been the grave of a nobleman.
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Bulgaria’s prettiest towns
We now head for one of Bulgaria’s prettiest towns, Gabrovo (pop. 80,000), situated in the mountains in the narrow valley of the Yantra. The town was founded in the 14th century. Legend says that after Bozhena founded the village of Bozhentsi, her son Racho settled on the banks of the Yantra and built himself a smity near an ancient tree, and later the town was named after that tree. During Ottoman rule many crafts developed such as homespun and furriery. Gabrovo was famous in the Ottoman Empire for craft.
The town flourished in the 19th century, with the innovation of the water wheel from Transylvannia. Woollen braid, homespun articles, rugs, wood and iron articles were manufactured which found a market beyond the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire. The economic rise boosted the town’s cultural development and a monastery school was founded in 1825, and in 1835 the first new Bulgarian secular school was set up with the assistance of merchants from Gabrovo, who lived in Odessa. The citizens of Gabrovo took an active part in the rebellions and uprisings of the 19th century as well as in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) defending Mount Shipka. The Gabrovo population were most active in the war against fascism and capitalism. Partisans from the Gabrovo-Sevlievo detachment fought fierce battles against the police and gendarmerie on Mount Bouzloudja and near the village of Balvan.
After the socialist victory. Gabrovo developed by leaps and bounds. Old industrial enterprises were modernised and new branches established.
The town has a theatre, children’s art school, district museum, library, art gallery, summer theatre, theatre of Humour and Satire — a festival of humour and satire is held here bi-annually in May. An international biennial of cartoons is also held attended by guests from Aberdeen and many other coum tries.
A technological institute was opened in 1964, in addition to pedagogical institute, technical colleges and secondary schools.
Monuments and sights
The District History Museum, 7 Balvan St.
The Aprilov Grammar School founded 1872 where many prominent Bulgarians studied sofia sightseeing.
The clock tower in May 1st Square, built in 1835.
A group of houses from National Revival times in Opulchenska St.
Church of Virgin Mary, with its remarkable iconostasis.
In front of the Aprilov Grammar school is the Vassil Aprilov Monument built in 1935 to mark the centenary of the opening of the first Bulgarian secular school.
The monument to Racho the Blacksmith stands on a rock in the middle of the Yantra.
The Ossuary in the new part of the town is a compound of sculptural figures, a sacrificial altar, a rostrum and memorial plaques with the names of fallen partisans from 1923-1944.
Mitko Palaouzov Monument built near the school where the young partisan studied.
Hotels: Balkan, 14 Emanouil Manolov St., tel. 2-19-11, two stars, accommodating 415, restaurant, three banqueting halls, coffee shop, day bar.
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The marshland around the Danube
The marshland around the Danube has now been drained with only Lake Sreburna being left as a reserve.
Bulgaria has three kinds of lakes: coastal, Karst and Alpine, with the latter found mainly in the Rila and Pinn Mountains. Large dams have been built since Bulgaria became a republic seiving both as a source of power and for irrigation and water supply.
The Black Sea, once known as Pontos Euxinos and part of the Mediterranean, divides Europe and Asia. The Bosphorus links it with the Sea of Marmara, and the Kerch straits with the Azov Sea. It covers an area of 413,488 sqjcm. and reaches a depth of 2,245 metres. The bays of Varna and Bourga^ with their well appointed ports act as Bulgaria’s link with other maritime nations. At the end of 1983, Bulgaria’s population was 8,949,300, 65% living in urban conditions, out of which 1,200,000 live in Sofia alone.
HISTORY
Many artefacts bear witness to present-day Bulgaria having been inhabited since the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages. The oldest known inhabitants were the Thracians, who were a particularly sophisticated people. At the end of the 5th century BC they founded their own state — the Odrisaw Kingdom, extending over the Balkan Peninsula east of the rivers Isker and Strouma city tours istanbul. Roman influence in the Balkan Peninsula spread after 2nd century B.C. After long battles with the Thracian tribes, the Romans succeeded in conquering the Peninsula.
Bulgarians of Khan Asparouh
The First Bulgarian State was founded in the 7th century by agreement among the proto-Bulgarians of Khan Asparouh, originating from around the Azov Sea, and the Slav tribes. The state controlled the land between the Balkan Range and the (arpathians and lasted from 618-1018. Under Khan Kroum (803-814) the country consolidated and expanded. His successor Omourtag (814-831) concluded a 30-year peace treatv with Byzantium and devoted himself to construction. In 864, under Prince Boris I, Bulgarians and Slavs became Christian — an act of tremendous significance in the further development of the Bulgarian State.
Brothers Cyril and Methodius created the Cyrillic alphabet, which encouraged the Slavonic script. Under Tsar Simeon (893-927) son of Boris I, Bulgarian culture enjoyed its Golden Age, Schools were set up in the capital — Veliki Preslav and in Ohrid. Valuable manuscripts from those times are still in existence. The framework of religious literature proved too narrow for the Bulgarians and was broken. The Bogomil social and religious movement made its appearance and later spread to Italy, Southern France (Catherists and Albigenses), as well as to Byzantium, Serbia, Bosnia. Russia and elsewhere.
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Cultural and geographical proximity
Its closeness to Scythian decorative art may be explained by the ethnical, cultural and geographical proximity of these two peoples before they had come into contact with the Greeks, when cattle-raising was the economic basis of both peoples. The fate of this Thracian art is very clearly reflected in many objects in which the strong influence of Greek art is felt. Greek art was mainly instrumental in introducing plant motifs, so beloved of ancient Greek ornamentation; it was also instrumental in introducing whole subjects taken from ancient Greek mythology, in which human and animal forms overcome abstractness and come closer to nature. The silver plaques with scenes from the myth of Heracles, found in Panagyurish- te, are of special interest in this respect.
The art of building developed early among the Thracians. In the early periods it may be traced on the evidence of tomb architecture. Under the tumuli not only ordinary graves, but entire tombs are found, of great interest on account of their plan and structure. The cupola tombs are of particular interest in this respect; they are built of stone blocks, and later of bricks as well, covered with a false vault.The largest cupola tomb known so far was discovered in a tumulus near Me- zck (near Svilengrad), which is 14 m. high and has a diameter of 90 m. The tomb contains a passage 20.65m. long, 1.55m. wide and 2.40—2.60m. high, covered with a triangular vault.
Three chambers
This leads into three chambers, placed along an axis, of which the first two are square, 1.48 m. x 1.26 m. and 1.77 m.x 2.22 m.in size; the first is3.20 m. and the second 3.52 m. high, and both are covered like the passage. The third, end chamber, which is round with a diameter of 3.30 m. and a height of 4.30 m.is shaped like a bee-hive. This was the tomb chamber. Although this tomb was robbed in antiquity, a large number of bronze vessels were found here, together with the candelabrum described before, and some gold jewelry. The total length of the tomb is nearly 29.95 m holidays bulgaria. It dates back to the first half of the 4th century B. C.
The brick cupola that Kazanluk is far more modest in its dimensions. Its plan is much simpler, consisting of an open stone antechamber, a short passage and a bee-hive cupola tomb chamber built of bricks. The total length of the brick body is 5.80 m. But its wonderful murals distinguish this cupola tomb from the 13 other similar tombs known so far. They cover the entire inner surface of the passage and the vaulted chamber. Lower down the walls are covered with stucco work imitating a marble plinth, in the passage black orthostat between bands of white blocks, and in the vaulted chamber white orthostat between bands of black blocks.
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