Books - Exploring Thracian Heritage and Culture
Books
Gergova D.1987. Fruh-und altereisenzeiliiche Fibeln in Bulgarien. – Prahistorische vronzefunde, ABT XIV, Band 7, Verlag C.H.Bec, Munchen.
Gergova D. 2004. Sboryanovo – Sacred Land of the Getae. Bulgarian Bestseller. Sofia, 84 p.
Gergova D. 2013. Golden Gifts from Sveshtari. Borina.
Gergova D. 2019. The Getae who Immortalize. The Discoveries in the Spiritual and Political Capital of the Getae “Dausdava-Helis”. Z. Stoyanov Publishing House.150 p.
Gergova D. 2024.The Bessi and the Sanctuary of Dionysus. Velingrad, p.16
Gergova D., K. Venedikova 2020. Demir Baba Teke. The Bulgarian Jerusalem. Z. Stoyanov Publishing House.200 p.
Gergova D., I. Kabakov, T. Petev, M. Prodanova. 2021. Model for Participatory Governance of
The Sboryanovo Historical-Archaeologica Reserve. My Museum Foundation, P.80
Gergova, D. 1996. The rite of immortalization in ancient Thrace (Engl. summary) Sofia, Agato.
Venedikova K., D. Gergova, B. Iliev. 2006. Demir Baba – the Iron Father. Sofia, 195 p.
Gergova, D., E. Teodorov. 2006. Proto-Bulgarian and Thracian traces. “East-West”, 124 p.
Gergova, D., K. Venedikova. 2007. Demir Baba Teke. The Bulgarian Jerusalem. Agato, 112 p.
The Getae who Immortalize.
The Discoveries in the Spiritual and Political Capital of the Getae Dausdava-Helis
Diana Gergova
Publishing House “Zahari Stoyanov”, Sofia 2019
Until less than 50 years ago, no one could have imagined that in the northwestern Thracian territory the Getae created their extraordinary capital from the 1st millennium BC. Hr. , which can certainly be identified with the long-sought Dausdava (“City of Wolves or of Light”) from the IX map of the Roman geographer Cl. Ptolemy.
The large-scale studies, after the discovery of the The Thracian Tomb of Svestari in 1982 in the area around it, found that at the end of the 2nd millennium BC. Hr. The Getae built a complex of sanctuaries, cult places, later the Hellenistic city of Helis, and erected mounds in groups – reflections of bright constellations in the spirit of the Orphic doctrine of the immortality of the soul, of harmony with nature and the cosmos.
The book summarizes for the first time these discoveries, in which the novelty is the burial of the famous Getic ruler – Kotela, the founder of the Getic state from the second half of the 4th century BC. In the The Great Sveshtari Mound with the gold gifts placed in it and his surroundings in the surrounding mounds, along with the burial of Dromichet – the winner of Lysimachus from the 1st half of the 3rd century BC. in the Sveshtari tomb under Ginina mound.
The traditions of the spiritual center of the getaes have been preserved over the millennia to this day.
"Sboryanovo. The Sacred Land of the Getae". Bulgarian bestseller.2004
The book presents the archaeological research of key sites in the Sboryanovo National Reserve, which allow the complex of sanctuaries, Hellenistic city and impressive mounds to be identified with the spiritual and political capital of the Northern Thracians – Getaes from 1 thousand BC. Hr. “Dausdava” (“City of Wolves”) from the IX map of the Roman geographer Cl. Ptolemy.
Demir Baba Teke. The Bulgarian Jerusalem.
Diana Gergova, Katerina Venedikova
Publishing House “Zahari Stoyanov”, Sofia 2020
Demir Baba Teke – a remarkable monument of Ottoman architecture connected with the Alian saint of Bulgarian origin, Demir baba, is surrounded by myths and legends, but he has stepped firmly
on the foundations of an earlier Thracian sanctuary, and has preserved to this day testifies to
The meeting and interweaving here of iconic world religions – Orphism, Christianity,
Jainism, Islam, and ancient Indo-European traditions preserved alive to this day. In
The book presents the archaeological research in the courtyard of the tekke, they have been examined
the architecture, decoration and inscriptions of Demir Baba Teke and the surrounding monuments, and for the read life of the saint was presented for the first time.
Gold Gifts from Sveshtari
Diana Gergova
Publishing House “Borina”, 2013
The gold treasure discovered in a wooden box under the Great Sveshtari Mound in 2012 is one of the great sensations of the 20th century. The box was laid in the process of filling the mound in the crown of the sacred oak tree, not far from which the monumental tomb of the Getae ruler Kotela from the second half of the 4th century BC was built. In it are found as a gift to the gods – The Great Mother Goddess and Apollo a set of unique jewelry – a tiara, bracelets and a ring with Eros, an iron bridle and hundreds of appliqués to horse harness covered with brocade.
"Under the sign of Orion. Latest discoveries from the royal necropolis of the Getae"
The southern group of mounds in the eastern royal necropolis of the capital of the Getae in the Sboryanovo reserve was erected as a reflection of the constellation Orion. In the highest mound – the Great Sveshtari/Omurtag mound, a box with unique gold gifts was discovered, which shows that it belonged to the ruler from the second half of the 4th century BC., Kotela – founder of the Getae state and ally of Philip II of Macedon.
The bessi and the Sanctuary of Dionysus, Velingrad 2024.
The first narrative accessible to the general public about the archaeological discoveries of Mount Ostrets, Velingrad, which offer convincing arguments for the location of the long-sought sanctuary of Dionysus on this peak.
Cultural Heritage Act vs. Cultural Heritage
Diana Gergova
Credo Bonum Foundation and SOS-Starini.bg
The study presents with specific examples the destructive effect on cultural monuments in Bulgaria from the Law on Cultural Heritage introduced in 2009.
The Rite of Immortalization in Ancient Thrace
Diana Gergova
Publishing House Agato, 1986
An interesting question that could only find an answer through archaeological excavations was what Herodotus’ claim meant that “the Getae practiced immortality”. Is this question also related to the fact that in many of the Thracian tombs strange situations are found – parts of the human bones are missing, and valuable objects are preserved. Were these tombs looted, or are they related to the mysterious getae practice of practicing immortality? The results of the excavations of the two tombs, which formed a unified architectural ensemble with the Great Sveshtari tomb, are presented, which allow the “Rite of Immortalization” to be unraveled.
Proto-Bulgarian and Thracian traces
Evgeni Teodorov, Diana Gergova
Publishing House East-West, 2006, p.200
Two authors who wrote their research at a long interval of time, but dedicated to a significant monument, such Demir Baba Teke is with the myths, legends and revealed antiquities, complement each other in their observations and enrich their knowledge about it.