Borovo Treasure

The Borovo Treasure, often referred to as the Borovo Silver Treasure, is an intriguing collection of five silver-gilt items unearthed in late 1974 in a field near Borovo, Bulgaria. This treasure is currently exhibited at the history museum in Ruse.

The collection comprises three rhyta (drinking vessels) of varying sizes, each featuring a distinctive base adorned with figures such as a sphinx, a horse, and a bull. Additionally, there is a large two-handled bowl embellished with a relief depicting a deer being attacked by a griffin, and a rhyton jug decorated with images of gods feasting and scenes from mythological tales.

The treasure was discovered accidentally during plowing near the village of Borovo. Although the items sustained damage from the plow, meticulous restoration has rendered the damage nearly imperceptible. The reason for the treasure’s burial at this particular site remains a mystery, as no burial mound was found.

An inscription on one of the rhyta suggests that the treasure may have been a gift from King Cotys I to a local Getic ruler. King Cotys I ruled the Odrysian Kingdom from 383 to 359 BC, suggesting that the treasure dates back to the early to mid-fourth century BC.