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Thracian sanctuary – The gate of the Goddess

Thracian sanctuary – The gate of the Goddess

south of the village of Buzovgrad

RELIGIONS Paganism

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
The Megalith is dating from 1800-1600 BC. and was built by the ancient Thracians. It is situated at hill and represents group of stone blocks (trilit). The largest of them are placed horizontally over others and form a hole like a window. There are other interesting rock structures around as so called "The Throne" (for the observer of the rituals) and "zhervenik".
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
The megalith complex is known as the Door of the Goddess or the Gate to the Beyond World later on when the Thracian tribes were inhabiting this area. According to their believes the sunrise symbolizes the birth, and the sunset - the death or the transition to the beyond world. It is considered that it was used for burial ceremonies of Thracian aristocrats and priests. This is the reason why the ashes of prof. Alexander Fol were scattered here by his wife prof. Valeria Fol. It is exactly him who proofs that this is a unique site for the Thracian culture as it represents a calendar that shows with the help of the sun rays the astronomical year and the seasons. Every year on the 21st of June (the Summer solstice) at sunset the rays are passing through the "Gate" (an opening of 1.80 m, formed by big rocks) to illuminate the rock behind it where the stone throne is.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
It is assumed that the complex was used not only for cults and rituals,but also for astronomical observations and as a calendar. In recent years, on 21 June (the day of the summer solstice), the sanctuary attracts many people who watch the entry of the solar disk into the the rock hole of the sanctuary. Many people (including mediums) consider the area is a high-energy space and the energy is commensurate with that of the pyramid in Giza.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
The monument is situated on a rocky outcrop at the foot of Sredna Gora mountains. Professor Fol had identified structures on the site that could have functioned as an altar and as a throne. The Koprinka dam can be seen from the Gate, where lie the submerged remains of the ancient city Seuthopolis of the Thracian Odrisi tribe. The Gate is a classical trilithon - a three-stone structure which resembles a dolmen - an old-style tomb, but in that case we see a ritual complex, not a necropolis. It is considered that in this area somewhere there should be a necropolis, but it is still not found. It is very interesting to note that this sacred place [where the Great Mother Goddess (symbolized by the rock) and the Sun (her son) were honored by the Thracians] is part of a triangle, formed by two other important sites in this area - the capital of the Odrysian kingdom - Seuthopolis (nowadays at the bottom of Koprinka dam), and the Tomb of Seuthus the Third, also known as Golyamata Kosmatka Mound.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
The students need to visit the sanctuary in order to broaden their knowledge about ancient history and to feel the spirit that the megalith brings itself.
CONNECTION WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS SITES

Ancient Thracian Sanctuary of Nymphs - near the village of Kasnakovo, Dimitrovgrad municipality, Haskovo Region

Perperikon - 5 Yazovirska street, 6610 Kardzhali

Tatul - 200 m from the village of Tatul in the areas Kara dere and Kaya basi, Kardzhali district

The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak - near the town of Kazanlak in central Bulgaria

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.