Bulgaria.medieval.art

Lyuben Karavelov Primary School, Vidin, Bulgaria
Together with Arts 2020 - 2022

Bulgaria is one of the oldest European countries that continues its existence to the
present day. It was founded in 681 by Khan Asparuh as a union state of ancient
Bulgarians and Slavs and occupies vast territories: from the Dnieper River and Black
Seas in the east to the Timok River in the west, from the Carpathians in the north to
the ridge of Stara Planina in the south. Its first capital was Pliska. The greatest
political sublimity and power it reached during the reign of the kings Simeon (893-
927) and Ivan Assen II (1218-1241), when its borders were on three seas - Black, White
and Adriatic.
Territory of Bulgaria during the reign of
Khan Asparuh
Territory of Bulgaria during the reign of Khan Asparuh
Territory of Bulgaria during the reign of Tsar
Simeon

The capital Pliska

This period is
characterized
mainly by the
strength of the
pagan tradition.
Material culture
monuments have
been preserved
from this period.
Kaloyan’s ring
"Nevertheless a person
lives well, he dies and
another is born. And may
the last to be born,
looking at these writings,
also remembers the one
who made them.”
-Khan Omurtag
The column of Khan Omurtag
transferred to the church "Holy
40 Martyrs" in Tarnovo
When it comes to the development of the
medieval Bulgarian culture two main periods stand
out clearly. The first covers the period since
Bulgaria was founded till the middle of the ninth
century.

One of the most impressive works of fine art during the
pagan period is the rock relief near the village of Madara
(near Shumen) - a remarkable work of stone sculpture, which
has no analogue in the Early Middle Ages in Europe.
Madara Horseman.
Relief from the VIII century
The Madara horseman
was curved at a height of
23 meters and represents
the strength and power of
the Bulgarian state

During the period of the First Bulgarian Kingdom, sculptures also
prospered. Various plants motifs can be seen on them, mystic and
real animals, human figures.

The baptism (adoption of the Christian faith) of the Bulgarians in 864 marked
the beginning of a new stage in the development of the old Bulgarian culture.
Many churches and monasteries were built and became center of active literary
life. The second Bulgarian capital, Preslav, became the main cultural center in the
10th century. Unique for the Balkan Peninsula is the round "Golden Church" built
in the early tenth century:

During the reign of Tsar Simeon
the Great (893 - 927) Bulgaria
experienced its greatest power
and prosperity since the time of
the First Bulgarian State.
His military and political
successes were accompanied
by the flourishing of Bulgarian
culture. The period of his reign is
known as the Golden Age.
Simeon moved the capital of the
country from Pliska to Preslav,
which became an important
literary center .

The fortress wall in Veliki Preslav

 A superb phenomenon from
this period was the painted
ceramic of Preslav. It could be
seen everywhere - wall
decoration, flooring, icons,
dishes and more. Real
masterpieces such as the
ceramic icon of St. Theodore
Stratilat from the tenth
century, consisting of 12 plates
was made of it.
 Icons of the same type were
made to decorate certain
temples. Apart from
monumental ones, small icons
were also found, probably for
home use.
In terms of scope, volume, technique and style, the painted ceramic of Preslav
had no equal in Europe at that time..

Not only household items were
made of painted ceramic, but
also various decorative elements
for decoration of buildings in the
Bulgarian capital.

The Golden Treasure of Preslav -
IX-X c. contains:
 necklace,
 two rings,
 earrings,
 applications for coronet,
 buttons, etc

Baba Vida Fortress is one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in
Bulgaria. It is located in the northern part of our town Vidin, on the bank
of the Danube River. It was built in the second half of the 10th century on
the foundations of the Roman fortress of Bononia with an area of 9.5
acres, Surrounded by a ditch that was filled with water. The fortress also
houses the summer theater of Vidin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QACXfF-OxZs - a virtual walk
around the fortress.

Tarnovo was the capital during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185
- 1396). During the Middle Ages, the hill Tsarevets, on which it is
located, was totally built up with residential and administrative
buildings.

Along with the church painting in
the XIII - XIV century in Bulgaria the
miniature painting was also marked
by a serious development. Several
literary works have been preserved,
mainly from the time of Ivan
Alexander (1331-1371), with exquisitely
made miniatures. The most famous
of these is the London Gospel, which
contains 366 multicolored
miniatures. Another famous
monument decorated with
miniatures is the Chronicle of
Manasseh.
London Gospel

Dishes from the XIV century -
the village of Cherven
Typical dishes from the town of
Ahtopol

During the Middle Ages, Bulgaria was the
cradle and centre of Slavic writing and
literature.
Old Bulgarian manuscripts were richly decorated
with various ornaments, initials, capital letters

Miniatures (illustrations) from medieval books

Embroidery of towels and clothes from VII-IX century

Presentation made by a school team of Lyuben
Karavelov Primary School – Vidin, Bulgaria with the
assistance of the headmaster of the school Lyubka
Naydenova.

Bulgaria.medieval.art

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