The Thracians were an ancient tribe that inhabited southeastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula. They spoke an Indo-European language and had a significant influence on both Greek and Roman cultures, contributing many gods and rituals to their mythologies. The Thracians were known for their skills in warfare, crafting jewelry, and winemaking. They established the Odrysian Kingdom in what is now Bulgaria, which lasted for around five centuries until being conquered by the Roman Empire. Despite conflicts between tribes and neighboring groups, elements of Thracian culture, particularly their winemaking traditions, continue to influence modern Bulgarian wineries today.

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“Green Skills for Social Agriculture”
The Thracians
The Thracians were a mysterious group of tribes who occupied the southeastern part of the
Balkan Peninsula. The Thracians spoke an Indo-European language, but numerous theories
about their appearance on the European cultural map and later extinction/assimilation exist.
One theory indicates that the Thracians were the original inhabitants of this area, another relates
them to the tribes in West Asia and still others claim that the Thracians formed through the
mixing of the original population in southeastern Europe and migrant tribes from Asia. One
thing is for certain – the Thracians left a deep mark on the cultural development of the European
civilization. They influenced both the Greek and Roman cultures and it is even believed that a
great share of the Greek and Roman gods and mythology is impacted by the Thracian beliefs
and rituals.
The etymology of the name “Thracians” is related to the name of one of the numerous tribes –
the Travcians. Later the Greeks used “Thracians” to denote wild, uneducated, barbarian
people. The Thracians built such an image of themselves because of the endless wars they
waged among the different tribes and also with their neighbours. The Thracians were skillful
warriors and for that reason they were highly sought after mercenaries.
Homer provides the first written account of the Thracians in the Illiad where they are depicted
as powerful soldiers fighting on the side of Troy. The ancient historian Herodot describes the
Thracians as the most populous people along with the Indians and claims that if not for their
constant fighting, the Thracians would be invincible when united.

2. The Thracians did try to form a state – the Odrysian Kingdom which was located mostly in today’s Bulgaria
and which lasted nearly five centuries until it was conquered by the Roman Empire in 46 AD. The whole
region then became the province of Thrace under the Romans.
The Thracian tribes were conquered a number of times by Persians, Phillip and Alexander the Macedons,
but it was after the fall under theRoman Empire that historians lose the traces of the Thracians. Sometheories
suggest that they were assimilated by the Romans, Byzantines and later the Bulgarians.
Nevertheless, a number of symbolic figures came out of the Thracian tribes. The wonderful poet and
musician Orpheus who enchanted all living things when he started playing his lyre was Thracian from the
tribes that inhabited nowadays Rhodope Mountain in southeastern Bulgaria. Orpheus was one of the
agronauts and a number of rituals, called Orphic mysteries, are connected with the cult to the ancient poet
and musician. Another famous Thracian was Spartacus from the Medi tribe that settled in southwestern
Bulgaria. Spartacus was a gladiator who led the biggest slave rebellion against the Roman Republic in 1st
century BC. In addition, a number of Roman and Byzantine emperors were of Thracian origin such as
Constantine the Great,Justinian I, Leo I and others.
The Thracians were famous for three main things: waging war, making jewelry and exquisite
ornamentations, and producingwine. The Thracians were skillfuland insatiable warriors, whichis evidenced
in the numerous wars they were engaged in. The Thracians were also well-known for producing fine jewelry
and ornamentation and there are multiple impressive golden treasures from Thracian origin discovered in
Bulgaria. Some theories that support the notion of the Thracians being the original inhabitants of this land
point to the Thracians as the creators of the oldest golden treasure in the world discovered in northeastern
Bulgaria near the city of Varna and dating back to 6 000 years BC.
However, it was their wine that gave the Thracians the undisputable reputation of wine-making masters. The
Thracians were avid consumers of wine and had multiple rituals connected to wine. The Thracians
worshipped Zagreus (or Dionysus as the Greeks called him or Bacchus as the Romans called him) – the God
of Wine who inspired some of their most important rituals and cults.
Regardless of the disputes about the Thracians’ origins and historical fate, their cultural heritage in the area
of wine-making, wine traditions and rituals drift through the ages and is evidenced in the modern Bulgarian
wineries which use generations of knowledge and experience when producing wine of the highest quality.
The importance of the Thracians in wine production in Bulgaria is demonstratedin almost every name, label,
story and idea behind the modern, boutique wineries in the country. They remind of the invisible connection
to the ancient Thracians and invite everyone to indulge in a spiritual and lasting experience when trying the
divine Thracian drink.