A New Look at the Mythological Representations of the Panagyurishte Gold Treasure, Bulgaria

Abstract

Of the nine gold vessels of the Panagyurishte treasure, discovered accidentally in December 1949 and dated to the second half of the 4th or the first part of the 3rd century BCE, three are significant for the present discussion: two rhyta and an amphora-rhyton. On the first rhyton is represented the Judgment of Paris. The second rhyton depicts Herakles fighting against the legendary Ceryneian hind and Theseus hunting the bull of Marathon. On the amphora-rhyton, a warlike scene is depicted. It seems plausible to consider that the three vessels are related to each other not only as part of a luxurious drinking set, but also as a cycle of close themes, forming a thematic and narrative link. Consequently, they may throw light upon the meaning of the warlike scene on the wall of the amphora-rhyton, namely the first abduction of Helen by Theseus and her liberation by the Dioscuri. In addition, the Judgment of Paris, depicted on the first rhyton, hints the second abduction of Helen by Paris, followed by the dramatic events of the Trojan War and its disastrous and tragic results.