The Thracian tomb of Sveshtari was discovered in 1982 near a village of the same name, situated in northeastern Bulgaria, 7km away from the town of Isperih. This tomb, built in the first half of the 3rd century B.C. has a unique architectural design, colorful half-human, half-plant caryatids and impressive wall paintings. The 10 female figures carved in the walls of the central chamber and the decoration of the lunette in its vault are the only ones of their kind found in the former Thracian lands.
According to a hypothesis put forward by the leader of the archeological team that discovered the tomb, Maria Chichikova, the tomb of Sveshtari hosts the body of King Drumihed, leader of the Thracian tribe of Getes. The people of the Getes are believed to have been in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds. Moreover, Ms Chichikova suggests that the tomb was erected near the former capital of the Getes, Hellis, which together with Sveshtari lies in the historical and cultural reserve of Sboryanovo. The tomb was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1985.
