Galery

1

Polina Spartyanova
     Because of its historic location between the first Bulgarian capital Pliska and the second Preslav, in 1981 Shumen was chosen as the centre of the celebrations on occasion of the 1300th anniversary of Asparukh country. The most significant moments of this historic act are narrated by large sculptures, fragments of inscriptions and mosaics inside the monument that is called "Founders of the Bulgarian State". It is located 6 km away from the city of Shumen and can be seen within a radius of 30 km, as it is 140 metres long and 70 metres high. It is the largest monument in Bulgaria.
     Inside it, 21 sculptures symbolize the idea of the creation, development and the rise of Bulgaria in the period from the VII - X century. The largest sculpture is dedicated to the founder of the Bulgarian state, Asparukh, who stuck his sword in the ground and uttered the words, "Here will be Bulgaria! On this land under this sky." The khan’s image is not particularly credible as there is no information about his appearance, but the forms of the Bulgarian socialist realism depict him as big, powerful and resolute.
     Next to him are the 18 metres high sculptures of Tervel, Krum and Omurtag, the rulers who strengthened the positions of the Bulgarian state, surrounded by excerpts from old Byzantine chronicles. Khan Tervel (701-721) is known as the first Bulgarian diplomat. In 705, he helped Byzantine Emperor Justinian II to regain his throne, being awarded, for doing so, the title "Caesar", the second most important person after the Emperor, and Zagorje area in Northern Thrace. By depicting him making different gestures with each of his hands, the authors wanted to show his diplomatic skills and to demonstrate that conflicts should be resolved through diplomacy and peace, and not through clashes, wars and confrontation.