Tomb of Seuthes III

Welcome to the majestic Valley of the Thracian Kings, a lush, rolling landscape tucked near the town of Kazanlak in central Bulgaria. You are standing before the Golyama Kosmatka mound, a monumental earthen hill that hides one of…

We begin our exploration by stepping into the dromos, the long, imposing entrance corridor that pierces the heart of the burial mound. This passageway stretches for thirteen meters, its walls constructed from massive, finely cut…

Passing through the threshold, we enter the first formal chamber of the mausoleum. This room is rectangular in shape, characterized by straight, stark walls and a continuing vaulted ceiling. …

We now move into the second chamber, the tholos, which features a dramatic architectural shift. The room is perfectly circular and rises into a sweeping, domed ceiling that reaches four and a half meters high. …

Finally, we step through the marble doorway into the third and most sacred chamber: the actual burial room of King Seuthes the Third. Prepare yourself, for the architecture of this room is unlike anything else in the Thracian…

As we exit the cool, quiet depths of the tomb and return to the warmth of the Bulgarian sun, take a moment to look back at the entrance of the Golyama Kosmatka mound. The journey we just took from the surface down into the…