Traces of Thracians are unearthed in the ancient city of Heraion-Teikhos, the city of Hera

Hera’s City Heraion-Teikhos Ancient City, located within the borders of Tekirdağ province, has hosted different civilizations, especially Thracians.

Traces of Thracians were found in the excavations carried out in the ancient city since 2000.

Statues of the mother goddess and the god of health, a tumulus, a pharmaceutical furnace and various coins were found in the city.

The excavations continue under the direction of Prof. Dr. Neşe Atik, Dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at Istanbul Rumeli University and Coordinator of the Archaeological Research Office.

Stating that the Thracians had a great kingdom in the 4th century BC, Prof. Dr. Neşe Atik said, “The Thracian Kingdom covers a very large area. Together with our Thrace, it covers Bulgaria, Northern Macedonia, Greece and part of Romania. It is a gigantic kingdom.”

“The Thracians lived at a very high level of wealth. Incredible silver and gold vessels were left from them, but they have no written sources. The Hellenes, who admired and were surprised by the Thracians and were a little bit their enemies, wrote. Later, Roman and Byzantine writers described the life of the Thracians in written sources. We understand that they were a patriarchal people and lived on horseback. A very proud people who lived by conquests. They have their own religious life.”

Thracians believed in immortality

“We know that Thracian aristocrats were close to the king. Thracians believe in the mother goddess and they believe that the mother goddess symbolically married the Thracian king and gave him immortality. The king, like the mother goddess, can distribute immortality. Therefore, the aristocrats were close to him so that they could gain immortality. There are human sacrifices. A Thracian stands up voluntarily and 3 Thracians throw spears and kill him. If he doesn’t die, he becomes an evil spirit, if he dies, he gains immortality. It is an interesting society with different beliefs. When we uncover what we know in written sources through excavations, it is a novelty.”

Thracians sacrificed widows

Stating that the widow is sacrificed in Thracian religious beliefs, Atik said, “Thracian rich people have between 4 and 30 wives. When the man dies, there is a chosen wife. All relatives and people gather. At the grave of the man, the woman’s throat is cut and sacrificed. No one is upset about this situation, it is considered a source of pride for everyone. Because it is believed that the sacrificed woman is immortal.”

Cover Photo: Fırat Çakır/AA