Archaeologists Unveil Forgotten Deities Exhibition in Sofia

Kristina Ivanova, Vanya Suharova

The Forgotten Deities exhibition, which presents 213 rare artifacts and traces the development of religious beliefs in Bulgarian lands, will be open to the public from August 7, 2026, to January 17, 2027, at the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia, August 5, 2026 (BTA Photo/Vladimir Shokov)

Sofia,

05.08.2026 18:16

(BTA)

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BG ARCHAEOLOGY

The earliest artifacts featured in The Forgotten Deities exhibition date back to the Early Neolithic period, approximately 6200 BC, archaeologist and curator Dr. Kaloyan Pramatarov told BTA at the exhibition’s media preview on Wednesday.

The artifacts originate from the Karanovo settlement mound and the prehistoric pit complex at Hauza, near the village of Kapitan Andreevo. They were uncovered during archaeological excavations led by Prof. Vassil Nikolov.

"The earliest objects provide an excellent representation of the essence of prehistoric religion. Some depict animals associated with totemic beliefs, while others are large anthropomorphic vessels that most likely represent the Great Mother Goddess," Pramatarov explained. He added that the vessels are made of ceramic, richly decorated with incised ornamentation, and portray female figures.

"The main idea behind this exhibition is to present a retrospective of the religious beliefs that once existed on the lands of present-day Bulgaria. This narrative unfolds across several layers. The earliest is linked to prehistory, the second to Thracian culture during the first millennium BC, and the third to the flourishing of Roman culture in the second and third centuries AD," the curator said.

"We organized this exhibition to remind people of all these deities and spiritual beings, which, in one form or another, continue to be present in everyday life. Wherever ancient culture once existed, it continues to endure, and it is important to recognize it in the world around us, even amid the fast pace of modern life," Pramatarov added.

During the planning of the exhibition the archaeologist was astonished by the richness of the National Archaeological Museum’s collection, which contains more than one million cultural artifacts.

Almost all of the artifacts included in the exhibition have passed through the Laboratory for Analyses, Conservation and Restoration at the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, conservator-restorer and co-curator of the exhibition Chavdar Chomakov told BTA, adding that the work of conservators is an essential stage in the preparation of every museum exhibition.

The Forgotten Deities will be open to the public from August 7, 2026, to January 17, 2027, at the National Archaeological Museum in Sofia.

/NZ, VE/