the circle / o κύκλος

The Starosel Tomb: Rethinking Funerary Architecture in Ancient Thrace

Chavdar Tzochev, British School at Athens

Salle des conférences de l’EFA / Αίθουσα διαλέξεων της EFA

Programme janv-fév 2019

The paper presents an architectural study of the Starosel tomb for a first time since its discovery in 2000. Built in the mid-4^th century BC, this was probably the largest tholos tomb to appear since the Late Bronze Age.This monument stands out not only with its dimensions, but also with its ingenious engineering andoriginal style. Better than any other building in the region, the Starosel tomb evokes the idea of a Greek architect working for a Thracian patron. While the resulting architecture defies cultural labels it also pushes us to reconsider existing theories about the origins of monumental tombs in Thrace.