Yesterday the municipal council in Plovdiv adopted a unanimous declaration calling for our most valuable gold treasure - the Panagyur - to be exhibited for permanently in the archaeological museum in Plovdiv, BNT reported.
However, the decision on this must be made by the Minister of Culture, as it was found underground and therefore belongs to the state. The passions surrounding the topic heated up against the background of the upcoming exhibition in the fall at the Getty Museum. in Los Angeles.
Whether it will be a dispute between the museums in Sofia, Plovdiv and Panagyurishte or with the heirs of the discoverers - the question of who should own the Panagyurishte golden treasure has arisen over the years. An old story tells that after its discovery, the Archaeological Museum in Plovdiv and the Archaeological Museum at the BAS simultaneously received a message about it, but from Plovdiv they arrived earlier. That is why it is recorded in their book. This fact becomes the starting point for another dispute.
"The contract between the archaeological museums and NIM has ended. And even now there is no legal basis for the Panagyur Golden Treasure to be in Sofia," said Borislav Inchev, municipal councilor.
"With the declaration, the only thing we can do is to declare our disagreement with the Panagyur gold treasure being outside its home, which is the archeological museum in Plovdiv, because as the colleague said, it was entered first in the inventory book in Plovdiv" ; commented Yana Dimitrova, municipal councilor.
Its transfer to the National History Museum is connected with the idea that every foreigner who arrives in our country can get an idea of our country, seeing its most valuable treasures in one place. One of the biggest problems that the return of the Panagyur gold treasure from the NIM to Plovdiv would create is its travel outside Bulgaria for international exhibitions, as the documents for them are being prepared by the NIM and the Ministry of Culture.
Today, the Municipal Council in Plovdiv nevertheless unanimously declared its desire for the treasure to return to Plovdiv.
"This declaration will have no legal effect. The Ministry of Culture has the final sanction. If they decide to return the treasure, I am obliged to obey, but with great displeasure," said Assoc. Dr. Bonni Petrunova, director of the NIM.
The decision is in the hands of the Minister of Culture, who believes that it should be in the National History Museum.
"There should be one place in the country where our national values should be presented. This place bears its name - NIM. If you want, move it to another city! I'm good! But there must be such a place. We cannot come up with the idea that we will increase the tourist flow by taking everything that is in NIM and spreading it around the country wherever it is. Then the tourists will simply stop coming, because they will not go around everywhere," commented the minister.
In the fall, the treasure will travel to the Getty Museum in California. According to preliminary information, his visit will bring the museum in Plovdiv more than 100,000 euros in revenue. Despite the disputes, the treasure remains in Sofia, but it is very likely that this story will have a continuation.
And the museum in Plovdiv will receive a little over 100,000 euros after the treasure is exhibited in the Getty Museum.