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The father of the Turkish people, ATATÜRK once made the following statement; “ The historians are just as important as those who make history. If those who write the history books do not reproduce the exact facts then they will lead mankind astray and the true happenings will remain hidden for ever.”
As a child I was also confused in such a manner. I did not know how to re-act towards Greeks and Bulgarians, as the origins of my family were in Kawala and Pleven. It was made quite clear to me that Greeks and Bulgarians lived on the other side of the border but what I did not know was that not all the people living there under those national banners belonged to those nationalities. In fact they were Thracians. Although we were not very well off after 2nd World war, we still had more than those behind the other two borders. In spite of communism in one country and a King ruling in the other, the borders weren’t impassable for us Thracians, and we helped our neighbors as much as possible. We were greeted like a member of the family in Bulgaria and given a friendly reception.
To
get into Greece wasn’t quite as easy ( bt 1950 – 60 ). Soldiers from Athens
guarded this border and they simply did not like us.
We
were, and still remain, the Thracians in Turkey, in which country at least 16
different peoples exist ( not just the Curds as is often presumed ). The
population as for as Istanbul and the Aegean coast recognize us as such. They
have an understanding for four status. In other Turkish areas we are simply
evacuees or half- breeds. [ I would like to emphasize at this point that I do
not wish to presuppose or reproach anything or anyone ] I was raised among 4
worldly religions in Adrianapol – Edirne. My aim is to develop and complete
the picture of Thrace by puzzling together my own childhood experiences as well
as cultural events.
Please
judge for yourself whether I succeed or not.
Description
of the Thracian border in Internet and in today’s literature.
>>
The Greeks describe the borders of Thrace on website-www.travelling.gr/sete/thr/index
d.htm
???Thrace
was situated in the very North of Greece, bordering to the North with Bulgaria,
to the East with Turkey, to the West with Macedonia and to the south the
Thracian Sea ?????
>>
??Turkish
– Thrace – the small part situated in Europe consists only of 3 % of the
total area of the Turkish country ( 779.422 km2).???
>>
University Koblenz :
www.uni-koblenz.de/~wirt/Tabletop/Armeelisten/thraker.html
The
Thracians supposedly lived from 700 b.C. until 46 a. C.
>>PEARS
– CYCLOPAEDIA 99 Edition:
Thrace:
Ancient name of territory. In S.E. Europe, part of which has been added to
Greece; successively under Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, and Turkish rule,
before passing to Greece.
>>
"The first GOLD of Mankind “ The oldest civilization in Europe – the Thrace
People- A book for the exhibition under the auspices of Dr. h.c. Lothar Spät
– Minister President of Baden – Württenberg – and the Republic of
Bulgaria, published by Karl Schillinger, Freiburg in Breisgau. 2. edition 1986/
however, not much is said about the people of Thrace in this book. Their name is
simply not mentioned, For what reason? The exhibited treasures were also
published in a calendar titled “ GOLD 96- The Treasures of Thrace “ Photos
by Erich Lessing / AKG Berlin.
The
regional newspaper “ Die Rheinpfalz “ published the following article on 2nd
Feb. 2001 :
A
Thrace temple from the Bronze Age will be destroyed for the second time .
Bulgaria has no funds for restoration. The ruin could attract big crowds.
an
By AP. Correspondent
Veselin Schhelew
Archaelogists
came across the largest Thrace temple of the Balkans in their country. The
reason for the sudden dismay is simple. Bulgaria is rich in history but has not
the financial means to be able to restore this treasure from the Bronze Age.
The
restoration of the ruin alone would cost app. 480.000 DM and would completely
devour the yearly budget supplied by the Ministry of Culture for the care of
historical buildings. Bad news for the conservators, especially because the
ruin, lying open as it now is, will also be damaged by wind and weather. Apart
from that, Bulgaria could well profit from a new wave of tourism.
Many
holiday maker from home + abroad are already traveling along the one bad road
which leads to the place of the find near Stare, 130 km from Sofia.
Georgl
Kitow, who discovered the temple with his excavation team, emphasizes how
important this discovery is for historians. For indeed the Thrace race inhabited
the Balkans 4000 years before the birth of Christ. It wasn’t until 7 centuries
b.C. that the Slavs came and drove the Thrace people away. “ This is the most
fantastic discovery that has been made in this area for 150 years “ said Vitow
with great enthusiasm.
The
temple brings us to new conclusions about the Art and Architecture of this race
and it could develop into a tourist magnet besides other spots in Sparta and
Athens “ It `s like a license to print money “.
“
Goddess of the Earth lives in a cave: The temples is surrounded by a 240 m long
stone wall. A large stairway, by a smaller staircase, flanked on each side by a
smaller staircase, lies on the south side, and was probably used for great
parades. They lead up to an enormous 10 m high gate. The round stonewall symbolizes
the sun, whilst the temple itself stands for the goddess of the Earth, who
according to Thrace beliefs, lived in a cave. The inside of the monument
consists of a square entrance and a round vaulted main hall, the ceiling of
which is supported by ten pillars.
The
inside walls are paneled with decorated stone slabs.
Kitow explains that most probably Sytakos, one of the post-powerful men of the Thrace race, is buried in this temple. This was the central place of worship as well as a burial place sheltering the tombs of a number of Thracian aristocrats, and also several shrines, which were hewn into the adjacent stone slabs. The Archaeologists found the complete Armour of the Thracian warrior in one of the graves including a bronze helmet, knee protectors, a chain-shirt, sword, bronze spears and numerous arrows, silver and ceramic utensils, a golden diadem and a gold ring, in which a Thracian knight was engraved. It’s a tentacle to an abundance of treasures but the government is not prepared to give any further financial support. 12 archaeologists and 21 excavate are attempting to carry on now with the little support they have . In fact each archaeologist should get 12 DM ( 6 EUR. ) a day, but they have been waiting for their money for months. They cannot even buy films take
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photographs of their discoveries.
The ruin of the largest temple of Thrace in the Balkans in Starosel, Bulgaria, is a big tourist attractio
Where
did this lost and forgotten race of the Thrace live according to the boundaries
known to us today?.Was
this race really extinguished by other races? If not , where is it today?
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The
border of Thrace stretches to the North to the present Rumanian border, to the
East to the Dardanelle's and Bosphorus ( Turkey ), to the South between
Thessalonica and Kawala ( Greece ), to the West to the present Hungarian and
Macedonian borders. Today 78 % ( 110912 km2 ) of Thrace lies in Bulgaria, 6 % (
8586 Km2 ) in Greece and 16 % ( 23384 km2 ) in Turkey; i.e. almost the whole of
the European part of Turkey.
After
excavations in Adrianapol – Edirne, it was determined that the town was
founded 5 or 6 thousand years ago. The Thrace lived here and developed the town.
  
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EDIRNE: 1.Re.) II century, 2) XIV century, 3) XV century, 4) XVII century, 5) XX century, 6) 1973 38.000 inhabitants; 2001 approx. 500.000 inhabitants - Edirne -Atalay Bayik, Nuriosmaniye Matbaasi- Istanbul 1973
Thrace
and Thracians existed as a Country and race in the above mentioned areas until
the 6 Th century. 1300 years ago, when they joined the Bulgarian race?! and thus
were closely associated with Russian cultures, one still spoke about the race of
Thracians but not at a country outside of Bulgaria. Why do they call, at least
in Greece and Turkey, those living in this area Thracians, if they aren’t
existent. Just because they live in an area that is by chance called Thrace?!
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Alexander’s
Empire Great World Historical Atlas, publ. Bavarian School Book Public. 1. Part
History and Ancient Times, 5th revised and extended edition Page 25,© 1972
Munich. – Hans Joachin Gerke; small History of the Ancient Times processed and
arranged by C.H. Beck Publ.
After
excavations in these three countries only highly valued Thrace culture was found
alongside with Roman and Byzantine discoveries. Is this a coincidence !?
Egyptians
live in Egypt, Greeks ( in certain areas ) in Greece, Iranians; in Persia ( Iran
) Where do the people of Thrace live ?? Certainly not in Thrace! Or is this
perhaps the case ? Which language did they speak? Certainly not the three
languages known to us today.
“
The Thrace race were nomads, horse- ridden shepherds” as is written in the
history books. Why did they build numerous towns, villages, and houses of
worship?
Why
does one call the people of Thrace “ the oldest civilization in Europe”?
The Thrace race is the 2nd largest nation after India. If it had had one ruler and had been united, it
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would have been unconquerable
and in my opinion, the most powerful nation in the world.
This,
however, is unimaginable and impossible and the peoples of Thrace will remain
weak. They have a special name in each region and yet, with the exception of the
Gates Crete, Trauser and those living north of Krestonaiern, they have similar
customs and traditions . A Greek historian is thus quoted
in the book “ Herodotus, History “ Public. By V. J. Feise ( Tusculum
) Munich in 1963.
As
we have learned from the Press, the prior King of Bulgaria, Simeon II, descends
from the Sachsen – Co burg – Goth a family.
After his success at the Bulgarian elections, the newspapers state “
Spanish-Bulgarian Simeon II, winner
of the elections in Bulgaria, former King of this country, is more a Spaniard
than a Bulgarian citizen”. That just proves how quickly the people of Thrace
can assimilate. This applies also to me.
Additionally,
It is stated in the above named book “ They guard their women carefully and
one has to pay the parents a high price for them”. Up until my departure from
this area, one still paid a great deal of money to the parents of a bride. Due
to communism this custom was forbidden in Bulgaria, though still carried out
secretly, and it still exists on the Greek side of the border.
When comparing the folklore in this region one finds that in spite of different languages, they all want
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to express the same themes, often with very similar
instruments. The people often speak more than one language due to their
openness, a characteristic of the Thrace. Many expressions were translated into
the various national tongues.
The
handwork patterns found in this region are also very similar.
Eating and drinking is an experience. I shall make a list of the eating and drinking habits of this 3-
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nation region ( Bulgaria, N. Greece, and Western Turkey). The
most important items of food here
are Vegetables and milk products and of course a great deal of lamb, beef and
pork meats.
Typical
meals: gzuvech (BL/GR) – güveç
( TR):
Hot
pot with varying seasonal vegetables, shopska salad (BL/GR) Çobansalatasi (TR)
shepherds salad ( sometimes wrongly called Greek salad in Germany ) : Tomatoes,
cucumber, peppers ( fresh) onions and sheep- or goats cheese.
Moussaka
( BL/GR) Musakka ( TR ): with varying kinds of vegetables. Kavarma
( BL/GR) Kavurma (TR): a lamb, beef or pork stew with peppers, beans, aubergines
( egg plants) and other veg. Stuffed- peppers or aubergines etc. All kinds of
meat for barbecues or whole lamb, beef or pork roasts.
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Pasta:
Pasties – Burek: Börek- filled with wide variety of meat / sheep’s cheese
or mushrooms.
Fruits:
Pumpkin cooked with sugar and covered with either ground almonds or hazelnuts is
a delicious dessert.
Drinks:
Raki (TR) – Ouzo ( GR ) or Arak (BL) The most popular liquor which is nothing
other than an aniseed brandy. Pure it’s completely colorless, but turns milky
when mixed with water. Normally drunk at mealtimes. Otherwise, red wine is
popular, very little white wine. In spite of the strict Islamic influences in
Turkey, a Thrace man cannot resist this drink. www.trakya.net
Various
discoveries from the Thrace times.
Summary:
The Bulgarians, Greeks, Macedonians, Rumanians and Turks!!! who now live in the
Thrace region are Thracians. They are assimilated, but nevertheless, all have
the same ethnical substance. We recognize this in their meals, drinks, handwork
and songs etc. Every where national, religious and social economical contrasts
can be seen, which have been brought into this region by outsiders, diminishing
their origin. This situation was brought about by those, who wrote the history
books in each country. It is to be regretted that this mistake has not been
corrected over the years and is still being ignored.
“
I long, for my old Thrace”. Herewith
I proclaim the location of Thrace and that its race is still in existence.
