Panagyurishte

a city in Bulgaria, in Pazardzhik District. Population, 21,800 (1970). The city has textile and woodworking industries. In 1949 nine gold vessels of a total weight of 6.1 kg were found near Panagyurishte during earthwork. The vessels, forged from gold leaf, include four rhytons shaped as deer heads, a ram’s head, and the front part of a goat, three rhytons in the shape of women’s heads, one amphora-like rhyton with handles in the shape of centaurs, and one vial. The necks of the rhytons and the body of the amphora-like rhyton are ornamented with reliefs depicting scenes from Greek mythology. The vessels, outstanding examples of Greco-Thracian art, were made in the late fourth or early third century B.C. in Asia Minor and probably belonged to a Thracian ruler.