Lead plates in the shape of bulls’ heads are among the most interesting and relatively rare finds from the necropolis of Apollonia Pontica.
Lead bucrania from the necropolis of Apollonia Pontica (modern Sozopol)
Lead plates in the shape of bulls’ heads are among the most interesting and relatively rare finds from the necropolis of Apollonia Pontica. So far, such objects are known only from ancient Olbia (in present-day Ukraine), from the region of Odessos (present-day Varna) and from the Sboryanovo reserve, where single pieces have been found. It is assumed that some of them were produced in the workshops of Olbia, Apollonia and probably Odessos. The discovery of the bucrania in the context of domestic or public shrines is testimony to their character as dedicatory gifts. On the other hand, their placement in graves, on sacrificial platforms, and ritual hearths in the necropolis suggests their role in the funerary rite as “magical” objects that accompanied the dead on his journey to the Beyond.
Regardless of the differences in the style and details of the images, the common elements are the ribbon, the garlands or wreath, the decoration of bunches, ivy leaves, vines, and rosettes with which the scourge’s head is crowned. The presence of the attributes and symbols of the sacrificial animal links the lead plates to the sacrifice of a bull, the principal zoomorphic incarnation of Dionysus, the god of dying and reviving nature, but also patron of the dead and lord of souls. On some of the Apollonian bucrania on the bull’s forehead a human face is represented. Its similarities to the depictions on an issue of silver coins (diobols) of the city have given rise to conflicting identifications of the image as the Gorgon Medusa or as Apollo. This extends the interpretation of the bucrania as apotropea, protecting and warding off evil and, at the same time, as guides and protectors of the dead in the afterlife.
Author. L. Konova
Photos. T. Dimitrov, N. Genov
Literature:
– Venedikov, Iv. The Thracians in the Greek Art of Pontic Apollonia. – Soviet Archaeology, 1969, 3, 70-73.
– Zaitseva, K.I. Lead articles in the form of bulls’ heads, rams’ heads and axes from Olbia. – Bosporan Studies, VII, Simferopol – Kerch, 2004, 356-390
– Konova, L. Olovni bukranii otekropola na Apolonia Pontica. – Izvestia na Narodni istoricheski muze, vol. XII, 2003, pp. 46-53
– Minchev, Al. Miniature double axe-beads from Odessos and its surroundings. Ivan Marazov. Sofia, 2012, 752-767
– Stoyanov, T., Nikolaeva, M. Lead bucranium from the Gothic capital Helis. In. Popov, Yu. KRATISTOS. Proceedings in honour of prof. Petar Delev, Sofia 2017, 545 – 552
– Stoyanov, T., Nikolaeva, M. (English with English abstract)Konova, L. Opfer- und Götterdarstellungen (Bleibukrania), Proceedings of the Eight International Congress of Thracology Thrace and the Aegean. (Sofia – Yambol, 25 – 29 September 2000), Yambol 2002, S. 595-598
Bucranium, lead, necropolis of Apollonia Pontica, mid 4th-early 3rd century BC, NIM, Inventory No. 34000 Bull’s head with rhomboid snout and long, downward curving horns. Above the ears is an attached band that ends in snake heads. The forehead features the head of the Gorgon Medusa. 
Bucranium, lead, necropolis of Apollonia Pontica, mid 4th – early 3rd century BC, NIM, Inventory No. 37915 Bull’s head with a rhomboid snout and long, downward curving horns. Above the ears is a band that ends in snake heads. On the forehead is a relief rosette. 
Bucranium, lead, necropolis of Apollonia Pontica, mid 4th – early 3rd century BC, NIM, Inventory No. 64917 Bull’s head, horns and part of the muzzle missing. Under the horns a garland is visible, on which bunches are attached. On the forehead is represented the head of Gorgon Medusa (?) or Apollo (?). 
Bucranium, lead, necropolis of Apollonia Pontica, mid 4th-early 3rd century BC, NIM , Inventory No. 64921 Bull’s head with trapezoidal snout and with relatively short, curved downward horns. The tuft of forehead hair is stylized as lotus (?) flowers with triangular leaves.
