The Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBSCT-BAS) in cooperation with the Institut Universitaire de France, Université de Lorraine and the Historical Museum of Isperih organized an International Conference Thrace between East and West with a colloquium Imitations in Ancient Thrace.
The conference was dedicated to the memory of Professor Olivier Picard and was held from 5 to 8 October 2023 in the town of Isperich. More than 50 scholars from Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland and the USA took part in the event.
Professor Olivier Picard (March 4, 1940 - September 1, 2023) was a great friend of Bulgaria and of the Institute of Balkan Studies & Centre of Thracology. His research contributed significantly to the study of Thracian-Hellenic relations through the ages, based on the results of his archaeological investigations on Thassos Island. Moreover, under his leadership, the French School in Athens opened its doors to Bulgarian scholars to use the rich library collection of the institution and to actively participate in its academic life during their stay.
Participants in the conference had the opportunity to visit the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve Nikopolis ad Istrum, the Thracian city of Helis, Thracian sanctuaries and tombs on the territory of the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve Sboryanovo, as well as the archaeological reserve Abritus. The opportunity for lively discussions in the field, papers presented on issues of numismatics and economics, political communities and identities, ancient narratives, ceramics, Torevtics and social practices, cult practices and art in Ancient Thrace, accompanied by in-depth discussions, were highly appreciated by all participants and contributed to clarifying the concept of imitations in Ancient Thrace. There is a general desire to discuss this topic again at a specially organized conference in France in the coming years.
The conference was held with the financial support of the Bulgarian National Science Fund, contract No. КП-06-МНФ/20 dated 08.08.2023.
Organizers of the scholarly forum are Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ivo Topalilov and Dr. Irina Shopova from the IBSCT-BAS, as well as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aliénor Rufin Solas from Université de Lorraine.
The Organizing Committee of the Conference would like to express its gratitude to the Bulgarian National Science Fund with whose help the prestigious scholarly event was realized, to Eng. Belgin Fikri Shukri, Mayor of Isperih, for his hospitality, as well as to the Archaeological Reserve of Sboryanovo and the Regional History Museum of Razgrad for their assistance.
