I have to say that the first (and only) time I saw this sculpture/bust, I had mixed feelings.
I was stunned, of course.
First of all, because I could not understand the meaning of this monument.
What does it depict? Who does it depict?
On the other hand, this particular work of art was located in an even more special site - the public access area of the port of the Bulgarian coastal city of Burgas. And you know that ports are the doors, the first entrances to port cities. In short - these are some very presentable places that should welcome their visitors properly, right?
So, the first association I unconsciously made was "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp".
Don't laugh. 😄
I went around the monument from all sides, but nowhere did I find an inscription - neither the name of the sculpture, nor the author. There were only some peculiar symbols on it. At the base of the pedestal. If this can even be called a pedestal.
But why were there chains on this man? And why does his head transform into a wolf's head behind? And is this then a person at all?
There was no way I could find an answer to these questions. So I just took a few pictures and walked over to explore the rest of the harbor area.
Yet the next time I visited this place again - after a few months, at the place of the monument I found only this:
The bust was no longer there.
I passed it again. I had no idea what this monument was anyway. I even thought it was winterized and therefore missing. 🤔 Because the geometric installation next to it - the glass walls on which water flowed in the summer, now stood empty and dry. Although it was only the beginning of October and winter had not yet come.
It wasn't until a few months later, when I was looking for information about one of the buildings at the port, I was logged into google maps and happened to notice a marked point for a historical landmark with an inscription, right on the site of the monument. The inscription reads: "Monument to Boyan Maga" (Boyan The Magician/Benjamin of Bulgaria).
That was it. The mystery was revealed.
Benjamin of Bulgaria is a mystical figure from the Bulgarian and overall European history, surrounded by many myths and legends. I won't tell you anything about it, since you can probably find something on the Internet anyway.
But it can be said that the case of the mysterious monument remains unsolved. Because the sculpture has been removed. It is not just winterized. And its very appearance in this place was a mystery.
Several articles have been published on the case, implicating Masonic organizations and political parties.
And I'd say I'm glad I came across this place while it was still there so I could see it with my own eyes before it was gone... Forever? 🤔
Copyright: @soulsdetour
 | Soul's Detour is a project started by me years ago when I had a blog about historical and not so popular tourist destinations in Eastern Belgium, West Germany and Luxembourg. Nowadays, this blog no longer exists, but I'm still here - passionate about architecture, art and mysteries and eager to share my discoveries and point of view with you. |
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At first glance, i spot front side of sculpture base, a symbol which was remind me Bogomilism! Google about Boyan Maga ( you have piqued my curiosity) it was right. Bogomilism. It was a religious sect with many elements of anarchism. It overruled the existing political, religious and social order, somewhere in the 10th century! I think that probably ultra-conservative Christians are behind its disappearance! Nice post! Happy i found you!
Hi @giorgakis, I did not want to write in this post anything that can be found on the Internet. But I'm glad you recognized what it was about after mentioning just this one name. 😊 I'm not sure many people are aware of who this historical figure is or what role he played in the history of Europe as a whole. Nor have they even heard of Bogomilism. That's why I didn't want to delve into this topic, and that's not the goal of the community either.
You are very welcome in Treasures of Europe!
You scare me, in the begging!l, i understand in the end! Thanks for your warm words! Hope to interact nicely! I send you my positive vibes ! 😁
Why did I scare you? 😅
"I did not want to write in this post anything that can be found on the Internet"...i thought you are secret agent
Ha ha, nope. 😄 That's one of the rules in the community. To encourage original writing from the personal point of view.
😆😆😂