Due to the numerous archeological monuments related to the religions of long-extinct ancient civilizations, Strandzha is one of the most mystical mountains in Bulgaria, if not Europe. Countless secrets from the dawn of humanity remain hidden in the lush green folds of Strandzha. Perhaps the most widely known mystical location is connected with the area called Mishkova Niva and the alleged tomb of the Egyptian goddess Bastet.
An ancient Thracian sanctuary?
According to historians and several important prophesies by the mystical foreteller Baba Vanga, there lie the remains of an ancient Thracian sanctuary, a Roman villa, and several other archeological sites with cult purposes. However, the proximity to the Turkish border had caused access to this curious place to be severely restricted for many years until the latest years of the period of socialism when excavations were attempted in an extremely mysterious and secretive manner.
Baba Vanga’s Prophecies: The Legend of Bastet’s Tomb
It all started in 1980 when a local treasure hunter came across an old map with mysterious symbols and hieroglyphs painted on it. In his attempts to find someone to read it, the treasurer turned for help to specialists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, through whom Todor Zhivkov’s daughter Lyudmila Zhivkova, then chairman of the Committee for Arts and Culture, learned about the unusual scroll.
Baba Vanga and her knowledge of archaeological sites
The first lady of Bulgarian culture was well acquainted with the many archaeological sites in this region and, therefore, immediately showed strong interest in the map. However, to unravel the mysterious symbols that have never been seen before, she sought the help of Baba Vanga herself. From this moment onward, the story becomes eerie and mysterious. You may even call it a myth or a hoax if you are not a believer.
A script worthy of a movie
After examining the document, the prophetess stated that it pointed to a place near Malko Tarnovo where there was a tomb of an Egyptian goddess holding a scepter of unknown material. According to her, the tomb was created by a race of tall people who arrived from Egypt. It is believed that Vanga claimed that the builders were killed immediately after burying the mysterious woman. This was necessary to keep the location of the place unknown.
Besides the burial ground of the alleged Egyptian goddess, they also buried a great that would reveal the real human history from 2000 years ago in the past and the future of humankind. Vanga described the location in such detail that in the spring of 1981, an expedition was formed to find the place at the foot of Gradishte Peak. The curious thing behind it is that the expedition was kept completely secret. The archaeologists and scientists who took part remained blindfolded throughout the entire road.
The Secret Expedition to the Tomb of Goddess Bastet
Archaeologists did come across a large cavity carved into the rocks. There is a version that this is the alleged entrance to the tomb of the Egyptian goddess Bastet – a goddess with a cat’s head, patroness of joy, fertility, and pregnant women. They explain the existence of such an object in Strandzha with ancient legends, according to which the goddess was once a Thracian princess of Egyptian descent who found herself in Egypt and acquired supernatural abilities.
One giant conspiracy
At first, everything around the expedition went well. Still, on the night of May 5-6th, after the moon rose, the researchers witnessed something extraordinary – two phosphorescent human figures appeared before one of the walls. Everyone present was numb with fear, and later Vanga explained that the figures were holographic images of people from another civilization light-years from Earth. Despite the unusual phenomena, the excavations continued for several more months. Still, on July 21 of the same year, a tragic accident occurred – under mysterious circumstances, Lyudmila Zhivkova, patron and initiator of the expedition, died.
Nothing has ever been found
There are many conspiracy theories regarding the death of Zhivkova, but this is a topic for another time. Her death caused the archeological excavations’ closure, and the tomb’s entrance was immediately sealed with concrete. It is unclear what the researchers found at this place and why the authorities quickly classified the whole discovery. This fact, as well as the series of mysterious incidents that happened to the participants, became a reason to talk about the curse of goddess Bastet, which according to many people, is the main reason for the mysterious death of Todor Zhivkov’s daughter. However, according to some scholars, the legends are related to the long-standing isolation of the area and the fact that only locals are allowed to participate in the excavations, which are strictly guarded due to the site’s proximity to the Turkish border and increased interest from foreign border guards.
What is the situation with the tomb today?
Today, access to the site is completely free for anyone, and the area is one of the most popular mountain massifs of Strandzha. It offers great opportunities for walks and hikes in nature and visits to various archeological sites. Of course, the alleged tomb of goddess Bastet is one of the iconic places in the area, which continues to attract lovers of forest trips and many fans of mysteries. Archaeologists and scholars continue with their attempts to organize another excavation attempt, but for now, it seems like their efforts are pointless.
Legends, and perhaps no more than that
Although the site is free for visits, the tomb remains sealed. To end things on a high note, a Bulgarian archaeologist found traces of a metal object similar to a sword or a spike using a powerful modern earth scanner. The object is supposed to be around 20 meters below the original excavations, which suggests that the tomb could be an entrance to a significantly larger complex. In the end, could Baba Vanga be right about this ancient site, just like her prophecies for a thousand other unexplained events and mysteries have been true?
