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August - the word comes from the Latin word_augustus_ which means �majestic, imperial, sacred�. This means Egypt of Roman and Byzantine Emperors and also of their wives, mothers and sisters.

Acanthus - architectural term which stands for decorations and ornaments in the shape of leaves and stems of the same plant - acanthus.

Artifact - it comes from the Latin arte, which means artificial and factus, which means made; as an architectural term, it is a piece of material finding which is handmade furthered.

Archbishop - the word comes from Greek and means the head bishop. The head of the independent Bulgarian church was given this title in the period before 927(?).

Aul - in the past - towns and villages of nomadic tribes; nowadays - settlements of peoples in Middle Asia and Kazakhstan.

Basileus - the title given to Byzantine Emperors in the Middle Ages.

Gem-stamp - a stone with an image on it. In the ancient times it was used as a seal, decoration, charm or property characteristics.

Granulation - comes from the Latin word granulum, which means granule, grain. Granulation means forming a piece of metal or glass like a grain.

Griffin - the word comes from Greek. The mythical animal represents a lion with wings the head of an eagle.

Eunuch - according to the tradition of Eastern monarchies (including Byzantium), many of the court positions were occupied by eunuchs. They were influential both in court and political life. They were also part of diplomatic missions.

Enamel - glass layer used for covering metal, faience etc. items.

Epigraphy � the word is from Greek origin. It is a historical, philological and archeological discipline which deals with ancient inscriptions cut into stone, metal, ceramics, plaster, wood, etc.

Incrustation � this is an image or ornament made of little plates from various materials / bones, glass, wood, etc./ that are inlaid in smooth surface.

Ichirguboila � the superior state title - famous characteristic of proto-Bulgarians. Literally, boila means �internal�. In the hierarchy, he was the third in rank after the khan and cavkhan. He usually carried out diplomatic missions and tasks in peaceful times.

Capital � the word comes from Latin and it is an archeological term. This is the upper part of a column or a wall pier.

Cyrillic alphabet � this is the Slavonic alphabet which was created at the end of 9th c. following the Greek regulations model.

Knjaz (royal prince) � anyone from royal origin was referred by the Slavs with this title. He was the statesman of a principality.

Console � supporting elements for jutting out parts of a building: cornices, balconies

Cornice � the word comes from Italian and means an architectural decoration of a building. Long and narrow protruding piece of decoration that is either under the roof or above and under the windows.

Lapidarium � originally, the word comes from the Latin lapidarius, which means �hewed stone�. As far as museums are concerned, this is the exposition site, which is meant for representing monuments sculptured out of marble or some other kinds of stone.

Sprout � a word of Greek origin - vine sprout, vine tentacles; a shoot

Earmuffs,Ear-caps � ornaments made of expensive piece of metal used for decoration of the ears, head, hats or diadems; mainly used to enhance the shape of the face. They look like earrings and were hung on a soft hat or diadem by a pearl string or chain.

Numismatics - Latin word for the science that deals with old coins.

Little palms � sculptural or artistic ornaments in the shape of stylized leaves.

Patriarch � Greek literary word; the forefather; in Orthodox Church � the highest religious order.

Wall pier �jutting out of a wall pseudocolumn, which is usually rectangular.

Creeper - a creeping plant. It could be seen in bushes and shadowy fences. It has bulky white flowers looking like funnels.

Proto-Bulgarians � this is the contemporary scientific term for the Bulgarian tribe, which gave its name to the population of Bulgaria of the Danube River. Khan Asparuh founded Bulgaria on the Danube. Contemporary Bulgarians distinguish significantly in language and culture from proto-Bulgarians.

Rider � in medieval manuscripts, this is an addition in the blank space of the margin, made by the person who rewrote the text.

Regalia � Symbols and signs of monarchic power, such as the crown, scepter, throne, etc.

Senmurves � senmurv comes from Iranian mythology and is a dog-bird. This image from iconography dates back from mid 7th c. when proto-Bulgarians lived close to Caucasian peoples.

Old Bulgarian � anything that has to do with ancient Bulgarian habits, customs, people, etc.

Sfragistics � the word comes from Greek and means subsidiary historical discipline, which deals with seals. It is closely connected to heraldry and numismatics.

Torment � mental, moral sufferings; the roaming of a mortal soul in search of the hereafter.

Filigree � a word of Italian origin; goldsmith for jewelry made of thin silver or gold piece of wire.

Khan � title of a ruler common with Turkic or Mongolian peoples.

Tsar � it comes from the Latin caesar � this is the statesman, a monarch in Bulgaria and Russia. Some experts believe that the origin of this title has something to do with the Cimmerian tsar, not only because of phonetic, but also semantic similarity of the terms: sovereign = basileus = emperor.

Monk (chernorizec in Bulgarian; actually, �monk� is used both for the ancient and the contemporary word in Bulgarian)� the way medieval priests were called because of the color of their cassock. It is close to the term �God�s servant� meant for women who had chosen life in a monastery.

CHRONOLOGY OF BULGARIAN RULERS FROM KRUM DYNASTY

Krum - /802 � 814/ - a Bulgarian khan, who was the founder of the most successful dynasty in the history of Bulgaria of the Danube. He was famous for his strict legislation against criminals and the use of wine. He was also famous for his military campaigns against Byzantium and Avarian Khanate.

Omurtag - /814 - 831/ - he was Krum�s son and successor. Omurtag devotes his rule to intense construction work both in civil and military aspect.

Malamir - /831 - 836/ - he was Omurtag�s third and youngest son. History gives no clues why his two brothers, Enravota and Zvinitza, were ignored. During his short reign, it was his regent � cavkhan Isbul, who dealt with all state affairs.

Presian - /836 - 852/ - he was the son of Zvinitza who took over the rule under the guidance of the regent Isbul. He managed to annex to the Bulgarian scepter almost all territories inhabited by Slavs: from the Carpathians to Strandja mountain and from the Black Sea to the Adriatic.

Boris-Mihail - /852 - 889/ - he took on the mission to convert Bulgarian people to Christianity; therefore, historically, he is known as �The Baptist�. Although he didn�t achieve important military victories, Boris-Mihail showed himself as an excellent diplomat gaining independence for the newly established Bulgarian church. He was also a politician of vision. He was the one who gave shelter to Cyril and Methodius� students after the failure of their Slavonic literary work in Moravia. His title as a ruler was knjaz /royal prince/, which emphasized his independence.

Vladimir-Rassate - /889 - 893/ - he was Boris-Mihail�s first-born son. Because of his attempt at trying to �� restore pagan customs and habits�, he was dethroned, blinded and imprisoned.

Simeon - /893 � 27.05.927/ - Boris� third son. He succeeded the throne after the coup d�etat against Vladimir. He studied in the Magnaur�s school in Constantinopolus. This fact predetermined his devotion to science and literature. He started a large-scale construction work in the new capital, Preslav, turning it into one of the most beautiful and well-built town in European southeast. He created an enormous library of translated books and original written works, which were the product from the activities of the so-called Preslavian Literary School. The triumphant battles he won turned Bulgaria into a powerful empire, which occupied the territory of nearly the whole Balkan Peninsula. As to Simeon himself, he received the highest title - tsar /king/; thus, becoming equal in rank to the Byzantine vasilevs / the great ruler � equal to a king in a western country/. �Great among the kings� and �the new Ptolomeus� are only part of the names his contemporaries used to call Simeon with. Today we still refer to him as the most successful Bulgarian statesman in history.

Petar - /927 - 969/ - Simeon�s second son was an exact opposite of his. Petar was sedate, even-tempered and God abiding. In the fall of 927 he signed a peace contract with Constantinopolus. Thus, he legalized his father�s conquests in territorial aspect and received the title vasilevs /tsar/. The contracted was additionally guaranteed by the unconditional dynastic marriage with Princess Maria, who was called Irina in the name of the signed contract. Although he didn�t have the military achievements and victories compared to his ancestor, Petar managed to provide Bulgarian people with the peaceful environment for creative work. He became the pagan of piety and generosity to the church. This could be the reason why he was canonized a saint and the explanation for the numerous greetings and best wishes he received from his contemporaries. However, this was the time when the heresy of Bogomils /also known in Europe as Albigenses / spread over Bulgarian lands.

Boris - /969 - 971/ - an heir of Petar who was doomed to suffer the humiliation of military defeat, as well as to lose the kingdom and live the life of a prisoner-of-war. Long before Boris II ascended the throne, the Varangians of the Kiev royal prince- Svetoslav ravaged Bulgaria. Preslav was conquered soon afterwards. The presence of Russians in the capital only made it easier for Byzantium to take back its lands in Mizia. In the spring of 971 Byzantium conquered Preslav and Boris II was captured and then a few months later he and his family were taken to Constantinopolus.He managed to escape in 976 together with his brother Roman, but Boris II was ludicrously shot by border guards near Serdica /Sofia/.