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Who Were the Thracians? Exploring an Enigmatic Ancient Culture at the Getty Villa Museum

Friends of ASOR present the next webinar of the 2024-2025 season on December 4, 2024, at 7:00 pm EST, presented by Dr. Sara E. Cole. This webinar will be free and open to the public. Registration through Zoom (with a valid email address) is required. Please note that this webinar will not be recorded.

The land of ancient Thrace comprised present-day Bulgaria, much of Romania, and parts of Greece and Turkey, and the tribal peoples who inhabited these territories of the North Aegean region were the Thracians. They were renowned for their skill as warriors and horsemen, as well as for their wealth in precious metals, but they left few written records, and knowledge of their history and customs has long been dependent on brief accounts from ancient Greek authors, particularly Herodotus and Thucydides. Thracians appeared in Greek myth as formidable adversaries in the Trojan War, cruel kings, and followers of the god of spiritual ecstasy, Dionysos. Spectacular archaeological discoveries made in Thracian lands during modern times, however, have provided firsthand evidence of this remarkable culture, illuminating Thrace’s interactions with Greece, Persia, and Rome.

This rich history is the subject of the current special exhibition at the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles, Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece (on view November 4, 2024 – March 3, 2025). The exhibition, which is organized by the J. Paul Getty Museum in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Republic of Bulgaria, and the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (NAIM-BAS), is part of the Getty’s ongoing series The Classical World in Context, which includes major international loan exhibitions, related publications, and programming that feature the diverse cultures and civilizations that interacted with and influenced Greece and Rome. In this lecture, Sara E. Cole, associate curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum and one of the exhibition’s co-curators, will discuss the Getty’s presentation of Thracian history, culture, and art.

Dr. Sara E. Cole holds a PhD in Ancient History from Yale University and is an associate curator of antiquities at the Getty Villa Museum in Los Angeles, CA. Before joining the Getty in 2016, she served as the graduate curatorial intern in the antiquities department of the Yale University Art Gallery, where she worked with the YUAG’s collection of ancient glass and curated the 2017 exhibition “Drink That You May Live”: Ancient Glass from the Yale University Art Gallery.

Sara is managing curator of the Getty’s ongoing initiative The Classical World in Context and she has curated or co-curated multiple Getty exhibitions exploring the ancient cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Nubia, Persia, and Thrace. She co-edited the 2022 Getty exhibition catalogue Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World, which won the Association of American Publishers PROSE Award in the category “Art Exhibitions.” The 2018 Getty exhibition catalogue Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World, which she also co-edited, was a finalist for the College Art Association Alfred H. Barr Jr. Award and the Association of American Publishers PROSE award in the category “Art Exhibitions.”

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BROWSE THE NEWS ARCHIVE

  • Fieldwork Report: Aayush Umesh
  • Table of Contents for JCS 77 (2025)
  • 2025 Fieldwork Updates
  • Fieldwork Report: Lonnie Reid

Latest Posts from @ASORResearch

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Initiating and supporting research of the history and cultures of the Near East and wider Mediterranean world.


We are pleased to share that the Getty Research In
We are pleased to share that the Getty Research Institute has announced a call for applications from predoctoral, postdoctoral, and other scholars for its residential 2026–2027 grant cycle under the theme of "Provenance." The deadline is 1 October 2025. (Please note that these grants and fellowships are resident at the Getty in Los Angeles, California, and are not affiliated with ASOR.) Click the link (https://www.getty.edu/projects/getty-scholars-program/) in our bio!


Aayush Umesh, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwo
Aayush Umesh, a 2025 Eric and Carol Meyers Fieldwork Scholarship Recipient, excavated at Tall Hisban, Jordan, in May. While excavating an Ayyubid-era kitchen, Aayush immersed himself in analyzing agricultural practices from the time. Read his fieldwork report by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/07/fieldwork-report-umesh) in our bio. 
#Archaeology #Jordan #TallHisban


The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: C
The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: Ceramic water filter with bird motif, Fatimid period (969-1171 CE). Kelsey Museum 1971.1.13. Image source: https://buff.ly/t8oE9Uo


Multiple characters in the bible can be classified
Multiple characters in the bible can be classified as gods. What characteristics make them gods, and what is the relationship between them? Read the third article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the newest Ancient Near East Today by clicking the link in our bio.

📸  gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque municipal de Rouen.


A reminder that ASOR invites poster proposals for
A reminder that ASOR invites poster proposals for the Poster Session as part of the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting. The deadline to submit a poster proposal is August 1 and must be uploaded via ASOR’s online portal. Click the link in our bio to read the Call for Posters.


It is a busy and exciting time of year for many AS
It is a busy and exciting time of year for many ASOR-affiliated projects. Check out the latest edge-of-the-trowel news from the field. Survey, excavation, processing artifacts, visiting sites, talking to the public, hosting outreach events, remote sensing, conservation—these projects' social media accounts offer a slice-of-life look at archaeological projects. @eimawa_unimi @gmap_erbil @kurdqaburstanproject @maproject360 @mozia.unipa @phoenixprojesi @polatli_survey @syedra_antik_kenti @tellatchana @azekah_excavations @telltimaiproject @turkmenkarahoyukprojesi


ASOR is pleased to offer 10 grants of $250 each to
ASOR is pleased to offer 10 grants of $250 each to support student travel to the Annual Meeting this November. Students must be enrolled at an ASOR Institutional Member School to qualify for these grants. Not at an Institutional Member School? ASOR is also looking for Session Assistants who will receive hotel support in exchange for assisting with the hybrid aspects of the meeting. Click the link (https://www.asor.org/fellowships/annual-meeting-scholarships/student-travel-grants/) in our bio to learn more about applying! #asor25


The “Heritage Advocacy in North Africa” projec
The “Heritage Advocacy in North Africa” project ran from August 2021 to September 2023 with the aim of promoting cultural and religious freedom through heritage protection and advocacy in Morocco and Tunisia. This goal was grounded in the belief that involving people of all backgrounds in the active protection of ethnic and religious minority heritage could help strengthen relationships between communities and contribute to building more resilient societies. See our latest blog post (https://www.asor.org/chi/updates/2025/07/asor-north-africa-heritage) for the outcomes of this Cultural Heritage Initiatives project.


Lonnie Reid, a 2024 Fieldwork Scholarship recipien
Lonnie Reid, a 2024 Fieldwork Scholarship recipient, excavated at Qach Rresh in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Using magnetometry, Lonnie surveyed the Neo-Assyrian fields with a unique and precise method. Click the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/fieldwork-report-reid) in our bio to read about his experience!
#asorfieldwork #asordigs


The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: P
The #ObjectoftheWeek from this week's ANE Today: Part of a model chariot, with an impression of the sun god Shamash rising over the mountains. Ceramic, ca. 2000 – 1600 BCE. Metropolitan Museum of Art 48.131. Photo courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/324049


Many people assume there is only one god in the Ol
Many people assume there is only one god in the Old Testament—one who is both omniscient and omnipotent. However, a closer look reveals many other gods who differ from the stereotype. Read the second article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the latest ANE Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-hebrew-bible-part1/) in our bio.

📸 ©2021 GrandPalaisRmn (Musée du Louvre) / Stéphane Maréchalle.


ASOR is turning 125—and we want you to be part o
ASOR is turning 125—and we want you to be part of the celebration! Our special anniversary dinner will take place during this year's Annual Meeting in Boston, and we hope you'll join us for this unforgettable evening of community, celebration, and reflection on ASOR's history. 

We'll be kicking off the festive occasion at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. Enjoy an evening of exceptional dining, entertainment, and ASOR-themed activities, featuring speakers who have been integral to ASOR's mission. Your presence will help make this milestone truly meaningful. Register for the event by clicking the link in our bio.


Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early
Summer is in full swing, but it’s not too early to think about your fall calendar. The Annual Meeting Program-at-a-Glance, as well as information about business meetings and special events, can be found on the 2025 ASOR Annual Meeting Schedules Page. Make sure to include the plenary address by Timothy P. Harrison and ASOR’s 125th Anniversary Celebration when you plan your ASOR 2025 itinerary. Check it out by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/am/2025/schedules-2025) in our bio.


We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has o
We did it (once again)! The 2025 fiscal year has officially come to a close, and ASOR has set a record member participation rate for gifts this year thanks to our generous donors. It is truly gratifying to see our members and friends choosing to invest in ASOR and helping us make our work possible. Thank you again for your support!


ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of
ASOR was delighted to participate in the DC Day of Archaeology Festival by @aitc_dc this past Saturday, June 28 at Tudor Place. The ASOR table included activities like a sandbox to dig up artifacts, puzzles, trivia, plus posters about our organization and free journals to give out! Read more by clicking the link in our bio. #dcdayofarchaeology


To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: F
To start off our new series of #ObjectoftheWeek: Funerary model of cow giving birth. Probably from Meir, Egypt, c. 2040 – 1985 BCE. Royal Ontario Museum 910.18.16.1. Photo courtesy of ROM: https://collections.rom.on.ca/objects/184967


What is a god? While the question is simple enough
What is a god? While the question is simple enough, the answer depends on context and perspective. Read the first article in a 4-part series by Michael Hundley in the newest Ancient Near East Today by clicking the link (https://anetoday.org/god-ancient-near-east/) in our bio.


Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for
Make sure to join ASOR this Saturday, June 28, for this year's DC Day of Archaeology Festival at Tudor Place in Washington, DC. Stop by the event organized by @aitc_dc from 10AM to 3PM for music, food, and fun activities!


This spring, McKinley Tech High School students ex
This spring, McKinley Tech High School students explored Black Georgetown’s legacy at Mt. Zion–Female Union Band Historic Memorial Park. Through virtual reality and archaeological research, the program encouraged students to engage with the history of Black communities and experiences in Washington, D.C. Read the story by clicking the link (https://www.asor.org/news/2025/06/mckinley-tech-mt-zion) in our bio!


ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society
ASOR is now offering affiliation to civil society organizations and conservation projects as a way for them to be part of the ASOR community. Applications are reviewed by ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Committee. ASOR-affiliated projects are eligible for Shepard Urgent Action Grants. Learn how to apply for affiliation with the link in our bio.



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