Holocaust on terracotta
The term Holocaust is a derivation from the Greek ὁλόκαυστος (holókaustos: hólos, "whole" and kaustós, "burnt") which is a term for religious offerings which are fully burnt. This term referres to an animal sacrifice offered to a God in which the whole animal is completely burnt. For hundreds of years, the word "holocaust" was used in English to denote great massacres. Since the 1960s, the term has come to be used to refer to the Nazi genocide of Jews.
This cache will show you that this term was used some 1500 years ago, on Vinica terracotta icon.
Vinica (Vinitsa) is a town in the eastern region of Macedonia. The name Vinica is derived from the word wine, since the city was formerly noted for its vineyards. This cache will introduce to you the ancient history of this city.
The Vinica Fortress and Vinica city
There are several archeological sites in and around Vinica: a medieval settlement, Pazarishte (settlement from Roman period), Gorica, settlement and early Christian basilica from late ancient times,. Ila, a necropolis from the Iron Age. However, the most famous is Vinichko Kale (Vinica fortress), fortified settlement from late ancient times.
The Vinica fortress is situated to the southwest of the city, on a small hill. The fortification has an irregular form and covers a surface of almost 25000 m2. Here there were discovered the famous Vinica terracotta icons from the 4th and 6th century. They are unique and are listed in the series of especially valuable world collections of archaeological findings that open spaces to new and creative scientific theories and researches.
Holocaust on terracotta: a bull
The first interest in this site was shown in 1977 when 5-6 fragments of the now well known terracotta icons were brought to the Archeological Museum in Skopje. Since 1985 there are continuous archaeological excavations performed. So far have been discovered about 20 scenes, 50 complete and about 250 fragments of the icons. The icons were applied to the walls of sacred objects (some of them preserved the original wallpaper and plaster), tombs, etc.
Terracotta icons
The terracotta icons have been shown in almost 20 European capitals and they are the most frequently exhibited cultural heritage of our country in the last 50 years.
NOTE: To see the terracotta icons, you can visit the Vinica museum. Open: Mon-Fri, 8.00-16.00. Weekend visits should be booked on telephone: +389/33 361646, +389/75 205086, 75 205087, or 75 205088. The entrance fee: adult 50,00 denars, kids 30,00 denars. If buy a ticket, you get a guided walk on the Vinitsa Fortress.
Archangel Michael
How to get there: From Skopje drive in direction Shtip-Kochani-Vinica. At R1 turn right.
The cache is a 20 ml glass jar.
Please, be very careful when getting out, logging and putting back the cache, in order to protect it of Muggles! In case of lost of the cache the owner can visit the location and restore it only 2-3 per year! Thanks.
Sources: Internet sources. Photos: Internet and original (by Galejnik)