You might think you know about ancient tombs, but nothing compares to the scale of this Chinese wonder. The Terracotta Army watches silently over the First Emperor, hiding thousands of years of history. Farmers discovered it by accident, yet it changed archaeology forever. Furthermore, the secrets of the mercury rivers and the unique faces continue to baffle scientists today. Prepare to inspect the ranks of the eternal empire through these surprising insights.
Terracotta Army
Farmers discovered the Terracotta Army by complete accident in 1974. While digging a simple well for water, they struck a hard clay head. Consequently, this random moment revealed one of the greatest archaeological treasures in human history.
Remarkably, no two soldiers in the entire pit share the exact same face. Artisans likely modeled each statue after a real person from the massive military force. Thus, you are looking at a portrait gallery of actual ancient people.
Originally, the Terracotta Army was painted with bright, vivid colors. Unfortunately, the dry air caused the paint to peel off within minutes of excavation. Therefore, we see them as grey ghosts today instead of the colorful warriors they were.
The soldiers held real, lethal weapons rather than clay props. Archaeologists found thousands of bronze swords, spears, and arrowheads that were still incredibly sharp. Amazingly, a coating of chromium oxide prevented rust for over two thousand years.
High levels of toxic mercury surround the central tomb of the Emperor. Ancient texts claim that rivers of liquid mercury simulate the great rivers of China. Consequently, scientists fear opening the main chamber because of the poisonous gas inside.
Roughly 700,000 laborers worked for decades to build the Terracotta Army complex. Tragically, the new Emperor ordered the execution of many workers to protect the secrets. Thus, the site became a mass grave for the builders as well.
Strategically, the battle formations face directly toward the East. The Emperor Qin Shi Huang feared that conquered states would rise up from that direction. Therefore, his eternal guard stands ready to block any attack from his former enemies.
The pits contain more than just soldiers and horses. Excavators have found statues of acrobats, strongmen, and musicians buried nearby. Clearly, the Emperor wanted entertainment and artistic performances to continue alongside his military rule in the afterlife.
Taller statues represent higher-ranking officers in the military command. The generals stand significantly taller than the regular infantry soldiers to show their dominance. This visual hierarchy allowed the army to maintain order even in the spirit world.
Surprisingly, rebels raided the Terracotta Army shortly after the Emperor died. They broke into the pits to steal the valuable real weapons for their own wars. Afterwards, they set fire to the wooden support beams, which crushed many statues.
Each ear on the statues is completely unique, just like a human fingerprint. Researchers used 3D scanning technology to prove that the ears vary in shape and angle. This detail suggests that the sculptors focused on extreme realism for every individual figure.
A controversial theory suggests that Greek artists helped train the local sculptors. Some historians argue that the realistic style appeared too suddenly in Chinese art history. However, most experts maintain that the Terracotta Army is a purely domestic creation.
The horses have saddlery that proves they were ready for battle. Specifically, the saddles show advanced designs that allowed riders to control the animals without stirrups. This detail provides valuable insight into the cavalry tactics of the Qin Dynasty.
You can adopt one of the soldiers today. The museum allows visitors to pay a fee to sponsor a specific statue. In return, your money helps fund the ongoing preservation and restoration of the Terracotta Army.
Finally, the actual tomb of the Emperor remains completely sealed. Although we have found his army, we have never seen the man himself. Archaeologists prefer to wait until technology advances enough to open it without damaging the contents.
