The Terracotta Army, created to help Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in the afterlife, was discovered in 1974 near Xi’an. It consists of over 8,000 life-size statues of soldiers, horses, and chariots. The Mausoleum includes an 83-yard high pyramid believed to be a royal tomb. The Terracotta Army is now a popular tourist attraction and replicas can be seen in Texas and London.
The Terracotta Army, known in Chinese as “Soldier and Horse Funerary Statues”, is one of the most amazing archaeological discoveries of recent decades. Buried in 210-209 BC with Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi near the city of Xi’an, the statue army was created, according to ancient beliefs, to help Quin continue his reign in the afterlife. Despite its antiquity, the figures weren’t discovered until 1974, and this happened as an accident as workers were drilling in the area and discovered the colossal structure.
There are more than 8,000 life-size statues in the Terracotta Army, mostly representing soldiers and horses, but there are also chariots, weapons and other items. The statues are extremely detailed, with warriors wearing different uniforms based on rank and featuring detailed faces and realistic postures. They are also positioned according to a precise military formation, obeying rules of rank.
The army is part of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi’s Mausoleum, which includes an 83-yard (76-meter) high pyramid believed to be a royal tomb. The tomb, however, remains closed, as archaeologists believe that entering the place will cause irreversible damage to the contents. The main entrance has yet to be found, which may also explain why archaeologists are wary of causing damage to the structure by blindly excavating around it. The Qin necropolis also includes several halls and galleries. The mausoleum alone took 38 years to complete and a large number of workers who worked there were buried alive within the structure to protect the secrets of the place.
The Terracotta Army is now a popular tourist attraction. Housed within a specialized hangar, it covers 5.43 acres (22,000 square meters) and is organized into 11 columns according to soldiers’ army rank. Parts of it are housed in room-like compartments that indicate the different stages of the battle.
For those who can’t afford a visit to China, replicas can be seen at the Forbidden Gardens in Texas. The British Museum in London also has a rotating exhibit showing 12 original terracotta warriors.
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