Paradise in clay
For some of us who lived through the 1970s and 1980s in Malta, the idea of an ideology or ruler wishing to control every aspect of his subjects' lives is not difficult to imagine. Take that concept back 2,200 or more years and you clock the situation...
For some of us who lived through the 1970s and 1980s in Malta, the idea of an ideology or ruler wishing to control every aspect of his subjects' lives is not difficult to imagine. Take that concept back 2,200 or more years and you clock the situation in China under Emperor Qin Shi Huang. In order to secure his military status in the afterlife, the emperor built himself a massive terracotta army and "billeted" them in Xian, in Shaanxi province, not too far from Beijing.
The figures were discovered accidentally by a farmer drilling a well on farmland near Mount Lishan. Mount Lishan is the name of the man-made mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin. Construction began in 246 BC and is believed to have taken 700,000 workers and craftsmen 38 years to complete. Qin Shi Huang was interred inside the tomb complex upon his death in 210 BC.
As we reported a few months back, some artefacts from this terracotta army are now in Malta and will remain on exhibition in the National Museum of Archeology in Valletta until the end of July.
In many ways this showing, which is being called Silent Warriors - The Chinese Terracotta Soldiers, may be seen as one of the most prestigious and important exhibitions ever to grace our shores. It consists of 84 original artifacts, including 11 terracotta soldiers, two horses and a number of bronze and pottery cooking utensils, personal ornaments, weapons, coins, terracotta animals and other artifacts excavated in the last 30 years.
Archaeological excavations of the Terracotta Army began in 1974 and are still ongoing to this day. This is largely due to the fragile nature of the material and its difficult preservation. Terracotta is literally "baked earth" which is kiln fired at relatively low temperatures. The infantry soldiers are life-size, the commanders are six feet six inches tall. The lower half of the ceramic bodies were made of solid terracotta clay, the upper half is hollow. After firing each figure, the Terracotta Army was coated with a lacquer finish to improve durability. Various colours were also applied in order to create a more realistic appearance. Some excavated materials still retain traces of this colouring, but their exposure to air quickly causes the finish to chip or flake off.
Only about 1,000 soldiers and the remnants of only 21 chariots have been excavated so far; archaeologists estimate that there are over 7,000 soldiers (infantry to generals), 130 chariots with horses, and 110 cavalry horses. The figures excavated till now include infantry, archers and officers, manufactured in crouching or standing poses. Each figure was given a real weapon such as bronze spears, halberds, swords, or wooden crossbows with bronze fittings. It is believed these weapons date to as early as 228 BC.
The figures were discovered accidentally by a farmer drilling a well on farmland near Mount Lishan. Mount Lishan is the name of the man-made mausoleum of the First Emperor of the Qin. Construction began in 246 BC and is believed to have taken 700,000 workers and craftsmen 38 years to complete. Qin Shi Huang was interred inside the tomb complex upon his death in 210 BC.
As we reported a few months back, some artefacts from this terracotta army are now in Malta and will remain on exhibition in the National Museum of Archeology in Valletta until the end of July.
In many ways this showing, which is being called Silent Warriors - The Chinese Terracotta Soldiers, may be seen as one of the most prestigious and important exhibitions ever to grace our shores. It consists of 84 original artifacts, including 11 terracotta soldiers, two horses and a number of bronze and pottery cooking utensils, personal ornaments, weapons, coins, terracotta animals and other artifacts excavated in the last 30 years.
Archaeological excavations of the Terracotta Army began in 1974 and are still ongoing to this day. This is largely due to the fragile nature of the material and its difficult preservation. Terracotta is literally "baked earth" which is kiln fired at relatively low temperatures. The infantry soldiers are life-size, the commanders are six feet six inches tall. The lower half of the ceramic bodies were made of solid terracotta clay, the upper half is hollow. After firing each figure, the Terracotta Army was coated with a lacquer finish to improve durability. Various colours were also applied in order to create a more realistic appearance. Some excavated materials still retain traces of this colouring, but their exposure to air quickly causes the finish to chip or flake off.
Only about 1,000 soldiers and the remnants of only 21 chariots have been excavated so far; archaeologists estimate that there are over 7,000 soldiers (infantry to generals), 130 chariots with horses, and 110 cavalry horses. The figures excavated till now include infantry, archers and officers, manufactured in crouching or standing poses. Each figure was given a real weapon such as bronze spears, halberds, swords, or wooden crossbows with bronze fittings. It is believed these weapons date to as early as 228 BC.