Shi Huangdi’sShi Huangdi’s TERRACOTTA TERRACOTTA WARRIORSWARRIORS
The Eighth Wonder of the The Eighth Wonder of the WorldWorld
Discovery of the Terracotta Discovery of the Terracotta WarriorsWarriors
In 1974 two famers digging a well in the countryside near the city of Xi’an (central China) found broken pieces of statues.Archaeologists found a huge underground vault filled with thousands of life size warriors and horses made of terracotta. They also found the remains of wooden chariots.
The underground city The underground city
The tomb complex of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi; the centre is a giant mound of earth which archaeologists believe covers the tomb and holds the emperor’s body.
From this mound the tomb complex stretches for more than 15 kilometres in all directions. This is the largest known tomb complex devoted to a single ruler.
Archaeologists have not yet Archaeologists have not yet excavated the chamber that contains excavated the chamber that contains Shi Huangdi’s body.Shi Huangdi’s body.
However they have uncovered the However they have uncovered the remains of the palaces, skeletons of remains of the palaces, skeletons of people, horses and rare animals. people, horses and rare animals.
The most fascinating discovery is the The most fascinating discovery is the emperor’s terracotta army.emperor’s terracotta army.
‘‘The Pits’The Pits’
Three main pits containing soldiers have been excavated. Altogether they contain more than 7,000 terracotta soldiers, including archers, infantry and cavalry. As well as the soldiers there are 600 horses and over 100 wooden chariots.
The soldiers and The soldiers and horses in all horses in all three pits are three pits are arranged in arranged in battle formation; battle formation; facing east, the facing east, the direction the direction the emperor’s emperor’s enemies would enemies would have come from.have come from.
The WarriorsThe Warriors No two warriors are alike. There are
young and old, different head shapes, facial expressions, hairstyles and uniforms.
Some archaeologists believe that real life soldiers must have posed for the statues. Each statue is inscribed on the back with the name of the potter who made it. The names of 80 different potters have been found so far.
The warriors carried real weapons made mainly from bronze.
The GeneralThe General
OfficerOfficer
Armoured Armoured and and
UnarmourUnarmoured Soldiersed Soldiers
Charioteer and two attendant Charioteer and two attendant soldierssoldiers
Colours of the attendant Colours of the attendant soldierssoldiers
CavalrymenCavalrymen
Kneeling ArcherKneeling Archer
Colours of the Kneeling Colours of the Kneeling ArcherArcher
Standing Standing ArcherArcher
Beards and MoustachesBeards and Moustaches
One piece of a head mold with One piece of a head mold with the trace of a craftsman’s hand the trace of a craftsman’s hand
left 2,200 years agoleft 2,200 years ago
HairstylesHairstyles
Belt BucklesBelt Buckles
