The Terracotta Warriors were a part of the Qin Dynasty's First Emperor, Qin Shihuang's, tomb in China. The First Emperor had an obsession with the afterlife and immortality. This is seen throughout his burial complex, which was an underground city guarded by a life - size terracotta army. Accompanying this army were warriors, infantrymen, horses, chariots, and weaponry. This underground army is considered one of the most remarkable and mysterious discoveries from the ancient world.
The burial complex did not only contain aspects of war. It was also complete with gardens, stables, bronze ritual vessels, jade jewelry, and a wealth of gold and silver ornaments. The First Emperor believed this subterranean domain would parallel his worldly existence after death. The terracotta army was meant to protect him in the afterlife and a treasury of riches to represent stars were to act as a guide for crossing over to an immortal existence, as Qin Shihuang believed the cosmos would do this.
The Terracotta Warriors revealed much about the Qin Dynasty when found in 1974. Each warrior had a unique face and clothing. Studies of the warriors' proportions reveal that they were even created using an assembly - line.
The burial complex did not only contain aspects of war. It was also complete with gardens, stables, bronze ritual vessels, jade jewelry, and a wealth of gold and silver ornaments. The First Emperor believed this subterranean domain would parallel his worldly existence after death. The terracotta army was meant to protect him in the afterlife and a treasury of riches to represent stars were to act as a guide for crossing over to an immortal existence, as Qin Shihuang believed the cosmos would do this.
The Terracotta Warriors revealed much about the Qin Dynasty when found in 1974. Each warrior had a unique face and clothing. Studies of the warriors' proportions reveal that they were even created using an assembly - line.