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The Terracotta Army or the “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses” is one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world .It is actually a collection of more than 8,000 terracotta sculptures representing the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a kind of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BC and whose purpose was to accompany the tomb to protect and safeguard the emperor in his afterlife. They were molded in parts, fired, then assembled and painted.
I was back in 1974 that some local farmers of Lintong District, Xi’an, and Shaanxi province , discovered these sculptures .The figures are different in height according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. These sculptures also include warriors, chariots and horses.
According to the Current estimates, there are three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers with 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses.
The majority of these sculptures are still buried in the pits near Qin Shi Huang’s tomb.
Other type of terracotta non-military figures was also found in other pits including officials, acrobats, strongmen and musicians
An afterlife Army for First Emperor Qin Shi Huang
The Terra Cotta Army was created to safeguard and serve First Emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife.He wanted to have the same military power and imperial status in the afterlife as he had enjoyed during his earthly lifetime
A show of first Emperor Qin’s glory
It was built to remember the army he led to triumph over the other varying states and unite China.
Substitutes for actual human Sacrifices
Early rulers from the Shang and Zhou dynasties had soldiers , officials and other attendants buried along with the dead emperor. The terra cotta figures were produced to replace actual human sacrifices
These warriors and horses all were built without advanced tools but by hand.
More than 700,000 artisans and labourers constructed the Terracotta Army and Tomb complex.Hollow torso , solid head , arms and legs were created separately and then assembled.
The army took an estimated 40 years to complete.
Each warrior was stamped with the name of the foreman responsible for its creation , in order to track any mistakes.
The TerraCotta Army’s Construction began as a protection for the tomb of china’s first emperor ,Qin Shi Huang
Over 720,000 builders worked for approximately 40 years to complete.
It was first discovered by the local farmers of Xi’an.
Two more pits were revealed.
A museum complex was constructed over the excavation site and terra cotta was opened for general public.
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UNESCO stated the tomb of the First Emperor as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
How a Terra Cotta Warrior is made?
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