Four men blow into long horns at the entranceway into a 1,500-year-old tomb chamber, located on the south wall. The mural tomb likely held a military commander and his wife in what is now Shuozhou City, China.
Posted on 06/23/2013 5:08:41 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The domed tomb's murals, whose original colors are largely preserved, was discovered in Shuozhou City, about 200 miles (330 kilometers) southwest of Beijing. Researchers estimate that the murals cover an area of about 860 square feet (80 square meters), almost the same area as a modern-day bowling lane...
Another scene features a tall red horse ready to be mounted. In another scene is a carriage pulled by a tan ox and driven by two men, each with black hair and curly beards (possibly foreigners).
And then there is the dome itself, which shows how the ancient Chinese viewed the heavens...
Yan notes that, on either side of this Silver River, white dots represent the stars, alongside representations of the moon and sun, with the sun bearing a "gold crow" at its center. Supernatural beings and zodiac animals are depicted below this sky map.
When authorities discovered the tomb, a team of scholars from several Chinese antiquities institutions began excavating the site and conserving the murals. Based on these murals and the tomb design, along with a few remaining grave goods, the scientists determined the tomb dates back nearly 1,500 years, to the Northern Qi Dynasty.
A military commander
Archaeologists believe the couple buried at the site consisted of a military commander, in charge of the Shuozhou City area, and his wife. This makes sense given the date of the tomb.
Historians know that at the time this couple lived, three rival dynasties battled for control of China. The buried commander served the Northern Qi, a short-lived dynasty that lasted between A.D. 550 and 577, when it was conquered by another group of rulers known as the "Northern Zhou."
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Four men blow into long horns at the entranceway into a 1,500-year-old tomb chamber, located on the south wall. The mural tomb likely held a military commander and his wife in what is now Shuozhou City, China.
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I loved this sentence:In another scene is a carriage pulled by a tan ox and driven by two men, each with black hair and curly beards (possibly foreigners).To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
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/johnny
/johnny
500 AD, the Roman empire was going downhill. Rome had been trading with China for a while. Not surprising if Romans decided to move east.
I’ve been to Shouzhou. In 1983, it was noted as a city where gardens and arts flourished. The residents were skilled in producing beautiful paintings which were sold to tourists.
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