Day 2 in Xi'an led up to the trip highlight...the Terracotta Warriors discovered in 1974 when a Chinese farmer came across pieces as he was putting in a well on his farm. It turned out to be one of four archeological sites that comprise an entire army designed to protect Qin Shi Huang (China's first emperor) in his afterlife (more info on Wiki at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army ). The main room, shown here (taken with iPhone 7 pano tool and processed in LR), was the infantry. Other areas protected by the infantry (all in afterlife, of course) were the emperor and offices, strategists, and concubines and family members. All the figures are life size as you can see from the tiny people at the perimeter. In extras is a closeup of the infantry on the front line, in an area near where the well was discovered http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2016-11-04
In overflow is a closeup of a warriors face that has been completely restored and is in their museum - http://365project.org/taffy/special-photos/2016-11-04
See Junko's albums for additional samples of these amazing figures, starting with a closeup that is one of my favorites: http://365project.org/jyokota/365/2016-11-04
Absolutely fabulous. fav.
I saw the exhibition of the terracotta warriors in Sydney a few years ago and it was magnificent, but to see them on their home ground must be amazing.
Wow this is a place which should be visited by one and all. My sister and her husband have been there and a few exhibits were brought to Malta and put on display in one of our Museums - naturally, I went to see them. Instant Fav.
@kchuk Thanks Elyse, for your visits and comments! Yes, this is how they believe they were set up. This was the infantry so ready to protect. It was by far the largest area. But the other areas were also impressive, showing more of a sense of 'rooms' where the officers would be interacting, as well as where there were horses and chariots used in a second line of defense.
@sangwann I can imagine that this would be the case -- thought there is a similarity to the faces, they weren't exactly the same. Some did not have heads as they were lost in the hundreds of years of being buried.
OMG, I had no idea the site was so massive. What an incredible spectacle, I'd love to see it. Your pov gives a great feeling of scale with those strong leading lines.
Fab work, the perspective really brings home the mind-boggling numbers of these figures.
It looks as if it was possible to view them from one level only. Was that actually the case, Taffy?
@skstein I'm guessing it took many many sculptors as they worked on it the entire lifetime of the emperor. They start the work on their tombs as soon as they are born or maybe when they take office. One of those two -- and it lasts for years to create what they need for the afterlife.
@dulciknit Thanks Alison -- yes, one level, though you can see the people all around this and the sides and back are a little lower than the entrance area.
@taffy Ah, thank you. As well as not being able to see any lower access points, I guessed you would have taken some photos from a low pov as well, had it been possible.
I saw a documentary on tv about this amazing discovery and was absolutely fascinated by it. It must be amazing to see- and the enormity of the whole thing is beyond words.
I saw the exhibition of the terracotta warriors in Sydney a few years ago and it was magnificent, but to see them on their home ground must be amazing.
It looks as if it was possible to view them from one level only. Was that actually the case, Taffy?