A Celestial Kingdom on Earth
In Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, the area contains dozens of enormous grassy mounds. These are the royal tombs of the Silla dynasty, which lasted nearly a millennium (57 BCE–935 CE). Located within the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, these tumuli are outwardly simple, manicured hills rising from the flat city center, but their construction was a major feat of engineering. A typical tomb consists of a wooden chamber for the deceased and their burial goods, which was then sealed and covered with a massive mound of river stones, and finally capped with a thick layer of earth. This design made the tombs largely impenetrable, and preserved their contents for centuries.
The most famous of these tombs include Hwangnam Daechong, the largest, and Cheonmachong, the "Heavenly Horse Tomb." Cheonmachong, excavated in 1973, is the only tomb interior currently open to the public. Inside, visitors can see replicas of the treasures found within, including a brilliant gold crown and a saddle flap painted with a mythical winged horse, which gave the tomb its name. While large, painted star maps on ceilings are more characteristic of the earlier Goguryeo Kingdom to the north, Silla’s interest in the cosmos is clear. Their astronomical knowledge was advanced, and celestial motifs appear on many artifacts recovered from these very tombs.