Gold Diadem Ornament from Cheonmachong Tomb (1978-2)

Cheonmachong is Tomb No. 155 of the Hwangnam-dong tombs in Gyeongju; it was excavated in 1973, and because a painting of a heavenly horse was found there along with numerous precious artefacts such as a gold crown and bracelets, it came to be called Cheonmachong ("Tomb of the Heavenly Horse"). The Gold Diadem Ornament from Cheonmachong Tomb was found in a storage box for artefacts placed near the head of the coffin inside the tomb; it is shaped like the outspread wings of a large bird, with a shield-shaped decoration attached at the bottom. A scrolling vine pattern is carved into the body and the wings on either side, and fine dotted lines are punched along the edges and stems, giving structural strength to the thin, elongated gold plate. The entire surface is adorned with some 400 small discs about 0.7 cm in diameter, attached with gold wire, giving it a very splendid appearance. The lower part has no decoration and has a rounded protrusion with a single nail hole, but exactly how and where it was fixed in place — and thus its precise use — remains uncertain.

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물