Photo Friday – Mighty warriors made for heaven; and from clay

Imagine it – thousands of soliders of all ranks standing in pits of solidified clay, withstanding fire and earthquakes, living hundreds of feet deep under the ground, for thousands of years. Their mission? To protect the once mighty Emperor of China (Qin), who, was religious enough to be filled with afterlife superstition, fortunate enough to have commissioned such a wonder, and paraniod enough to keep this site hidden from China for a very long time.

Until a farmer went digging one day in 1974.

Bless the farmer for discovering this site and telling the local officials; who told the rest of the world. How much did the farmer get paid for his discovery? Around fourteen dollars (USD). How much has the Chinese government and the city of Xian made from this heritage site? Billions.

It took five years for the Chinese to release this discovery to the world, not because they were greedy, but because 99.9% of the statues were shattered and had to be reassembled — painstakingly reassembled. Thanks goes out to the archeologists involved.

There are three pits of varying sizes to be seen. The majority of soliders are located in pit one, where hundreds of visitors enthralled, intrigued, awed, and delighted, stand tightly against the central rails, fighting for a view while sharing their knowledge with each other.

Close-ups are difficult to capture without zoom lenses. Basic photography is allowed flash photography isn’t.

But I was lucky…

Getting to the Terracotta Warriors site involves a bus or taxi if you don’t want to pay for a tour. If you want to know more about the history of the Warriors, I recommend finding and using a good guide who can also get you through the crowds easier than doing it yourself. Go early morning to avoid school groups and the heat, take PLENTY of water.

More great photos and posts from the talented people posting today can be been seen @ Delicious Baby 

Caffeinated Traveller