Archaeology lovers around the world have undoubtedly heard of the famed Terracotta Army which was discovered in the 1970s in Xian, in northwest China, which attracts millions of visitors each year. But few realize, that behind the awe-inspiring story, lies a spine-chilling legend – the Curse of the Terracotta Army .
Dubbed the 8th wonder of the world, the find has providing countless treasures and information about the rule of Emperor Qin Shi Huang . Remembered as a megalomaniac obsessed with finding the formula for eternal life , some argue that he achieved it with his mammoth funerary complex, which—after being hidden for over 2,000 years—is now a major tourist destination.
Historians estimate it took 700,000 laborers over three decades to build. Legend suggests that these workers were then buried alive to deter grave robbers and keep the tomb’s location secret. In 91 BC, Sima Qian wrote that that “after the burial and sealing up of the treasures, the middle gate was shut and the outer gate closed to imprison all the artisans and laborers, so that no one came out.”
The emperor’s tomb was protected by an immense Terracotta Army of 8,000 life-sized statues. The surrounding pits also included terracotta horses, bronze chariots and even acrobats, symbolizing eternal servitude to the emperor.
The mass of life-sized terracotta soldiers, part of a Terracotta Army created to protect the Chinese emperor, is an unforgettable sight. But could the droves of tourists be disturbing the afterlife…
