Ancient Sculptures and the Afterlife

Terra-cotta warriors are a collection of terracotta sculptures that portrayed Qin Shihuangdi armies during the first Emperor of China. The Emperor’s dynastic name Qin is the root of the word China. The emperor died in 210 B.C. He believed so much on being guarded that he ordered that a massive army of about six thousand clay soldiers known as the cotta warriors be made and placed in his tomb once he died. There were cotta warriors that consisted of cavalrymen, archers and foot soldiers, Civilian sculptures that consisted of officials, acrobats, musicians and strong men. Other sculpture figures consisted of chariots and horses. These sculpture warriors varied in height according to their ranks and roles. The tall warriors were the generals. Terracotta army was found by farmers in 1974 in the District of Lintong, in Shaanxi province, near the First Qin Emperor’s mausoleum. Qin believed in the afterlife and he advocated for the burial of the dead with their possession. Due to his strong believe on being guarded while he was alive, he believed that the terracotta warriors would continue protecting him in the afterlife. (Portal Kinoshita 119)

The Famous Eastern Han Dynasty Flying bronze Horse was discovered in Gansu province in 25 to 220 AD China. The Sculpture balances on one hoof giving a weightlessness feeling a representation of a flying horse. Horses were a seen as aristocracy and royalty possession. In Chinese history, the Horses were termed as strong and noble animals. The sculpture’s ears stands straight up as if listening for trumpets with their nostrils flaring as if smelling for the battle to come. The sculpture’s illusion of flight represents’ an ideal horse that is running very first seeming to outrun the wind. The Horse is a sign out of the twelve signs of the traditional Chinese Zodiac. Anyone born in the year of the Horse is said to posse’s endurance, strength and speed.

The Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were buried in an elaborate burial custom in order to ensure their afterlife. There were rituals that involved mummification and casting of magic spells. Pharaohs were buried with specific goods that they thought they would need in the afterlife.

The land of the dead in the Greek tradition was believed to consist of several kingdoms that lied beneath the earth. There is Tartarus, a great pit that was the prison of Titan god and it later became the dungeon home of damned souls. Hades was a god that ruled the land of the dead also called the house of Hades. There was the isle of the blessed which was ruled by Cronus and was the residence of the great heroes of myth. The Elysian Fields were ruled by Rhadamanthys and it was the dwelling place of the virtuous dead and initiates in the ancient mysteries. There are five rivers that form a boundary between the upper and lower worlds; the river of sorrow, lamentation, fire, forgetfulness and the river of hate.

I admire the late Pancho Villa who was a prominent Mexican general. Objects found in his tomb are those things that he used in his day to day work of trying to protect his people. His next afterlife will be appreciated by many especially the poor and those soldiers who will be fighting hand in hand with him in the battles. (Hurst 112)

Objects that are likely to be found are bundles of fiat money which he will intend to use in his afterlife to finance for his cause of distributing wealth and land to peasants and soldiers. An 1872 Remington Revolver which had his real name inscribed on it is another object that is likely to be found as his possession. It will help him in the afterlife when raiding and during the battle. His horse which was called Siete Leguas is another object likely to be found. It facilitated his movements. Other objects likely to be found are dishes of his favorite food, cabrito and tacos and also his era hat with a gold bullion hat cord that came from an estate of a collector of the Border War between Pancho Villa and the US circa 1912. The latter two objects were his favorites’.

All his things were made for a specifically for their purposes. The revolver had his name on it, his Horse was the strongest and fastest, his hat had a gold cord, the bundles of fiat money were to help the poor and he needed food to keep him strong.

There were symbolic things that were included. The customized revolver denoted that he was a great General, the hat with a gold cord symbolized that he was wealthy and his ability to print fiat money symbolized that he had power.

Things that would not last would also be included. The horse which was to carry him in the afterlife would die few days after being placed in his tomb. His favorite dishes that were meant to keep him full would rot several days after his burial.