2023-02-01
Terracotta is well-fired, pure clay in the form of tiles or figures, which has found its use mainly in ornamentation. The word terracotta itself comes from the Italian terra cotta, which literally means fired earth.
The use of terracotta
Terracotta is unglazed and has no calcium admixtures in its composition, so it takes on colours ranging from yellow to reddish-brown. It was known and used in Ancient Greece, Etruria, Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. It was used to make figures and tiles for decoration. Terracotta was also known and used in Central and East Asia. In Europe, the material has been widely used in ornamentation since the Middle Ages.
The Terracotta Army
The most famous terracotta monument is the army of eight thousand natural figures from 210 BC in the tomb of the Chinese emperor Qin Shin in Shaanxi province, China. The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 by three men who accidentally unearthed the figures. The Terracotta Army is a unique monument, with exactly, 8100 figures (discovered in 2017) that are arranged in battle formation. One can find figures of archers, crossbowmen, infantrymen, generals, acrobats, medics, civilian workers, musicians, or dancers. They are accompanied by animal figures – horses, ducks, storks, and cranes. The Terracotta Army had authentic bronze weapons and military vehicles on its equipment. Interestingly, the figures found are characterized by individualized facial features. It was believed that the Army was to guard the Emperor in the hereafter and be his support in regaining power after death. In 1987, the Army was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.