Oreung (Five Royal Tumuli), Gyeongju

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.172

Category

유적지

Era

신라시대(서기 3~111년경)

Designated year

1969

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 탑동 67번지

Coordinates

35.823069, 129.208462

The five tombs are located southwest to the downtown area of Gyeongju. It is uncertain whose tombs they are. Samguk sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) states that these five tombs are the tombs of King Park Hyeokgeose, founder of the Silla Dynasty (57B.C.-A.D.935), his queen consort Alyeong, Namhae, its second king, Yuri, its third king, and Pasa, its fifth king. According to Samguk yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), however, King Park Hyeokgeose ascended to heaven after ruling for 62 years, and, seven days later, his body, torn into five pieces, fell down from heaven, at which time his consort died after him. As the people tried to bury the five pieces of the king's body in a tomb, a large snake appeared and prevented them from doing so. Hindered by the snake, the people had to bury the royal remains in five separate tombs. The inside structures of the five tombs have never been studied. They are simple, round mound-type tombs of the Old Silla Period commonly found in the Gyeongju area. Among them, the first tomb is the biggest at 10m high; the second tomb, shaped like a gourd, is for 2 people as suggested by its two mounds. These kinds of large-scale, round mound-type tombs were not common during those times, becoming popular only after the 4th century.

Location