Tomb of King Minae, Gyeongju (Presumed)

Basic information

Designation

Historic Site No.190

Category

유적지

Era

통일신라 민애왕

Designated year

1970

Location

경주시, 경상북도— 경북 경주시 내남면 망성리 산40번지

Coordinates

35.792169, 129.174269

This is the tomb of King Minae, the 44th king of Silla who reigned from 838 to 839. The royal tomb, with height of 3.8m and width of 12.5m, had been robbed twice before the liberation in 1945. It was almost robbed again in 1981, but the residents found out just in time. The attempted robbery prompted the Gyeongju National Museum to examine the interior and surroundings of the tomb in 1984 and improve its condition. The inspection revealed twelve holes placed on the exterior bottom of the tomb at a certain interval. The holes were for the images of the twelve zodiac animal deities in the human body, which are believed to guard the ground. There are only four images left: they are the mouse, the cow, the rooster, and the pig. The rest are assumed to have been destroyed and stolen when the outward stay was constructed. Another discovery from the inspection is a pottery of bones with the letter indicating the name of the Chinese era on the lid, which refers to the year 815. Since pottery for bones was buried after the tomb was constructed, the tomb is assumed to have been built before 815. Therefore, this tomb can hardly be claimed to be that of King Minae, who died in 839.

Location