The crown was originally found during excavations in 2020, but closer analysis has revealed just how impressive it truly is.
The tomb in Gyeongju looked quite ordinary from the outside, but contained many artifacts.
The Silla Kingdom (57 BCE – 935 CE) was one of the three ancient Korean kingdoms, along with Baekje and Goguryeo, and the first to unify the Korean Peninsula. The Silla Kingdom in particular was renowned for its extensive cultural exchanges with other parts of Asia, Buddhist influence, and exquisite arts and craftsmanship.
Gyeongju, historically known as Sorabol, once served as the royal capital.
Other artefacts found in the region have previously demonstrated the use of jewel beetle wings as a decorative element for the elite, such as belts and horse harnesses. However, this new discovery marks the first time that archaeologists have found a crown decorated with beetle wings.
The jewel beetle's wings were considered valuable because of their emerald color, but the color has faded over the centuries, so researchers initially did not recognize the crown for what it was.
Sourse: www.allthatsinteresting.com
