The Silla Gold Crown from Hwangnamdaechong

Full transcript

Annyeong, yeoreobun! It's Yul. Okay, put on your sunglasses, because things are about to get shiny. This is the gold crown of Silla, the kingdom that ruled from the city of Gyeongju.

Silla was called a country of gold. And when you see this crown, you understand why. It comes from a huge double tomb in Gyeongju called Hwangnamdaechong, built in the fifth century. When archaeologists opened the north mound in the 1970s, they found this crown.

Look at the shape. The tall parts in front look like the Chinese character for "out," or like tree branches. The ones on the sides look like deer antlers. Many scholars think trees and deer were sacred, a way to connect heaven and earth. And everywhere, tiny gold spangles and comma-shaped green jade beads hang down. Imagine the person wearing this, walking slowly. Every step, the whole crown would shimmer and tremble. A total main-character moment.

Here's the twist. The crown was in the north mound, but who was buried there? Archaeologists found a silver belt piece with an inscription that suggests a lady, probably a queen. So the most famous crown of this tomb may have belonged to a woman, not the king. Girl crush, fifth-century style.

And here's another secret. The gold is very thin and soft. Many experts believe these crowns were too fragile for everyday use. They may have been made for ceremonies, or for the journey after death.

Yul's tip! This crown is in the Silla room on the first floor. Stand to the side and move your head slowly. Watch the spangles catch the light. That's exactly how it sparkled sixteen hundred years ago.