The first example of a beetle wing crown found in a crown tomb

The wings of the decorative jewel beetle were found on the gilded crown of the 1500-year-old tomb in Gyeongju, the ancient royal capital of the Kingdom of Silia. The wings are inserted into the upside-down heart-shaped perforations on the crown, but cannot be identified immediately, as most of them have changed from the original iridescent green to the tan color of centuries. The protector was finally able to identify a total of 15 wings, seven of which were still embedded in the crown. The rest fell down and scattered in the grave.

The beetle’s wings were found in the kingdom’s most elite noble cemeteries. They decorated accessories such as belts and tackles. This is the first instance of the jewel beetle wings found on the silla crown.

Preface to several types of jewel beetles (bupresidae) For centuries, a family has been used as decorations for traditional Asian art for clothing and jewelry. In ancient Korea, beetle wings were considered precious because of their emerald-like sheen. Actress Ellen Terry, wearing a gown and 1,000 Beetle wings sewn into knit to portray Lady Macbeth, an instantly iconic, filmed in a 1889 portrait by John Singer Sargent.

In 2020, the tomb with the crown was unearthed in Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju. It is incredibly gorgeous, with vertical sections shaped like branches, antlers and perforations, shaped like small inverted hearts. Pendants of gold beads and jade hang on the side of the crown. The crew was buried in full jewelry: gold earrings with large hoops, blue beads for chest, silver belt with matching bracelets and rings, bracelets made of over 500 miniature yellow beads and Guild cheese.

The precious jewel covers the dead from head to toe, and seems to have been created specifically for the funeral Regaria, not for daily use, or even special activities in life. Archaeologists believe that they have ritual significance for the Silla nobles, symbolic power, wealth and divine grace, and can continue to the afterlife.

Gorgeous jewelry shows that the deceased is a female, and an analysis of teeth found in the graves identified the owner as a girl aged 12 to 15. A child about three years old was buried next to her. These results have not been confirmed by DNA analysis.