There may or may not be a method to this madness.

specsthespectraldragon:

fishingforcrows:

specsthespectraldragon:

historical-nonfiction:

Terracotta Warriors fresh from the earth, before their colors deteriorate from the exposure. Photograph from a 1974 excavation

…they were painted?

@specsthespectraldragon yes!! I worked in an exhibit all about the Terracotta Warriors, that included some replicas which showed how they would have looked when they were first made!

Here’s a photo of other replicas and a handy diagram of what the pigments are made of!

The really tragic thing is that because the paint is over 2000 years old, the second they’re uncovered and exposed to the air it begins to degrade right in front of the archaeologists eyes 😭

I never knew this! I wish I’d known this earlier, that is so cool.

Admittedly I guess it is weird that I uncritically accepted that my man would’ve just been in a tomb with unpainted dudes. I would’ve wanted some paint on them.

(via bethanyactually)