Bust of Kul Tigin
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The Bust of Kul Tigin is an 8th-century marble bust thought to represent Kul Tigin, a Turkic general and prince of the Second Turkic Khaganate. The head was probably part of a seated figure, whose torso was found in the same building at the Complex of Kul Tigin in Khöshöö-Tsaidam, Mongolia. Differently from other artifacts found at this site and the neighboring one, such as a golden diadem, the Bilge Khan Crown, this stone sculpture and a number of paintings now lost were likely the work of Tang Chinese artisans, as reported in the Book of Tang. The fact it was sculpted by a Chinese artisan could explain the origin of the sculpture's hat.[1] It is also possible that the hat, which was also in use among Eastern Turks, was reproduced by the Chinese artist from the actual headgear of the deceased Kul Tigin.[1] The eagle depicted on the hat is similar to the Golden Crown of Bilge Khan, produced by a local artisan. The Czech archeologist Lumír Jisl who found the head, described the animal on the Bust of Kul Tigin's hat first as a heraldic eagle, later opting for a falcon, which the Turks associated with death. It could also represent the phoenix, often depicted by Eastern Turks with similarly spread wings.[1]
Bust of Kul Tigin | |
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Material | Marble |
Size | 42 cm × 21 cm (16.5 in × 8.3 in) |
Created | 732 CE[1] |
Place | Kul Tigin Complex, Orkon Valley |
Present location | National Museum of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar |