Terra Cotta Warriors - Guardians of China's First Emporer

This is something I will see; perhaps more than once. As a group we get a (very small) discount, but it could be a fun outing to do together. Afterward we will can walk to Teaism (such a cool place!!) for some food and conversation. The location is very convenient and is within a block of the Farragut North Metro. For drivers, there is plenty of parking located nearby. For even more info, here is a link the exhibition website. These warriors represent one of the greatest archaeological treasures in the world today. The exhibit will feature Emperor Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor; his tomb and surrounding sites; the discovery of the site by well diggers in 1974 and many exciting new finds, as well as the largest collection of the famed figures to ever leave China. The exhibition of 120 sets of objects will include 20 complete life-sized terra cotta figures and will feature new discoveries of court officials, acrobats and generals. Equally exciting and probably most dramatic are the inclusion of two recently discovered, half-sized bronze chariots and life-sized bronze animals that were found in what would have been gardens within the tomb complex belonging to Qin Shi Huang (259 - 210 B.C.). Emperor Qin is one of the most important emperors in history and has been credited with unifying several separate warring states into a unified China in 221 B.C., creating the foundation of the China that we know today. He is also well known for initiating construction of the 30-foot-high, 3,000-mile-long Great Wall of China to protect his empire from invaders from the north. It is thought that his tomb, in addition to being heavily guarded by thousands of Terra Cotta Warriors, replicated an underground city that included a bronze tomb with 500 tons of mercury flowing as rivers and a jeweled ceiling representing the heavens. The tomb itself remains unexplored today. "The upcoming United States tour of the first emperor's Terra Cotta Army is of historic proportions," says Bowers Museum President Peter Keller. "To put the importance of this exhibit in perspective, no previous exhibit from China has ever been allowed to include more than 20 'level one' objects. We are bringing 52 'level one' objects." A national panel of experts in China has established a rating system by which it grades art and antiquities on their importance to China. Those of the greatest importance are graded level one and are highly restricted as to the number that can be out of the country at any time. "Since their discovery, the Terra Cotta Warriors have captured the world's imagination because they give us a fascinating glimpse into the life of China's first emperor, a man who created multiple historical marvels that endure to the present day," says Joel A. Bartsch, president of The Houston Museum of Natural Science. "We're eager to present the magnificent achievements of this ancient Chinese culture when this unprecedented exhibition comes to Houston." "National Geographic is pleased to host these national treasures of China that have captured the imagination of people around the world since their discovery in 1974. These magnificent objects from the tomb of Emperor Qin showcase the rich cultural legacy and Chinese contributions to the world," says Terry Garcia, executive vice president for mission programs at the National Geographic Society. "We are pleased to offer the final chance to see this rare collection before it returns to China." Let's do it!