Gravfigurin, Figurine

Gravfigurinen i form av en tvåpucklad kamel från Tangdynastin som varde mellan år 600—900-talet e.v.t.

Sadelväskan pryds av en så kallad ”monster mask”. Det går inte att helt säkert säga vilken betydelse ”monster maskerna” hade men kanske skulle de skrämma bort negativa krafter. Något som kunde behövas under färden.

Under Tangdynastin var kameler och människor av utländsk härkomst ofta representerade i elitens gravar, eftersom de förknippades med handel, rikedom och exotisk lyx.

Grave figurine depicting a two-humped camel from the Tang dynasty which extended from the 7th-10th century AD.
The saddlebag is decorated with a “monster mask”. It is impossible to say exactly what the significance of monster masks was, but perhaps they were intended to frighten off evil forces – something that might be needed in the course of a journey.
During the Tang dynasty, camels and people of foreign origin were often represented in the graves of the elite, since they were associated with trade, wealth and exotic luxury.