China’s famous Terra Cotta Warriors coming to Toronto

ROM officials confirmed to Global News Wednesday that the Terra Cotta Warriors will be coming to Toronto later in 2010.

Thousands of life-size soldiers were discovered in 1974 in massive underground pits, in one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century.

The warriors were created by artists more than 2,200 years ago and buried with the First Emperor of Qin in 210-209 BC. Their purpose was to help him rule another empire in the afterlife.

The figures vary in height, from about six feet to 6’5", according to their role, with the tallest being the generals. In addition to warriors, there are chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongme, and musicians.

Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses.

The majority are still buried in the pits, but reports indicate 14 of those excavated will be heading to Toronto, as part of a show featuring hundreds of artifacts.

Dan Rahimi, vice president of gallery development at the ROM, told Global News that an official announcement has yet to be made because museum officials are still trying to finalize a deal with the Chinese government.

"We’re preparing our press material right now to discuss the details of it, but it will be a fabulous exhibit," Rahimi said.

He said he believes the Warriors will be on display in the summer, and that it will be the same sort of major exhibition as the recently ended Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, which helped the ROM draw over one million visitors in 2009.

"The nice thing about the Terra Cotta Warriors is that’s a discovery that was made in the 1970s," Rahimi said. "So many people grew up with this as their great archaeological discovery icon. So I think this will have great resonance with the people of Toronto."

The ROM’s planned exhibit is said to be the largest display of Terra Cotta Warriors outside of China. Previously, the Warriors have been shown in London and Washington, D.C.