Guard of Geumgwan Gaya, Cavalry Knight Figurine

[Narration]
This figurine represents a knight from Gaya, a kingdom that flourished as a result of its advanced iron industry. Can you see the scale armor of both the knight and the horse? These are replicas of relics excavated from the tombs of Gaya kings.

[Tourist]
Ah, it looks similar to a medieval knight of Europe.

[Narration]
During the 4th and 5th centuries, heavily-armed knights equipped with iron armor and spears existed in Gaya in the south of Korea. Look at the armor of the knight. The scale armor, made by connecting separate iron plates in overlapping rows, was an epochal innovation of the time. The scales successfully protected the bodies of the knights from flying arrows. Compared to earlier single-plate armor, scale armor was far more convenient to wear as it permitted greater freedom of movement.

[Tourist]
The horse is also fully armored. That’s interesting.

[Narration]
Yes. If a horse was injured, the horseman would be in grave danger as well.

[Tourist]
Wow, I’m impressed! Gaya must have been a powerful kingdom with such well-armed knights.

[Narration]
Yes, it was very powerful. These cavalry in particular wore the most advanced equipment of the time. Thanks to its strong cavalry, the Gaya Confederacy was a leading figure in the northeast Asia region, as you can see on the screens above.