Gold Belt of silla - the King's authority

This is the gold belt of a Silla king. It was found with the gold crown that we saw earlier. The belt was not designed for practical use but rather as an ornament to display the authority of the king. A similar tradition also existed in Medieval Europe. To show wealth, Europeans also decorated their belts with jewels during the Middle Ages.

As a symbol of power, the gold belt was highly decorative. The part of the ornament encircling the waist consists of two thin gold plates. Small, round, gold decorations are strung together with gold thread. Just like a belly dancer’s costume, the glamour of the belt is enhanced by many pendant decorations.

Interestingly, numerous ornamental decorations inspired by diverse everyday items are attached to the belt by short gold strings. This derived from the customs of nomadic tribal peoples, who often carried various daily tools on their bodies. Each ornament has a different meaning and purpose. For example, a medicine pouch in a net symbolizes the wishes for health while a gold fish charm stands for fertility and eternal life.