The Symbol of Authority, a Sword with a Round Pommel

These swords were excavated from the region formerly occupied by Gaya. Sword manufacturing was considered the epitome of quality metalwork. This sword was manufactured using a special integrated metal technique of Gaya. Only a very few of the highest-ranking members of society possessed this type of sword, which symbolized the authority of Gaya’s ruling elite.

Can you see the leaf pattern on the sword’s hilt? Motifs featuring dragons and phoenixes were also popular decorations for swords with round pommels. These opulent, elegant ornaments emphasized the authority of those who carried them.

The iron has rusted over time, so the sword’s current appearance is not as attractive as it would have been originally. However, it still retains a sense of dignity simply because it was produced by Gaya artisans using the most sophisticated methods available at that time.
This type of sword was manufactured throughout the Korean Peninsula in approximately the 1st century. Thus the same style of sword is commonly found in ancient tombs of kings and queens all over the Korean Peninsula, indicating that they were powerful, symbolic objects.