Lid with Figurines

The Wolseong-ro Tomb in Gyeongju is a vital historic site that has provided a wealth of information about the tombs of early Silla, from the 4th~6th centuries. One of the many burial artifacts is this lid for an urn or vessel, which was excavated from stone-lined tomb No.A-11-1. The lid features a figurine attachment of a snake biting into a frog. The toes and eyes of the frog exude the vibrant force of life, while the small lines on the snake’s back convey a sinister illusion of slow movement. Notably, frogs are transformed from tadpoles, while snakes routinely shed their skin, so it seems likely that both creatures must have filled people of that time with a sense of the positive force of rebirth.