Page 15 - PGA Community News - October '22

October 2022 October 2022 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 15

Xi’an: The Wonders Of Clay from page 14

The weapons and valuable items were pillaged, leaving
many of the warriors in pieces. This was the condition
that they were found in when the pits were opened 2,200
years later.
The main pit is covered by a 14,000-square-meter
building and contains some 7,000 life-size terracotta
warriors, the bulk of which have been restored. The
figures are made of local clay and the warrior’s weigh
between 250 and 700 pounds. The same method of
construction was used throughout the entire production.
The bodies, head and arms are hollow, while the legs and
platforms to which they are attached are solid. Larger
pieces were made in a mold and then joined together
Officials were brought in and excavations in the area before firing. Each of the warriors was individually
began. It is believed that there are some 600 pits that crafted and signed by one of the 88 craftsmen who placed
surround the mausoleum within a few miles. their quality control mark on the piece … no two warriors
The full-size warriors, their horses and other battle look alike.
accessories were uncovered in longitudinal pits about 20 The warriors are definitely the drawing card in Xi’ an.
feet deep. These pits were enough to hold four soldiers They have been viewed by more than 50 million visitors
and/or four horses with chariots. Between these pits, from home and abroad in the last three decades. Today,
the ground was undisturbed to a depth of approximately the description “Eighth Wonder of the World” has become
10 feet. Spanning the pits above the soldiers, logs were synonymous with the Terracotta Army. In 1987, the site of
placed to form a roof. Earth was filled in over the logs, the warriors was placed on the list of World Heritage Sites.
bringing the level up to the natural earth elevation. Years Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences,
later, during a farmers’ revolt, the underground army was having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans,
attacked and the figures were broken apart by the invaders. seas and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel
Leaders, his family owned and operated agency, is located
Attention: at Mirasol Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road, Building
A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach Gardens. The agency has
been serving the travel needs of the South Florida area
for over a quarter of a century. Contact him at (561)
PGA Residents Of Mellowing Years 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.

A single phone number may help you to live • You don’t know where to go? We can guide Photos by Don Kiselewski
confidently and gracefully in your own home. you.
Now there is a volunteer senior ambassador • You don’t know what you need? We’re well-
within PGA community who is well-schooled versed in that problem. CDC COVID-19
in resources available to help with problems • Do you know a neighbor who needs help? Travel Recommendations
of elders. The Alpert family and Children’s Don’t wait. Call now. Dorothy Weiss, 624-
Services has been helping seniors do just that 4035. Let’s keep connected with each other as By Country
for many years. a community. All you need is the desire to live
• You have questions? We may have answers. comfortably in your own home. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/
map-and-travel-notices.html