Domes and Sheep Knuckle Bones
I’ve lately been wrestling with changing the spelling of the name from Genghis to Chinggis. Khan, that is. That’s a topic for another Substack post, but out of curiosity this morning I Googled ‘Chinggis Khan,’ instead of ‘Genghis Khan.’ Something fun popped up and I want to tell you about it.
Fans of Temujin and Borte don’t have to travel all the way to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia now to see ancient artifacts of the Empire. If you happen to be in or near the Czech Republic capital of Prague during the next three months, the National Museum is hosting an exhibition featuring Chinggis Khan. And, as with so many buildings in Europe, the National Museum is worth a visit simply for its architecture. This is the Neo-Renaissance Dome Hall in the main building of the National Museum.
The exhibit features items seldom seen outside of Mongolia, along with period pieces from the National Museum’s own collection. The exhibit continues through June 22. Visitors will see jewelry, weapons, tools, household items and equestrian equipment including a rare wooden saddle that dates to the Mongolian Empire. A description of the saddle is given by curator Pavla Hubackova. (apologies for no diacritics) Alas, no photograph:
"The saddle is made of wood, tied with wooden strings. It was found at a burial site, alongside the mummy of its rider. Discovered in rock, which is why it has been so remarkably well preserved. The Mongolian saddle has its own unique characteristics, just like Mongolian horses. They are smaller, stocky, but also incredibly tough—qualities that played a crucial role in the Mongol army’s long journeys and battles.'‘
A survey of gift items for sale includes these animal bone replicas, used by Mongols and others since ancient times as game tokens. The traditional way to play with the bones is to ask a question, throw the bones and interpret the results.
Readers of my upcoming book on the rise of Chinggis and Borte will encounter such game pieces several times in the story, of significance to various characters. Borte, during a rare period of solitude, throws the knuckle bones, as they are called, to pass the time.
Here are a couple of links for further information on the exhibit. A few photos are included:
WHAT??! You mean I've been saying and spelling it wrong all these years? Clearly, I am in desperate need of education! Thank you for pulling me out of my ignorance, Ms. Bley