Tomb of King Gyeongdeok | |
---|---|
![]() The tomb (2015) | |
Location | Gyeongju, South Korea |
Coordinates | 35°45′47.002″N 129°11′13.999″E / 35.76305611°N 129.18722194°E |
Built for | Gyeongdeok of Silla (believed to be) |
Designated | 1963-01-21 |
Reference no. | 23 |
The Tomb of King Gyeongdeok (Korean: 경덕왕릉; Hanja: 景德王陵) is believed to belong to Gyeongdeok of Silla (r. 742–765). It is located in Gyeongju, South Korea. On January 21, 1963, it was designated Historic Site of South Korea No. 23.[1][2] It is a tumulus tomb encircled by a stone fence and carvings of the twelve animals of the zodiac.[2]
Gyeongdeok's burial is mentioned in the historical texts Samguk sagi and Samguk yusa.[3] There is some scholarly debate about whom exactly the tomb belongs to.[2][3] Some argue that the carvings around the tomb are more characteristic of tombs from later than Gyeongdeok's era.[3]