Tomb of Genghis Khan

From Genghis Khan to Legacy:

Genghis Khan (in this case born as Temüjin), who ruled in the early 1200s, has arguably been one of the most effective leaders ever. He founded the Mongol Empire and united many of the nomadic tribes in Mongolia, going on to conquer much of Asia, turning it into the world history's largest contiguous empire. He was a man of military genius, strategy and diplomacy; obviously, thats what separated him from other conquerers of his generation. At its height his empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Danube River in the west, covering land that is now China, Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and parts of Europe.

That the great Genghis Khan should have such a noteworthy paean to flamboyance, pomp, and splendor still rings true today even a millennium after his glory days has taken some doing; yet many end up baffled over one of history's biggest mysteries: the tomb of Genghis Khan. As a result, the Mongolian identity is still influenced by his legacy today and he has been chased all over history, both in terms of his burial place (which remains unknown to this day) hunted down through paths, expeditions and scientific research. No one has definitively identified the burial site of that inspiration, yet — although a tantalizing new lead comes from research involving the ancient city where he died.

Genghis Khan Tomb Mystery

Ever since people began history with their writing, Genghis Khan’s tomb has been a mystery that historians, archaeologists, and tomb raiders have been trying to find. One of the reasons behind this mystery is the want for confidentiality to its leader, Mongol. The burial of Genghis Khan, on the other hand, was presumably built to preserve his final resting place from being disturbed and to ensure that those who worshiped him in life would continue doing so after death. Indeed most of what is known about the death and burial of Genghis Khan comes from Mongolian legends and oral traditions that have existed for centuries.

Genghis Khan passed away in 1227 under unclear circumstances, perhaps from wounds incurred when he fell off his horse during military expeditions. His remains were returned to Mongolia and are said, according to some claims, to have been buried in a secret location. The most popular theory is that his tomb is somewhere in the Khentii Mountains of northeastern Mongolia, an area of cultural and spiritual importance to the Mongols.

Tomb location theories

For centuries, scholars have hypothesized where exactly Genghis Khan's tomb is located. According to various sources, the Khentii Mountains are the most probable location of burial — yet no definitive evidence has been established. Located in northeast Mongolia, these mountains are where Mongols worship to the spirits. On top of all this the fact that Genghis Khan was born in that region only reinforces the feeling that his tomb loot may be lying there.

According to one popular theory, following the death of Genghis Khan his body was taken to the Khentii Mountains, where a secret burial site was built in an undisclosed location. It is said that the workers who built this tomb were executed so that its location would never be found. There are also claims that the burial site is hidden because they diverted a river to run over the tomb to hide pillagers.

During the early part of the 20th century a Soviet expedition stated that it had discovered the potential site for the tomb, but its search came up empty. There are theories that Genghis Khan's tomb was intentionally destroyed or changed so as to make it irresistibly difficult to discover – perhaps out of fear of its being raided by rival factions or future conquerors. If they did alter or destroy the tomb, archaeologists have said it may be buried beneath layers of earth and natural detritus — a further complication for any discoverers.

Search for the Tomb — the Work of Archaeologists

Archaeological endeavours to find Genghis Khan’s tomb, despite the many legends and folklore, have been few. Given the severe nature of Mongolian topography, in addition to political and cultural factors, researchers have faced challenges for a wide-scale exploration. Mongolia has been more receptive to archaeological work since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, though the government has been reluctant to allow digs in what they suspect may be hallowed ground.

The most notable search for the tomb of Genghis Khan was in the 1930s when a Soviet group attempted an expedition to Mongolia. The group proposed that the burial site would be located near the Onon River in the Khentii Mountains circa Genghis Khan's hometown. Although they believe it based on no direct evidence of the tomb was found, the search stayed open.

Satellite imaging and ground-penetrating radar surveys have also been tried without success. Other researchers argued that Genghis Khan's grave is located in the uncharted countryside area. In addition, as many archaeologists and historians have pointed out, if the tomb were to be discovered, it may also be hard to identify it according to the absence of conclusive documentation or physical evidence.

Legends and Myths

For centuries the legend of Genghis Khan’s tomb has been spun from myriad myths as to how he was buried and where. A popular myth relates to the large funeral seen after the death of Genghis Khan. Thousands of soldiers and workers, it is told were used to accompany the body, however all of them executed later so that no one can tell about tomb’s location.

Yet another legend tells of a unique ceremony that happened following the interment. As the story goes, once the tomb was sealed up, a band of Mongolian soldiers rode around and around in circles to keep anyone who dared approach the tomb at bay by killing any would-be visitors. In some versions of the legend, Genghis Khan's followers redirected the Onon River to disguise his burial site from potential future invasions.

Significance in Culture and National

Genghis Khan is still a source of national pride for Mongolians! He is pivotal to the country, and while seeking his tomb is certainly an exercise in finding something concrete to substantiate its existence, it also reflects a desire to revel in an important part of Mongolian history. The legacy of Genghis Khan has continued to loom large in Mongolian identity, even in modern times, through his achievements as a warrior and ruler.

This story helped cement a monument erected in Mongolian national pride in the 21st century for Genghis Khan, which now is present by way of monuments, festivals and cultural events. It is not the actual burial site, but it is one of the largest memorials built for Genghis Khan in Khentii Province. The hunt for the tomb of Genghis Khan is one such aspect of tradition among the people of Mongolia, and continues to intrigue both Mongolians domestically as well as those abroad.

However, although the tomb has not been found, questions about the last burial site of Genghis Khan inspire those who wish to solve one of the world greatest leader’s enigmas.