Genghis Khan Exhibit - Field Museum, Chicago

[Gerhard von Liebau]

My first time to Chicago was last week, and it happened to collide with the Genghis Khan exhibit that will be at the Field Museum. Most of the items are sourced from Mongolian national museums and this is only a temporary exhibit that runs until September third! Because it was a special exhibit no pictures were allowed, so this is merely a shout out... If you can get to Chicago and have a couple of hours to peruse this wonderful display, do it!

There are mail shirts from the 13th-14th centuries, original Mongolian weaponry of all sorts, including bows, daggers, swords, halberds and lances. There are full suits of armor including lamellar and padded coats of plates. There are probably a dozen helmets from the 13th-15th centuries. There is horse barding, bridles, saddles, whatever...

And of course the non-military related goodness is incredible, including various examples of the Yuan diplomatic insignias given to foreigners in the empire, such as those described by Marco Polo! Musical instruments, original fabric clothing from the late middle ages into the early modern period (mainly women's) and many interactive video and sound as well as beautiful maps discussing Mongolian conquest and empire.

Check it out if you can! Cheers!

-Gerhard

[Russ Mitchell]

Armored boot, too.