Genghis Khan Exhibit Photos

A Mongol Warrior

A Mongol warrior from the Genghis Khan museum exhibit.

He rides a typically short and sturdy Mongolian horse and carries a reflex bow and spear. The warrior also is wearing authentic armor, including a helmet with a horsetail plume, and carrying a shield.

Entrance to the Exhibit

The beginning of a journey into Mongolian history, showing the extent of Genghis Khan's empire and a timeline of the Mongol hordes' conquests.

Mongolian Mummy | Genghis Khan Exhibit

Mummy of a Mongolian woman from the 13th or 14th century, along with her grave goods.  The mummy is wearing leather boots. She has a beautiful necklace, earrings, and a hair comb, among other things. 

Mongolian women held a high status in their society under Genghis Khan.  They were actively involved in decision-making for the community, and the Great Khan enacted specific laws to protect them from kidnapping and other abuses.

Coffin of a Mongolian Noblewoman

The wooden and leather coffin of a 13th or 14th-century Mongolian noblewoman.

The mummy inside originally was wearing two layers of rich silk clothing, and outer garments of leather. She was buried with some standard belongings, a knife and bowl, along with luxury items such as jewelry.

Mongolian Shaman

This particular shaman outfit and drum are from the nineteenth or early twentieth century.

The shaman's head-covering includes eagle feathers and a metallic fringe. Genghis Khan himself followed the traditional Mongolian religious beliefs, which include veneration of the Blue Sky or Eternal Heaven.

The Grasslands and a Yurt

The Mongolian grasslands or steppe, and the interior of a typical yurt.

The yurt is made of a woven wood frame with felt or hide coverings. It is sturdy and warm enough to withstand the bitter Mongolian winter, but still relatively easy to take down and move.

Nomadic Mongolians would dismantle their yurts and load them onto two-wheeled horse-drawn carts when it was time to move with the seasons.

Mongolian Crossbow

A Mongolian triple-bow crossbow, used for attacking the defenders of besieged cities.

Genghis Khan's troops honed their siege techniques on Chinese walled cities and then used these skills in cities all across Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Trebuchet, Mongolian Siege Machine

A trebuchet, a type of siege machine, used to hurl missiles over the walls of besieged cities. The Mongolian army under Genghis Khan and his descendants used these relatively light siege machines for easy mobility.

The Mongols' siege warfare was incredibly effective. They took such cities as Beijing, Aleppo, and Bukhara. The citizens of cities that surrendered without a fight were spared, but those who resisted usually were slaughtered.

Mongolian Shamanist Dancer

Photo of a Mongolian dancer performing at the "Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire" exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.