Where was Genghis Khan buried?

He ruled over one of the largest empires in history and left such a mark that one in every 200 men alive today is his descendent, but Genghis Khan made sure his remains would rest in peace...

Miniature from a Persian manuscript depicting Genghis Khan's funeral

Published: February 1, 2019 at 12:00 PM

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By keeping to the Mongol tradition of being buried without markings, his tomb has yet to be discovered. According to legend, extreme measures were taken to ensure its location remained secret.

The soldiers in the funeral procession slaughtered everyone they passed, the slaves who built the tomb and then themselves. Other stories claim a river was diverted or that 1,000 horses trampled the ground to remove all evidence of the final resting place.

Such a mystery was enough to get would-be Indiana Joneses intrigued, and the search continues in the vast expanse of Mongolia. Most Mongolians, however, don’t want Genghis Khan found – not out of fear of a world ending curse, but out of respect for their most extraordinary of leaders.

This article was originally published in issue 65 of BBC History Revealed magazine