Korea's Hidden Heritage: The Gaya Confederacy

Long before the Three Kingdoms, a confederacy of city-states on the southern Korean coast—Gaya—forged iron, traded with Japan, and left behind tombs that still puzzle archaeologists. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Gaya: their advanced ironworking, the legendary king Suro and his bride Heo Hwang-ok, their contentious relationship with Silla, and the archaeological treasures like the gold crowns of Geumgwan Gaya. They also follow the story's revival in modern Korea—from the 2010 TV drama 'Queen Seondeok' to the 2023 UNESCO listing of Gaya tumuli—and ask what it means for a nation to reclaim a forgotten past. Along the way, they touch on the 4th-century wars with Baekje, the iron trade with Wa Japan, and the enduring mystery of the Gaya language.

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