Quivers in Medieval Mongol Funerary Practice: Martial Identity, Honor, and the Afterlife

Abstract

This paper examines the meaning and symbolism underlying the inclusion of quivers in the funerary practices of the medieval Mongols. Drawing upon archaeological evidence, written historical sources, visual materials, and linguistic data, the study seeks to clarify the rationale and symbolic significance of placing quivers alongside the deceased in burial contexts. The findings suggest that the quiver functioned not merely as a military object, but as a symbol of masculine martial identity, military honor, and personal dignity. Its inclusion in burials signified that the deceased had not been defeated in battle nor deprived of his weapons during life. The study further demonstrates that the consistent placement of quivers on the left side of the body reflected broader Mongol beliefs concerning the afterlife as an inverse continuation of earthly existence. More broadly, the research highlights that medieval Mongols perceived death not as an end, but as a continuation of life in another realm, where the deceased continued to require the objects associated with them during life. Consequently, the inclusion of quivers in funerary rites constituted a deeply symbolic practice embedded within Mongolian mortuary ideology and worldview.