Nine Forgotten Queens who Shaped the World

Queen Seondeok of Silla

Seondeok, the first reigning queen of Silla (one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea), is remembered for her wise and visionary leadership. She fostered advancements in science, arts, and culture, and her reign marked a period of prosperity and growth. The Cheomseongdae observatory, one of the oldest surviving astronomical observatories in the world, was built under her patronage. Her diplomatic skills also helped Silla form alliances that eventually led to the unification of the Korean Peninsula.