Images

This is a dedication to the god Haldi, the supreme god of the Urartians, from a temple built by Menua, son of Ishpuini, king of Urartu (reigned 810-786 BCE). It is written in Urartian cuneiform writing. From Toprakkale or Van, Eastern Anatolia...

The inscription is repeated three times and reads "Ishpuini, son of Sarduri, built this temple". Ishpuini was a king of Urartu (reigned 830-810 BCE). The drum was later re-used and hollowed out to form a shallow basin with a drainage hole...

This bronze helmet is decorated with a pattern of dots and crooks ending in bull's heads, which frame the Urartian versions of the Egyptian sun-disc. The pointed shape was designed to deflect arrows. Holes around the edges are for attaching...

This is a bronze furniture-fitting (probably of a stool) of a kneeling or a recumbent winged-bull. It was originally inlaid and gilded. There is a dowel for attachment at the lower surface. From Toprakkale, Eastern Anatolia, in modern-day...

This large foot was probably fit into onto the legs of a table or bed. The decoration on the front is an Anatolian version of the Egyptian winged sun-disc. This would have originally been inlaid with knuckles and claws. From Toprakkale, Eastern...

Known as siqqatu (in Akkadian), such nails are found in temples and palaces throughout the Middle East in this period. They were embedded in the walls of rooms and may have been used for wall-hangings. From Toprakkale, Eastern Anatolia, in...

This slab (which is inlaid with black and white stone) was part of the paved platform in front of the temple of the god Haldi, the supreme god of the Urartians. The rings were carefully slotted together and secured by a pin so the top would...

A traditional holly wreath.

The Christmas tradition of preparing the Yule log at Hever Castle, to be burnt over the twelve days of Christmas, painting by Robert Alexander Hillingford, 19th century.

A 1310-1320 CE manuscript illustration of the Nativity. Made in East Anglia. (National Library of Wales)