Images

Before Islam, many Arabs worshiped idols, like this one. First century CE. From the Temple of the Winged Lions at Petra, modern-day Jordan Hashemite Kingdom. (The Jordan Museum, Amman, Jordan).

Dating to circa 170 CE, this statue's head (the torso is missing) was carved in a Hellenistic Graeco-Roman style. The Romans conquered Petra in 106 CE. From Petra, modern-day Jordan Hashemite Kingdom. (The Jordan Museum, Amman, Jordan).

This statuette depicts a nude female holding a large two-handed jar on her head; the jar appears to replace her head from the upper neck. 3600-3100 BCE. From the Dead Sea area. (The Jordan Museum, Amman, Jordan).

These dolmens (which date back to the Early Bronze Age, c. 3600 BCE) were brought from the Damiya Field in the Jordan Valley to protect them from modern development in their original site. Conserved and on display at the Jordan Museum, Amman...

This Roman theater is the largest in Jordan. It accommodates up to 6000 spectators. It was built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antonius Pius, 138-161 CE. It is still used today for artistic performances. Modern-day Amman, Jordan Hashemite...

This human head and its face were modeled in plaster and the mouth area was filled in completely. The eye sockets were inlaid with bivalve shells, divided into two halves. Many human bodies were found headless in tombs in Jericho area from...

Artemis was the Greek goddess of the hunt, forests and hill, and archery. Marble. First century CE. From Pella, the Jordan Valley, modern-day Jordan Hashemite Kingdom. (Jordan Archaeological Museum, Amman, Jordan).

Tyche was the daughter of the Greek god Zeus and was the protector of the city of Amman and the Roman Emperor. It was believed that she brings good fortune to the city of Philadelphia. This image of her was found on many coins found in the...

The Dead Sea Scrolls, or Qumran Caves Scrolls, are parchment and papyrus scrolls that were found rolled-up inside special jars with tight-fitting covers, which helped preserve them. The jars were locally made in the Dead Sea area. The Dead...

Icebergs in Disko Bay, Greenland, as seen from aboard a ship. The Disko Bay area was the place where Vikings living in Greenland came on summer hunting trips to hunt narwhals, walrus and even polar bears for ivory and skins - valuable Arctic...