Images

The exquisitely carved animal head number two (there are five in total) found with the Oseberg Viking ship, dated to c. 820 CE, in a ship burial setting in Oslo fjord, Norway. The heads are housed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo.

Full view of the Oseberg Viking ship dating from c. 820 CE discovered in a lavish ship burial setting in Oslo fjord, Norway. The ship is housed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway.

Frontal view of the Viking ship known as the Gokstad, housed at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway. The ship dates from c. 900 CE and was preserved in a ship burial found in Oslo fjord. The lapstrake technique in which the hull planks...

A gold Byzantine histamenon coin of the emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068-1071 CE). (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com)

A map indicating the location of the Battle of Manzikert in August 1071 CE. The battle in Armenia was one of the greatest defeats suffered by the Byzantine Empire. The victorious Seljuk army led by the Sultan Alp Arslan famously captured...

A painting depicting the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert (Mantzikert) in August 1071 CE. The battle, in Armenia, was one of the greatest defeats suffered by the Byzantine Empire. The victorious Seljuk army captured the Byzantine emperor...

A gold nomisma coin of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802-811 CE). (British Museum, London)

A 14th century CE manuscript illustration depicting the capture of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802-811 CE) by the Bulgar Khan Krum in 811 CE.

A 15th century CE manuscript illustration depicting the Bulgar Khan Krum (r. c. 802-814 CE) about to receive a drinking cup made from the skull of the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802-811 CE) whose army he had defeated in July 811 CE.

Painting by Theodoor Rombouts (Antwerpen, 1597-1637 CE) Oldmasters Museum, Brussels