Images

These ancient seashells came to what is present-day Armenia from the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea via trade. They date from the 15th-13th century BCE and attest to the region's importance as a crossroads of trade between Europe...

This prehistoric ritual jug was made from clay and has stylized geometric decor. It comes from what is present-day Armenia and dates from the 11th-9th century BCE. Geometric decor commonly appears on vases and other ritual vessels during...

This elegant ritual ware vessel is made of clay and dates from the 12th-9th century BCE. It was excavated in what is present-day Armenia. (Metsamor Historical-Archaeological Museum-Reserve, Taronik, Armenia)

This rein and its accompanying iron bit keepers date to the 11-9th century BCE. They were used with horses and unearthed in what is present-day Armenia. (Metsamor Historical-Archaeological Museum-Reserve, Taronik, Armenia)

This elegant clay patterned vessel dates from the 10-11th century CE when what's present-day Armenia was under strong Byzantine political and cultural influence. (Metsamor Historical-Archaeological Museum-Reserve, Taronik, Armenia)

These are fragments that were originally part of an ancient Armenian hearth. (Metsamor Historical-Archaeological Museum-Reserve, Taronik, Armenia)

This is a 14th century CE manuscript in Armenian on the discoveries made by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. The text of this document was first translated from Greek into Armenia in the 6th century CE. (Mesrop Mashtots Institute...

A map indicating the Byzantine Empire (aka Eastern Roman Empire) c. 460 CE during the reign of Leo I (457-474 CE)

This is a parchment fragment from an Armenian manuscript created in the 10th century CE. (Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Yerevan, Armenia)

The Colossus of Barletta, thought to depict Byzantine emperor Leo I (r. 457-474 CE). Removed from Constantinople in 1204 CE, it was lost in a shipwreck off the coast of Barletta, southern Italy.