Images

Three marble fountain heads from Pompeii. 1st century CE. In private gardens, fountains were an ostentatious display of the owner's wealth. His or her taste was shown in the choice of fountain head, such as these three: a theatre mask...

Bust of a wealthy woman from the Eastern Roman Empire She wears earrings and her hair fashionably dressed. 193-235 CE. The Museum of Ancient Cultures, Macquarie University, Sydney, (photo taken at the National Maritime Museum, Sydney)

Marble fountain from Baiae. 1st century CE. A nereid (sea spirit) rides a pistrix (shark) - (the water would have originally flown from its mouth). Found in the sea off the spa resort of Baiae on the Bay of Naples, it is most likely from...

Alabaster bas-relief detail showing the head of an Apkalllu, a protective spirit. Neo-Assyrian Period, 865-860 BCE. Detail of Panel at Door C (number 2), Room S, the North-West Palace at Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)

Alabaster bas-relief detail showing the head of an Apkallu, a protective spirit. Neo-Assyrian Period, 865-860 BCE. Detail of Panel 6, Room G, the North-West Palace at Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)

Alabaster bas-relief detail showing the head of a male Apkallu or protective spirit. Neo-Assyrian Period, 865-860 BCE. This is a detail of Panel 1, which was lining door “a” of Room T, the North-West Palace at Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (The...

Alabaster bas-relief detail showing the head of an Apkallu or protective spirit. Neo-Assyrian Period, 865-860 BCE. Detail of Panel D1, Room G, the North-West Palace at Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)

Alabaster bas-relief detail showing the head of a female Apkallu or protective spirit. Neo-Assyrian Period, 865-860 BCE. Detail of Panel 20, Room I, the North-West Palace at Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)

Alabaster bas-relief detail depicting the head of an Apkallu, a protective spirit. Neo-Assyrian Period, 865-860 BCE. Detail of Panel 3, Room F, the North-West Palace at Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (The British Museum, London)

This Apkallu and Lamassu ward off evil spirits or demons and protect humans and their place of residence. 9th century BCE. From Nimrud, modern-day Iraq. (Room 6, British Museum, London)