Images

A map of the Byzantine empire and its themes and provinces in 717 CE.

A gold solidus coin depicting Constantine V, emperor of the Byzantine empire between 741 and 775 CE (right) and Leo III (r. 685-741 CE)

Fresco from Herculaneum depicting a Roman banquet. Currently located in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli; accession number (inv. 9024); affresco da Ercolano, IV stile pompeiano (50-79 CE).

Imaginary portrait of Apicius, famous for his Roman cookbook De Re Coquinaria, from Alexis Soyer's 'Pantropheon'.

1541 CE manuscript of Apicius' De Re Coquinaria - a Roman cookbook - here named De Re Culinaria.

The Tjängvide image stone dating to the Viking Age found in Gotland, Sweden and probably showing Odin on his horse Sleipnir (or otherwise a dead man arriving at Odin's hall of Valhalla) on the middle-right.

The god Odin from Norse Mythology, sitting on his throne accompanied by his ravens, Huginn and Muninn, and his wolves, Geri and Freki, illustration from page 7 of Nordisch-germanische Götter und Helden by Wilhelm Wägner, Otto Spamer, Leipzig...

Depiction by Emil Doepler from c. 1905 CE showing a scene from the Ragnarök (from Norse Mythology) in which Odin fights the wolf Fenrir. In the background are the god Freyr (on a horse) and the fire-giant Surtr.

A 13th century CE depiction of the Norwegian king Harald III, aka Harald Hardrada (r. 1046-1066 CE) at the Battle of Fulford Gate on 20 September 1066 CE. (From "The Life of King Edward the Confessor" by Matthew Paris).

A 12th century CE illustration showing the Varangian Guard defending a city. The Varangians were an elite corps of the Byzantine army and palace bodyguard from the 11th to 13th centuries CE. They were composed of Vikings and then Anglo-Saxons...