Images

The Aphrodisias stadium, dated to the 1st century CE. It is the best-preserved stadium in Asia Minor. The stadium is 262 m in length and 52 m in width, with a seating capacity of 30,000 people.

The Ionic columns of the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias, later converted into a Christian basilica. First century BCE.

The Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey.

A scene from the 11th century CE Bayeux Tapestry showing the Battle of Hastings in 1066 CE. (Centre Guillaume le Conquérant, Bayeux, France)

A detail of the 11th century CE Bayeux Tapestry showing Bishop Odo of Bayeux, likely the patron of the artwork. (Centre Guillaume le Conquérant, Bayeux, France)

A Chinese pig-dragon sculpture. China, probably Yunnan Province, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368. Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Jade figurines representing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. 18th century CE, Qing Dynasty. Height: c. 5.7 cm. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A dolomite sculpture of a recumbent pig. Eastern Han Dynasty, 25-220 CE. Height: 3 cm. Length: 10.6 cm. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A jade hair ornament (?), owl figurine and pig-dragon. Hongshan Culture, c. 3,500 BCE. From Liaoning Province, China. (British Museum, London)

Bellinzona flourished as a city under the rule of the Visconti and Sforza dynasties in the Late Middle Ages, who secured the Alpine passes, upheld customs laws, and balanced state finances and ordinances...