Images

A pottery model of a watchtower, Han dynasty, 25-220 CE. Height: 86 cm. (British Museum, London)

Valhalla, Odin's hall of slain warriors (Einherjar), who are here looked after by Valkyries. To the right, Odin sits upon his throne flanked by one of his wolves. At the Ragnarök, Odin will lead his Einherjar into battle against the forces...

Although known by this name, this object is not actually an "idol," but an orthostate from a dolmen, which has since disappeared. Archaeologists and specialists believe that it originally came from the Dolmen of Mián, which is located in...

The representation of eyes is a common trait shared by different groups of idols and has given rise to a generic term for these objects: "eye idols." Other shared feeatures are the representation of hair and what are thought to be facial...

These clay bell beakers come from the Early Bronze Age necropolis of Ciempozuelos (Cuesta de la Reina, Madrid), Spain and they were found during excavations conducted in the late 19th century CE. (Ciempozuelos was the first Bell-Beaker necropolis...

These bowls are from the Late Bronze Age settlement of Axtroki (Bolibar, Excoriatza, Guipúzcoa), Spain and are made from pure gold. When they were found, one bowl was inside the other. It has recently been suggested that these pieces and...

This granite stela dates from the Early or Middle Bronze Age. It was discovered in Cáceres, Spain. (Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid)

This stela is from Solana de Cabañas (Cabañas del Castillo, Cáceres), Spain and dates from the Late Bronze Age. It is made of slate, and it was unearthed in the late 19th century CE. This was the first specimen to be discovered in a series...

The "Lady of Elche" or "Lady of Elx" is a masterpiece of ancient Iberian culture. Carved in the round, the sculpture represents a woman with an idealized face, richly garbed and bejeweled. Made of limestone in the late 5th-early 4th century...

This mosaic is made from limestone and marble, and it dates from the 4th century CE. It was found at Quintana del Marco (León), Spain. (Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid)