Images

A loaf of bread from Herculaneum. 79 CE. Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, (photo taken at the National Maritime Museum, Sydney Australia) Carbonised in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Before the eruption, someone in Pompeii scratched...

Some of these wall reliefs were inscribed; the inscriptions read "Palace of Kapara, son of Hadianu". The base of the south wall of Kapara's palace was lined with a series of 187 reliefs carved in black basalt alternating with red ochre-tinted...

This was probably a votive offering and may depict a nude votaress. However, it is usually regarded as a representation of Astarte. 1570-1500 BCE. From Level V Palace at Tell Atchana, modern-day Hatay Province, Turkey. (The British Museum...

This clay tablet represents a lawsuit against Niqmepa King of Alalakh brought before Saustatar king of Mitanni who used a seal made about 2200 BCE and later recut for an earlier king of Mitanni, Shutarna, son of Kirta. circa 1450 BCE. From...

Agreement for annual dues of gold and sheep to be paid to the King, either Idirimi or his son Niqmepa, who often used his father's seal. The seal's inscription reads "Idrimi, servant of the god Adad". 1500-1450 BCE. From Level IV Palace at...

This clay tablet still has its clay envelope. The tablet mentions a legal case before Niqmepuh, King of Iamhad (Aleppo) concerning the legacy of two houses. The seal impressions of ten witnesses (including the King) survive on the fragmentary...

A reconstruction of part of the interior of the Bronze Age Uluburun shipwreck, 1330-1300 BCE. The ship sank off the coast of Lycia and contained, amongst other cargo, ten tons of copper ingots, tin ingots and jars of resin and foodstuffs...

A reconstruction of the interior of the Bronze Age Uluburun shipwreck, 1330-1300 BCE. The ship sank off the coast of Lycia and contained, amongst other cargo, ten tons of copper ingots, tin ingots and jars of resin and foodstuffs. (Bodrum...

A copper "oxhide" ingot from the Bronze Age Uluburun shipwreck, 1330-1300 BCE. The ship sank off the coast of Lycia and contained, amongst other cargo, ten tons of copper ingots. (Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, Turkey)

A clear glass dish from Pompeii. 1st century CE. (Photo taken at the National Maritime Museum, Sydney Australia) According to Pliny, high value was placed on colourless, transparent glass - basically that which mimicked rock crystal.