Images

A scroll with extracts from the 'Tale of the Genji' or Genji Monogatari, written in the 11th century CE by Murasaki Shikibu. Ink on decorated paper. Attributed to Prince Son'en (1298-1356 CE). (Tokyo National Museum)

A 19th century CE painting by John Garrick depicting the death of King Arthur.

A 19th century CE engraving depicting Camelot from the original edition of Tennyson's 'Idylls of the King' on the Arthurian legends.

An illustration from the legends of King Arthur showing the king and Merlin approach the Lady of the Lake who will give him his sword Excalibur. (From King Arthur's Knights: The Tales Retold for Boys and Girls by Henry Gilbert, Edinburgh...

Egyptian cosmetic box. New Kingdom, about 1550-1069 BCE. Thebes, Egypt. From The British Museum, (photo taken at The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia) This wooden cosmetic box is delicately incised with a leaf motif. It still contains...

Statue of a man. 12th Dynasty, about 1911-1870 BCE. Deir el-Bersheh, Egypt. The British Museum, (photo taken at The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia) This figure, with its short wig and long kilt, is thought to depict one of the earliest...

Egyptian relief of a harp player. 19th Dynasty, about 1295-1186 BCE. Abydos, Egypt. From The British Museum, (photo taken at the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia)

Egyptian arched harp. New Kingdom, about 1550-1070 BCE. Thebes, Egypt. Made with wood, bone and glazed composition. The British Museum, (photo taken at The Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia)

Egyptian broad collar in faience. The broad collar is one of the most characteristic elements of ancient Egyptian jewellery. Called wesekh, which means 'the broad one', broad collars are often made up of different rows of beads. 11th Dynasty...

Relief of Kemsit, one of King Mentuhotep's wives. 11th Dynasty, reign of King Mentuhotep, about 2055-2004 BCE. Deir el-Bahari, Egypt. Kemsit was also a priestess of Hathor and seems to have played an important role in the cult of the...