Images

The honden of the Shinto Izumo-taisha shrine, Shimane, Japan. Founded prior to the 7th century CE, the present building dates to 1744 CE.

The Kokinshu is an imperially commissioned anthology of 1,111 poems with the full, but less familiar, title of Kokin Wakashu, meaning “Collection of Ancient and Modern Waka Poems”. It was compiled by the poet Ki no Tsurayuki in 905 CE and...

Reconstruction of the head of a Homo floresiensis individual, as on display at the Smithsonian's Natural Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

Skull of a Homo floresiensis individual.

Location of the island of Flores, Indonesia (highlighted in red).

One of the Colossi of Memnon representing Amenhotep III, 18th Dynasty, 14th century BCE. Luxor, Egypt.

The Colossi of Memnon. Amenhotep III (1386-1353 BCE) commissioned them to stand guard over his mortuary complex at Luxor, Egypt. They are seventy feet high (21 metres), each weighing seven hundred tons.

A side panel from one of the two figures known as the Colossi of Memnon representing Amenhotep III, 18th Dynasty, 14th century BCE. Either side of the panel are figures of Hapi and Tiy. Luxor, Egypt.

The south colossal statue of Amenhotep III, one of a pair of such figures known as the Colossi of Memnon. 18th Dynasty, 14th century BCE. Luxor, Egypt.

The Kondo or Main Hall of the Kongobu-ji Shingon Buddhist temple complex at Mount Koya, Japan. The site was founded by Kukai in 819 CE and the present version of the Main Hall dates to 1932 CE.