Images

An Iberian falcata sword, 399-200 BCE. (National Archeological Museum of Spain, Madrid)

A modern statue of Viriathus (c. 180-140 BCE), leader of the Lusitani in several victories against Rome. Zamora, Spain.

A 19th century CE illustration by Kunichika Toyohara showing Genji, central charactar of the Japanese classic novel The Tale of Genji bu Murasaki Shikibu. (Museum Victoria, Australia)

A sumo wrestling bout where many of the pre-contact rituals derive from Shinto practices.

The Ryogoku Sumo Hall, Tokyo.

The torii or sacred gate at the wooden Uji Bridge at the Ise Grand Shrine, sacred to the Shinto goddess Amaterasu. The shrine was first built in 4 BCE and since the 7th century CE the bridge and torii at either end have been rebuilt exactly...

The Naiku shrine at the Ise Grand Shrine, sacred to the Shinto goddess Amaterasu. The shrine was first built in 4 BCE and since the 7th century CE it has been rebuilt exactly every 20 years. Mie Prefecture, Japan.

The wooden Uji Bridge at the Ise Grand Shrine, sacred to the Shinto goddess Amaterasu. The shrine was first built in 4 BCE and since the 7th century CE the bridge has been rebuilt exactly every 20 years. Mie Prefecture, Japan.

Sheets of the Westcar Papyrus, Egyptian, date disputed. (Altes Museum, Berlin)

Sheets of the Westcar Papyrus, Egyptian, date disputed. (Altes Museum, Berlin)