Images

A copy of the Samguk Yusa ('Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms') by Iryeon, a 13th century CE text which covers the history and legends of Korea's founding right up to the 10th century CE. (Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute for...

A bottle made from the white porcelain manufactured during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910 CE) of Korea. The design has an auspicious character and orchids. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

A typical pottery bowl from the Korean Neolithic period with pointed base and simple incised decoration. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

Korean onggi lidded-jars, made since ancient times they are used for a multitude of purposes and carry simple decoration.

A buncheong (punchong) bottle decorated with lotus flowers, a bird and fish. Joseon Dynasty, Korea, 15th-16th century CE. (Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, Japan)

A celadon (greenware) ceramic kettle in the form of a mythical dragon-turtle creature. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 918-1392. National Museum of Korea, Seoul.

The rebel Carausius (Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Valerius Carausius) declared himself emperor, making Britain his base. Although he had no authority in Rome, he stressed his Roman identity by citing the poet Virgil on his coins. He also used...

Gold coins of the Sassanian, Kushanshah, and Kidarite Dynasties. 309-380 CE. From the Burnes, Cunningham, Hay, Parkes Weber, and Prinsep Collections. The British Museum, London.

This tablet lists purchases of land by a man named Tupsikka, with payments made in baskets of barley. One transaction reads "The price of the field is 90 gur-sag-gal 16 quarts of oil". Stone tablet, about 2400-2200 BCE. Excavated by Hormuzd...

Silver coin of "Abdalla ibn Khazim". From Merv (modern-day Turkmenistan), circa 684 CE. Found inside the Buddhist monument (called deposit A) at Manikyala, modern-day Pakistan. This shows that coins from several places all circulated at the...