Images

Upper Cave is one of the caves at the cave system at Zhoukoudian, China. The site as a whole has yielded an impressive range of archaeological discoveries, among which is one of the first specimens of Homo erectus.

A reconstruction of the face of an adult female Homo erectus, as seen on display in the Hall of Human Origins in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. It was based on fossils KNM-ER 3733 and 992. Reconstruction by...

This 7th-century BCE clay tablet gives the Babylonian account known as the Legend of Erra, the plague god, who slew many Babylonians after the withdrawal of the god Marduk from the city of Babylon.

The remaining base of the 4th century BCE Etruscan temple known as the Ara Della Regina, dedicated to an unknown goddess at Tarquinia. It was the largest known Etruscan temple with its base of limestone blocks measuring 77 x 34 m.

A pair of terracotta winged-horses from the Temple of the Ara della Regina, Tarquinia. Etruscan, c. 350 BCE. (National Archaeological Museum, Tarquinia, Italy)

A wall-painting from the Etruscan Tomb of the Lionesses (actually panthers) at Tarquinia. In this scene are dancers and musicians. 530-520 BCE.

A wall-painting from the Etruscan Tomb of the Lionesses (actually panthers) at Tarquinia. In the scene men are reclining on cushions at a drinking party. 530-520 BCE.

A black-figure vase depicting Nyx, the personification of Night in Greek mythology. Below her is Helios, the Sun. Sappho Painter, c. 500 BCE (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

An Attic black-figure plate from the Etruscan city of Vulci, central Italy. The figure is an archer blowing the trumpet typically used in battles. 520-500 BCE. (British Museum, London)

A battle scene of Etruscans fighting Romans in the guise of mythical figures. From the Francois Tomb at Vulci. c. 350 BCE.