Images

The rock-cut caves at Barabar were built by the Mauryan kings Ashoka and his successors by hollowing out the hillside. These caves were used by Buddhist monks as retreats. The insides of the caves are so highly polished as to gleam like mirrors...

Silla gold earrings from the Couple's Tomb at Bomun-dong, 6th century CE. Height 8.7 cm. National Treasure No. 90. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

A wing-like ornament, probably to be worn with a gold Silla crown. The wings are decorated with over 400 small gold spangles. From the Cheonmachong or 'Heavenly Horse Tomb', Gyeongju. 6th century CE. National Treasure No. 618. (Gyeongju National...

A gold Silla crown cap from Cheonmaching (the 'Heavenly Horse Tomb'), Gyeongju, Korea. It is made from four gold plates bent and riveted together. 6th century CE. National Treasure No. 189. (Gyeongju National Museum, South Korea)

A pair of gold earrings from the Silla kingdom of ancient Korea, 5th-6th century CE. (British Museum, London)

A gold crown of the Silla kingdom, Korea. From the Auspicious Phoenix Tomb, Geumseong (Gyeongju), 5-6th century CE. The crown is made of sheet-gold and decorated with granulation and crescent-shaped jade pendants. The tree-like upright parts...

A stele from the Balhae kingdom depicting a seated Buddha. 698-926 CE. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

These enigmatic mounts may have been emblems of office. Rivets and rivet-holes show that some were attached to other objects, perhaps bone or ivory rods that decayed in the ground. The most elaborate mount comprises a gold filigree (beaded...

The potter's wheel remains stationary as the potter leans forwards to attach the handle to the cup. On the shelf above him are four kylixes in two piles, and an oinochoe (wine-jug). The figure below the wheel is probably a dog. Greek, made...

This lead weight was decorated with a terminal figure, cornucopia (horn of plenty), and an ear of barley. The weight is dated to the 4th year of a Hellenistic king. It is a standard mna (half stater) of a Greek city. A magistrate's name...