Images

Coping stone fragment depicting a scene from the Sasa Jataka, identified by the inscription at the top. Now housed at the Allahabad Museum, Allahabad, this narrative sculpture is about a story where the Bodhisattva is born as a rabbit and...

Abacus of an Ashokan Pillar. Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, 3rd century BCE.

Matching sets of jewellery (parures) are rare finds from the Late Roman Period. This set of a necklace and earrings combines rock emeralds, sapphires, and pearls threaded on gold wire. Approximately 50 years after this jewellery was made...

The Latin inscription on this dish, reading D.D.ICRESCONI CLARENT ("Gift given to the distinguished Cresconii"), identifying the family who owned the Carthage Treasure as Cresconii. They were prominent North African family of the 300s to...

These probably formed the terminals to the arm-rests of a chair. Each is in the form of a forearm , with a twisted band around the wrist, and hand gripping a sceptre. The elaborate gilding and the sceptre imagery implies that the owner was...

This vessel, decorated with Christian imagery may have been used in religious ceremonies. The figure depicted may be the Christian martyr Saint Sergius, a high-ranking soldier who was tortured and executed during the prosecutions of Emperor...

This object is associated with a late Roman emperor, who was at the heart of the changing Roman Empire. This silver dish names Licinius in its Latin inscription. Licinius co-ruled with Constantine the Great during early 300s, but their collaboration...

Skillful Roman cameo-carvers exploited the tonal contrast of some stones. This could be a simple 2-tone contrast or a more subtle variation using all available gradations of shade. Sardonyx was particularly valued as a cameo-stone. From the...

This spectacular whalebone casket was probably made in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria. Modelled on early Christian caskets, it was most likely created in a monastery for a significant (perhaps a royal) patron. The casket's imagery...

The outline is incised and then roughly cut round. A bridle is indicated and, on the extreme left, perhaps the knee of the rider. Presented by the Committee of the British School at Athens. Greek, about 500 BCE. From the Sanctuary of Artemis...