Images

While Christianity was the state religion of the Byzantine Empire, pagan imagery remained popular. Knowledge of classical literature, which often portrayed the lives of pagan gods and heroes, was considered a sign of culture and good education...

While Christianity was the state religion of the Byzantine Empire, pagan imagery remained popular. Knowledge of classical literature, which often portrayed the lives of pagan gods and heroes, was considered a sign of culture and good education...

This small circular relief shows Hercules wrestling Anteus. This fragment was part of a silver vessel. Some of these fragments of highly decorated silver vessels, perhaps from a temple treasure, were found in 1747 CE. All the decoration is...

This Wari (Huari) vessel from the Apogee Epoch (c. 1 CE - 800 CE) combines sculpture with color and has motifs outlined in black. Housed at Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

This portrait vessel was made during the Moche civilization's Apogee Epoch (c. 1 CE - 800 CE). House in Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

This vessel from the Moche Florescent Epoch (c. 1 CE - 800 CE) has imagery symbolizing the underworld. Housed at Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

Winged and armed gods from the Moche Florescent Epoch (1 CE - 800 CE). From Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

From the Apogee Epoch (c. 1 CE - 800 CE). Housed at the Museo Larco, Lima, Peru.

From the Apogee Epoch (c. 1 CE - 800 CE). Housed at the Museo Larco, Lima, Peru

From the Formative Epoch (1250 BCE - 1 CE). Represents a figure with the body of a feline, head of an owl, and a serpent-like tail. These animals all had sacred and symbolic meaning in many ancient Peruvian cultures. At the Museo Larco, Lima...