Images

Facsimile of a detail from a wall painting in the Tomb of Nebamun showing a dog seated beneath its master's chair. From Thebes, Egypt, 18th Dynasty, 1479-1458 BCE. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

A small ivory figurine of a dog swallowing a fish, with its tail rendered in bronze. From Thebes, New Kingdom of Egypt, 18th Dynasty (1350-1300 BCE). The British Museum, London.

A bronze head of a youth. Etruscan, from Vipsul (modern Fiesole), c. 330 BCE. (Museo Archeologico Etrusco, Florence)

The Etruscan bronze figure sculpture of a young boy known as the Ombre della Sera or 'Evening Shadow'. 3rd century BCE. Height: 57 cm. (Museo Etrusco Guarnacci, Volterra, Italy)

The Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda is the oldest and most comprehensive extant source of Norse mythology. 14th century CE. It is housed at the Arni Magnusson Institute of Learning in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Title page of one of the manuscripts from Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda showing various figures of Norse mythology, 18th century CE.

The Buddhist Shitenno-ji temple in Osaka, Japan. Reportedly founded by Prince Shotoku in 530 CE.

A statue of Prince Shotoku, the legendary Japanese ruler and founder of Japanese Buddhism (r. 594-622 CE). (Musee Guimet, Paris)

A statue of Prince Shotoku as a youth, the legendary Japanese ruler and founder of Japanese Buddhism (r. 594-622 CE). Wood, 1200-1350 CE. (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

Rectangular wooden inner coffin of Sen from Deir el-Bersha, Middle Kingdom of Egypt, 12th Dynasty, c. 1850 BCE. The British Museum, London.