Images

Ajanta (2nd century BCE – 6th century CE) sculpture showing highly evolved skills of the early Indian artists. A stupa belonging to Cave 26 is shown with sculpted figure of Buddha.

A sculpture in Ajanta (between 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE) Cave 1 showcasing Buddha in dharma chakra pravartana mudra (preaching mode).

Ajanta (Maharashtra, India), built between 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, remains one of the marvels of art and architecture. An ornate façade of Cave 26 is shown here.

This ancient masterpiece was found at Reerasta, Ardagh, Co. Limerick, Ireland. During the celebration of Mass, this chalis was used for dispensing Eucharistic wine. 8th century CE. (National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology, Dublin, Republic...

Quartzite plaque with a sculptor's trial image of the god Horus as a falcon. From Memphis, Late Period, after 700 BCE. (National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology, Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

A statue of the Hindu goddes Durga from her temple at Aihole, India. 6th century CE. The goddess holds her many weapons, rides her lion and is about to defeat the buffalo demon Mahisa (bottom right).

A ceiling decoration from a Jain temple in Ranakpur, Rajasthan, India. The knots represent the interlinking notion of karma.

Gold collar, Co. Clare, Ireland, c. 800-700 BCE. National Museum of Ireland-Archaeology, Dublin.

The bulls of Guisando are four zoomorphic sculptures carved in stone and located in the Ávila region (Spain). These bulls were carved by the Vetonians, one of the Celtic peoples who lived on the Iberian Peninsula before the Roman conquest...

This fragment of a Roman gravestone shows three legionaries. From Croy Hill, Scotland, 2nd century CE. (National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK)