Images

A marble head of a centaur, 1st century CE. Found in Rome near Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele. (Capitoline Museums, Rome)

The bronze vessel known as the Crater of Mithridates Eupator. Found in Nero's villa, Rome. The inscription on the vase records the name Mithridates VI, king of Pontus (163-120 BCE). The vase was taken to Rome as war booty by either Pompey...

The bronze statue known as the Spinario or Boy with Thorn. The child is in the act of removing a thorn from his foot. 1st century BCE. (The Capitoline Museums, Rome)

The ruins of the Mausoleum of Augustus, Rome. Completed in 28 BCE, it was the largest tomb ever constructed in the Roman world.

A model of the Borobudur Buddhist temple in Java, Indonesia. The temple was built in the 8th century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

Moai tangata, Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Wood, bone, and obsidian. Collected in 1892 CE. Height: 46 cm. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

An Ua staff from Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Wood, bone, and obsidian. 1.49 m x 6.4 cm. Collected in the 18th century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

Moai Kavakava, Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Wood, bone, and obsidian. 42.5 cm high. Collected in the 18th century CE. (Vatican Musems, Rome)

A marble bust of Roman consul and Praetorian prefect Gaius Fulvius Plautianus (d. 205 CE) who served under Septimius Severus. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A colossal statue of a Genius, the Roman instance of a divine nature. The likeness of the face to Augustus and size of the sculpture suggest it may represent the Genius Augusti. The figure holds a cornucopia and is making a sacrifice. (Vatican...