Images

This gold aureus is one of the first Roman portrait coins. Roman Republican coins did not usually depict living people, although a statue of the politician Sulla appeared on a coin during his lifetime. The son of Pompey...

Found in the ancient ruins of Arsameia, outside Kahta, Turkey, 15 km from the world heritage site of Nemrut Dagi, this stele portrays the meeting of Antiochus I (r. 70 BCE - c. 38 BCE) and Apollo. Antiochus - the...

A copy of the Samguk Yusa ('Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms') by Iryeon, a 13th century CE text which covers the history and legends of Korea's founding right up to the 10th century CE. (Seoul National University Kyujanggak Institute...

A bottle made from the white porcelain manufactured during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910 CE) of Korea. The design has an auspicious character and orchids. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

A typical pottery bowl from the Korean Neolithic period with pointed base and simple incised decoration. (National Museum of Korea, Seoul, South Korea)

Korean onggi lidded-jars, made since ancient times they are used for a multitude of purposes and carry simple decoration.

A buncheong (punchong) bottle decorated with lotus flowers, a bird and fish. Joseon Dynasty, Korea, 15th-16th century CE. (Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka, Japan)

A celadon (greenware) ceramic kettle in the form of a mythical dragon-turtle creature. Korea, Goryeo dynasty, 918-1392. National Museum of Korea, Seoul.

The rebel Carausius (Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Valerius Carausius) declared himself emperor, making Britain his base. Although he had no authority in Rome, he stressed his Roman identity by citing the poet Virgil on his coins...

Gold coins of the Sassanian, Kushanshah, and Kidarite Dynasties. 309-380 CE. From the Burnes, Cunningham, Hay, Parkes Weber, and Prinsep Collections. The British Museum, London.