Images

A lion-shaped sima - the gutter which collected rainwater from the roof of a temple, often containing decorative spouts at regular intervals. (National Archaeological Museum Athens)

The Antikythera Mechanism (c. 50 BCE), a device used to calculate astronomical positions. The device was found in a shipwreck off the coast of the island of Antikythera. (National Archaeological Museum, Athens).

A drum from a column of the Parthenon, Athens showing the flutes of the shaft in cross-section.

The Temple of Nike, Athens, 427-424 BCE.

A stone version of a mask used in Greek comic theatre. Contorted features were typical in theatre masks and this one represents a slave. Pentellic marble (2nd century BCE). Found in Athens near the Dipylon Gate (National Archaeological Museum...

Roman mosaic depicting the fight between two equites gladiators named Simmachius and Maternus, cheered on by the lanistae. Above, Maternus, with a crossed-out O beside his name symbolizing death, lies defeated by Symmachus, whom the inscription...

Roman mosaic, showing a retiarius (net-fighter) named Kalendio and a secutor named Astyanax engaged in a fight to death. The lanista, master of gladiators, cheers them on. The outcome is shown above and confirmed by the inscriptions; the...

Roman mosaic depicting a quadriga of the factio russata (‘the Reds,’ representing the summer), 3rd century CE, from Rome. National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid.

Mosaic depicting a quadriga of the factio prasina (‘the Greens,’ representing the spring), 3rd century CE, from Rome. (National Archaeological Museum of Spain, Madrid) The green team is victorious. Their admired steeds have performed splendidly...

Sack of Rome 455 (detail) by Karl Briullov (1799-2852 CE), Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow