Images

The Roman amphitheatre of Verona, Italy, 1st century CE. The arena was the third largest in the Roman world and used to host gladiator, circus and equestrian events.

The remaining top tier of arches of the Roman amphitheatre of Verona, Italy, 1st century CE. The arena was the third largest in the Roman world and used to host gladiator, circus and equestrian events.

The Roman amphitheatre of Verona, Italy, 1st century CE. The arena was the third largest in the Roman world and used to host gladiator, circus and equestrian events.

The arch known as the Arco dei Gavi, Verona, Italy. Set up in the 1st century CE the arch glorfied the powerful Gavi family. Typically, arches commemorated military triumphs and statesmen but this is a rare example of such a structure commemorating...

A wooden bust of Tutankhamun (1345-1327 BCE), found in the pharaoh's tomb. Cairo Museum, Egypt.

The legend, written in Akkadian, describes how Ishtar, goddess of sexuality and warfare, went to the Underworld. Ishtar decided to undertake the journey, although the Underworld was known as the 'land of no return' for humans and gods alike...

The Assyrian king worships gods (Ashur, Shamash, Sin, Adad, and Ishtar) and records his achievements. This freestanding gypsum monument was erected by King Ashurnasirpal II (reigned 883-859 BCE). This stela weighs over four tons and was erected...

This stela came from the Temple of Marduk in Babylon. It is a commemorative monument set up in honour of a private individual called Adad-Etir. He was an official in the temple, known as 'the dagger bearer', and this stela was erected by...

This prism records the first eight campaigns of the Assyrian King Sennacherib (704-681 BCE). This six-sided baked clay document (or prism) was discovered at the Assyrian capital Nineveh, in an area known today as Nebi Yunus. It was acquired...

Irregular rectangular-sided monument recording Esarhaddon's restoration of Babylon; possibly black basalt; carved symbols on the upper surface. Height 8.5 inches. The stone is not local to Mesopotamia. The irregular shape of the object...