Images

A panoramic view of the scene decorating the celebrated Portland Vase. The exact significance of the scenes are not known but many scholars believe the vase to show scenes from the wedding of Peleus and Thetis from Greek mythology. 1st century...

A portrait sculpture of Roman emperor Decius, r. 249-251 CE. (Capitoline Museums, Rome)

This is a pair of guardian figures (winged human-headed lions) that flanked one of the entrances into the throne room of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE). Stone mythological guardians, sculpted in relief or in the round, were often placed at...

This stone tablet records the restoration of certain lands by the Babylonian king Nabu-apla-iddina to a priest. On the top of the stone are 13 symbols of the gods designed to protect the legal statement. Both the king, wearing the typical...

Model of a Megalithic building carved out of Globigerina Limestone. It shows a trilithon entrance and walls formed of slabs. Above these are one or two courses of horizontally laid slabs projecting inwards. The roof is apparently composed...

A detail from the celebrated Portland Vase, one of the finest examples of Roman glassware. The vase was made during the reign of Augustus (27 BCE - 14 CE) and displays gemcutting techniques used to create a cameo-like depiction of the marriage...

A detail form the celebrated Portland vase, one of the finest examples of Roman glassware. The vase was made during the reign of Augustus (27 BCE - 14 CE) and displays gemcutting techniques used to create a cameo-like depiction of the marriage...

A close-up view of a winged human-headed lion, Lamassu, that flanked one of the entrances into the throne room of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BCE). Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), north-west palace, room B, door a, panel 2. Neo-Assyrian era, 883-859...

Painted portrait of Sima Qian (c. 145-86 BCE). Although he is commonly referred to as a Chinese historian, he was actually the Grand Astrologer at the court of Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141 and 87 BCE).

An Aztec ceremonial knife with a cedarwood handle and flint blade. The figure of the handle is covered in turquoise and shell mosiac and represents an Aztec Eagle knight. 1400-1521 CE. (British Museum, London)