Images

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)

This tablet contains both a cuneiform inscription and a unique map of the Mesopotamian world. Babylon is shown in the center (the rectangle in the top half of the circle), and Assyria, Elam and other places are also named. The central area...

Sculpted relief illustrating the sporting exploits of the last great Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, North Palace, room C, panel 20-22, Nineveh, modern-day northern Iraq. Neo-Assyrian Empire, reign of King Ashurbanipal, 668-631 BCE. In...

This obelisk was erected as a public monument in 825 BCE at a time of civil war. The relief sculptures glorify the achievements of King Shalmaneser III and his commander-in-chief . It lists their military campaigns of 31 years and the tribute...

An image illustrating what a Roman artillery attack might have looked like. Centre is a ballista arrow-throwing device, in use between the 3rd century BCE and 4th century CE in Roman warfare.

The carroballista was a Roman artillery weapon which used torsion to propel bolts or stones over several hundred metres. They were in use from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE.

The ballista was a Roman artillery weapon which used torsion to propel bolts or stones over several hundred metres. They were in use from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE. This reconstruction is from the Hecht Museum, Haifa.

The ballista was a Roman artillery weapon which used torsion to propel bolts or stones over several hundred metres. They were in use from the 3rd century BCE to the 4th century CE.

Diocletian's Palace was decorated with numerous granite sphinxes originating from the site of Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III. Only three have survived the centuries. This one is still located on the Peristyle of Diocletian's Palace.