Images

The Ara Pacis Augustae or Altar of the Augustan Peace in Rome (south entrance). Built to celebrate the return of Augustus to Rome in 13 BCE following campaigns in Spain and Gaul, it is a masterpiece of Roman sculpture and, in particular...

A portion of the marble procession relief from the Ara Pacis Augustae in Rome, c. 9 BCE. The hooded figure has been identified as Agrippa. (Museo dell'Ara Pacis, Rome)

The Ara Pacis Augustae or Altar of the Augustan Peace in Rome. Built to celebrate the return of Augustus to Rome in 13 BCE following campaigns in Spain and Gaul, it is a masterpiece of Roman sculpture and, in particular, portraiture. Officials...

A reconstruction of the Forum of Augustus in Rome with the temple of Mars Ultor, late 1st century BCE.

The headdress of Motecuhzoma II, Aztec ruler 1502-1520 CE. Although there is no evidence that it was ever worn by Motecuhzoma the headdress may have been amongst the gifts he gave to Cortés, who in turn passed them on to Charles V. This is...

The egg and dart ornamentation is a common feature of Classical architecture, used especially to decorate a cornice. This example comes from the 5th century BCE Temple of Apollo on Delos.

A statue of a comic actor in the costume of Old Silenus, a companion and teacher of Dionysos, the god of wine. He holds a drum and has an empty wine skin over his shoulder. 2nd-1st century BCE, Delos. (Site Museum, Delos)

A diagram of the Imperial Fora of Rome. In the centre is Trajan's Forum and above it the semicircular-fronted Trajan's Market. On the left is the Basilica Ulpia. To the right is the Forum of Augustus and below it Caesar's Forum. On the far...

Statue of Ameneritis. Alabaster. Boulak. Drawn by G. Bénédite. The head of Ameneritis is covered with the full-bottomed wig worn by goddesses. She holds a whip in her left hand and a sort of purse in her right; there are bangles upon her...

Statue of Rameses II. In the Egyptian Museum, Turin. Granite. Drawn by Saint-Elme Gautier. From A History of Art in Ancient Egypt, Vol. II by Georges Perrot and Charles Chipiez (1883).