Images

A copy of Zhu Xi's commentary on the 'Analects' of Confucius, printed during the Ming dynasty.

A map showing the principal settlements of the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico) which flourished from c. 1200-300 BCE.

A depiction of the Aztec god of war and the sun Huitzilopochtli. The god carries his typical atl-atl or spear-thrower, feathered arrows and shield and wears hummingbird feathers. (Codex Barbonicus).

A marble bust of Roman emperor Commodus as the hero of Greek mythology Hercules, c. 190-2 CE. (The Capitoline Museums, Rome)

A turquoise mosaic mask representing Xiuhtecuhtli, the Aztec god of fire, 1400-1521 CE. The mask is of cedar wood with mother-of-pearl eyes, conch shell teeth and once with gold leaf on the eyelids. (The British Museum, London).

A 15th century CE vase representing the Mesoamerican god of rain, storms and agriculture Tlaloc. From the Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan. (National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City).

A marble bust of Roman emperor Pupienus, r. 238 CE. (The Vatican Museums, Rome).

A marble bust of Roman emperor Macrinus, r. 217-218 CE. (The Vatican Museums, Rome).

A marble bust of Roman emperor Hostilian, r. 253 CE. (The Vatican Museums, Rome).

A marble bust of Roman emperor Maximinus I, r. 235-238 CE. (The Vatican Museums, Rome).