Images

A plan of the acropolis of Athens. Occupied from Mycenaean times, the monuments visible today largely date from the 5th century BCE.

The Temple of Saturn in Rome which was the location of the Roman state treasury. This was supervised by the quaestors during the Roman Republic.

The arcades of Anjar (8th century CE) in modern Lebanon are a typical feature of Umayyad architecture.

A general view of Anjar (8th century CE) which illustrates the plan of the city, clearly showing the rationality of Umayyad town planning. The organic medieval cities that were eventually to house the Palace, Mosque, Souq, and private residential...

An arch from the ruins of Anjar (8th century CE) in modern Lebanon. The structure recalls Roman architectural archways.

The Roman Columns in Anjar (8th century CE) were most probably reused from earlier 4th century CE Christian buildings.

Mihrab or niche in the wall of a mosque at Anjar (8th century CE) that indicates the qibla or direction to Mecca, decorated by an apex arch lintel carved with vegetal carving above Byzantine characters.

The Portara of Naxos. The doorway leading from the prodromos to the cella of the 6th century BCE temple of Apollo. The doorway is 6m high and 3.5 m wide. The temple itself, as indicated by its surviving foundations, measured some 59 by 28...

The 8th century CE ruins of Anjar, a city of the Umayyad civilization (modern day Lebanon). The palace of the Caliph - highest area of the whole site - the Roman arcade is clearly seen. The site reveals a long period of early occupation by...

The Hittite Empire at its maximum extension c. 1300 BCE (indicated in red. The Eyptian area of influence is indicated in green).