Images

Ruins of the ancient city of Sardis, the capital of the kingdom of Lydia, located in western Anatolia, present-day western Turkey.

Marble statue known as the Barberini Faun or Drunken Satyr, copy by a Hellenistic sculptor of the Pergamene school of a bronze original, circa 220 BCE. (Glyptothek, Munich)

Forma Urbis (marble plan of ancient Rome) from the Via Anicia, fragment depicting the late Republican Temple of Castor and Pollux in Circo Flaminio, 1st half of 2nd century CE (National Museum of Rome, Baths of Diocletian, Rome)

Mosaic pavement depicting two naked gladiators fighting. It was found in Reims (France) in 1890 and dates from the 2nd century CE. Musée Saint-Rémi, Reims.

An Olmec colossal stone head in basalt from San Lorenzo, c. 1200-400 BCE. Although all wear the hat or headdress worn during war and the Mesoamerican ballgame, each of these massive heads has unique features which suggests they depict specific...

A map of the Roman Empire, circa 350 CE, showing its Dioceses, the administrative divisions of the late Roman Empire. The diocese was introduced by emperor Diocletian to supplant the province as administrative unit of the empire.

Gladiator's dagger and pair of bronze greaves (leg guards) from Pompeii, decorated with reliefs of Jupiter (left) and Neptune (right), 1st century BCE. Archaeological Museum, Naples.

Terracotta oil lamp depicting a gladiatorial scene of saluting or requesting missio (raising two fingers in surrender), first half of 1st century CE. (on display in the Colosseum, Rome)

Fragment of a commemorative relief depicting a gladiator's victories, a contraretiarius against a retiarius called Improbus, 3rd century CE. National Museum of Rome, Baths of Diocletian, Rome.

An Olmec colossal stone head in basalt from La Venta, c. 1200-400 BCE. Although all wear the hat or headdress worn during war and the Mesoamerican ballgame, each of these massive heads has unique features which suggests they depict specific...