Images

Plaster mould of a stela found in Sam'al (modern Zincirli, Turkey), dated to 825 BCE. It shows king Kulamuwa alongside a long inscription in Phoenician writing. In his left hand, the king holds a lotus in his left hand and four divine symbols...

Wooden figurine depicting an Egyptian couple (c. 1350-1300 BCE): Sementaoy, servant of the king, and his wife Rouiay, singer of Amon. Underneath the seat of the wife, a pet monkey is eating fruit (not visible in this photo). Louvre...

Female torso, most likely of Nefertiti, made of quartz. Louvre Museum, Paris.

Bust of Habba, daughter of 'Oga, son of Yarhai, shown carrying a child on her left arm. 3rd century CE, Palmyra, modern-day Syria. Louvre Museum, Paris.

Statue of an Egyptian woman bearing offerings, made from painted fig wood, early 12th dynasty (c. 1950 BCE). Louvre Museum, Paris.

Bust of Sa'da, duaghter of 'Aliyat. Palmyra, late 2nd century or early 3rd century CE. Louvre Museum, Paris.

Virgin and Child, polychrome stucco by Lorenzo Ghiberti (1378-1455) or his employees. Made in Florence after a model that may date from 1420-1425. Louvre Museum, Paris.

Osun River, Nigeria, near Oshogbo Ipetu-Ijesa. Photo taken on 24 October 2013.

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, Nigeria.

A devotee of Oshun, carved wood kneeling female figure. Yoruba people, Nigeria, early 20th century. Honolulu Museum of Art