Images

The youthful, clean-shaven face of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (r. 175 - 164 BCE) resembles Alexander the Great (r. 356 - 323 BCE), with features of age, such as the high hairline rendering the image more realistic. The head...

The image of the young Alexander (r. 356 - 323 BCE) is already characterized by a tuft of hair springing up from his forehead and long, flowing hair. Yet, the emotional expression and the gaze into the distance of later portraits are missing...

The image of the Egyptian queen Arsinoe (reigned 278-270 BCE) and wife of Ptolemy II (c. 285-246 BCE) is similar to that of the goddess Aphrodite. The form of the mouth, with a protruding upper lip indented in the middle, is an individual...

This is the only preserved ancient painting of the imperial family of the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus. Here, we can see his wife Julia Domna and his sons, Caracalla and Geta, in full regalia. After the murder of Geta on the behalf of...

A detail of a burnished earthenware figurine of a Mongol. Yuan Dynasty, 14th century CE. H. 11 7/16 in. (29 cm); W. 4 7/16 in. (11.3 cm); D. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm). (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

Masyaf castle, Orontes Valley, Syria, one-time castle of the Assassins (aka Nizari Ismailis) from c. 1141 CE to 1256 CE.

Seated figure of the Egyptian steward Nemti-hotep. Quartzite. From Asyut, Egypt. Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, reign of Senusret III, 1872-1853 BCE. It is on display at the Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany.

Neferure was Hatshepsut's daughter. Senenmut was a confidant and educator of Neferure in addition to being an architect and government official. He was allowed to erect his own statues in Thebes (reflecting his high status). The girl is wrapped...

This limestone statue of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten is not finished. The surface is still rough and there are remnants of red and black preliminary drawings. Akhenaten wears the blue crown of Egypt and holds a sacrificial plate. Purchased...

This is a detail of a large limestone relief (showing the great royal hunting scene of the Egyptian pharaoh Sahure). Here, Sahure wears a knee-length kilt. From the Valley-Temple, Pyramid Complex of Sahure at Abusir, Egypt. Old Kingdom, 5th...