Images

A painting on hemp which shows Kichijoten, a Buddhist deity of fertility and good fortune, but thought to be modelled on Empress Komyo (l. 701-760 CE). Yakushiji temple, Nara, Japan.

The Main or Golden Hall (Hondo) of Yakushiji temple, Nara, Japan. The temple complex dates to the 8th century CE but was largely destroyed by a fire in 1528 CE. In the 20th century CE many of the buildings were restored in their original...

The East Pagoda of Yakushiji temple, Nara, Japan. The three-story pagoda is original and dates to the 8th century CE and rises to a height of 33 metres (108 ft).

The Yakushi Triad in the Main Hall of Yakushiji temple, Nara, Japan. Bronze, 680-718 CE. Yakushi Nyorai is the Buddha of healing and the seated figure is flanked by two bodhisattvas. The Yakushi figure is 4.3 metres (14 ft.) in height.

One of the surviving 21 gates of Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Built as a samurai fortress in 1581-1609 CE.

The keep of Himeji Castle, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Built as a samurai fortress in 1581-1609 CE.

A painting illustrating the complex ground plan of Himeji Castle, located in the town of Himeji in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. 1601-9 CE.

The stele is an elongated stone monument which originally stood at the Temple of Adad at Eshnunna. The front side is carved with four registers while the narrow sides were inscribed with 220 lines of a cuneiform text divided into 17 columns...

This stone piece is carved with a scene depicting Gilgamesh wrestling two bulls. From the great temple at Tell Agrab, Diyala Valley, Iraq. Early Dynastic period, 2600-2370 BCE. On display at the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.

On this celestial globe, made by the Flemish cartographer Gerard Mercator (Louvain, 1551), the Coma Berenices (here called “Cincinnus”) is shown between the constellations Boötes (“Bubulcus”) and Virgo; the globe projects the constellations...