Images

The Great Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza, Egypt; dated to the Old Kingdom period c. 2613-2181 BCE.

A detail of the roof of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, part of the Temple of Heaven in the Forbidden City, Beijing. The temple and the Forbidden City were first built in the reign of Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1403-1424...

A relief of Indian emperor Chandragupta Maurya and the sage Bhadrabahu. Stone carving from Chandragupta Basti temple at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. Possibly 12th century CE.

Temple of the local fertility goddess Aphaia, Aegina, Greece, c. 500 BCE.

A Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) porcelain brush stand in the form of a mountain range. From the noted porcelain centre of Jingdezhen, 16th century CE. Height: 8 cm. Length: 17.2 cm. (British Museum, London)

A Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) porcelain brush handle. From the noted porcelain centre of Jingdezhen, 1573-1620 CE. (British Museum, London)

Porcelain bowl decorated with dragons chasing pearls. From the noted porcelain centre of Jingdezhen, Ming dynasty, 1573-1620. Height: 9.4 cm. Diameter: 14.9 cm. The British Museum, London.

A shallow blue glaze porcelain bowl of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). The white relief decoration shows songbirds on flowering prunus branches. From the noted porcelain centre Jingdezhen, China. Diameter: 17.8 cm. 1573-1620 CE. (British...

The underside of a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) blue-and-white porcelain plate showing an inscription, typical of the wares of that dynasty. The Chinese inscription reads 'Made in the Ming dynasty, Xuande reign'. 1540-1600 CE (British Museum...

A selection of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE) blue-and-white porcelain. From Chenghua reign, 1465-1487 CE. (British Museum, London)