Images

The Aphrodisias stadium, dated to the 1st century CE. It is the best-preserved stadium in Asia Minor. The stadium is 262 m in length and 52 m in width, with a seating capacity of 30,000 people.

The Ionic columns of the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias, later converted into a Christian basilica. First century BCE.

The Sanctuary of Zeus Labraundos, Labraunda, Caria, Turkey.

A scene from the 11th century CE Bayeux Tapestry showing the Battle of Hastings in 1066 CE. (Centre Guillaume le Conquérant, Bayeux, France)

A detail of the 11th century CE Bayeux Tapestry showing Bishop Odo of Bayeux, likely the patron of the artwork. (Centre Guillaume le Conquérant, Bayeux, France)

A Chinese pig-dragon sculpture. China, probably Yunnan Province, Yuan dynasty, 1279-1368. Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Jade figurines representing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. 18th century CE, Qing Dynasty. Height: c. 5.7 cm. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A dolomite sculpture of a recumbent pig. Eastern Han Dynasty, 25-220 CE. Height: 3 cm. Length: 10.6 cm. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A jade hair ornament (?), owl figurine and pig-dragon. Hongshan Culture, c. 3,500 BCE. From Liaoning Province, China. (British Museum, London)

Bellinzona flourished as a city under the rule of the Visconti and Sforza dynasties in the Late Middle Ages, who secured the Alpine passes, upheld customs laws, and balanced state finances and ordinances. The Milanese also rebuilt the Murata...