Images

Lothaire Bluteau as Charles of West Francia and Morgane Polanski as Gisela of France in the TV series Vikings. The Charles character is an amalgamation of the historical kings of West Francia, Charles the Bald, Charles the Simple and Charles...

Lothaire Bluteau as Charles of West Francia in the TV series Vikings. The character is an amalgamation of the historical kings of West Francia, Charles the Bald, Charles the Simple and Charles the Fat. Photo by Bernard Walsh/HISTORY - ©...

A map indicating in red the territory controlled by Charles the Simple, aka Charles III of West Francia (r. 893-923 CE)

A silver coin of Charles the Simple, aka Charles III of France (r. 879-929 CE).

A bronze lamp in the form Silenus seated on a wine-skin. Silenus was a companion to the wine-god Dionysus. Roman period, made in Italy, about 50-150 CE. Townley Collection. (The British Museum, London).

This bronze statuette probably represents cupid (god of love, attraction, and affection). Said to be from Foggia, in modern-day Italy. Roman period, 10-100 BCE. (The British Museum, London).

The scene on this terracotta lamp depicts Attis on a cult-car pulled by rams; a Corybant (a devotee of the god) is shown beyond. Said to be from Mitcham, Surrey. Roman period, made in central Italy, about 175-225 CE. (The British Museum...

A bronze tablet dedicated to Sextus Pompeius Maximus, chief priest of the cult of Mithras and president of a guild of ferrymen. The tablet was given by fellow priests of Mithras. Above the text are a bust of Mithras, a sacrificial knife...

A baby feeding bottle decorated with a dramatic mask. Said to be from Pozzuoli, in modern-day Italy. Roman period, made in Italy, about 1st century CE. Bequeathed by Sir William Temple. (The British Museum, London).

A handled flask depicting a crouching African. Roman period, probably made in Campania (in modern-day Italy) in the 1st century CE. (The British Museum, London).