Images

Sextus Haparonius Iustinus was a "seplasarius" — a trader in perfumes and unguents — who lived in what's present-day Cologne, Germany during the 2nd century CE. When he died, his "brothers" erected a funeral monument of stone in his honor...

A portrait of an Eastern Han woman from the Dahuting tomb, Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. 25-220 CE. Part of a wider secene showing daily life in Han China.

A 17th century CE painting by Rembrandt of the future King David of Israel playing the harp to soothe the tormented mind of Saul. (Stadel Museum, Frankfurt, Germany)

A statue of King David, second king of the ancient United Kingdom of Israel during the 10th century BCE. (By Nicolas Cordier, Borghese Chapel, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome)

A detail of the David statue by Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1501-1504 CE. David was the second king in the ancient United Kingdom of Israel during the 10th century BCE. (Academia Gallery, Florence)

This Visigothic votive crown is from 7th-century Spain, and it was made from gold, elements of nacre, amethysts, sapphires, emeralds, and glass beads. It was discovered in 1860 in the "Treasure of Guarrazar" near Toledo, Spain. (Musée de...

This large head is that of a masculine divinity in the style of Pre Rup. It comes from what is present-day Cambodia. It is made from sandstone and dates from the third quarter of the 10th century CE, but its exact provenance is unknown. (Musée...

This sculpture of Vishnu made from sandstone is from what is present-day Thailand. It likely comes from the province of Prachinburi in the vicinity of Dong Si Maha Phot. It dates from the 7th-8th century CE. (Musée Guimet, Paris)

This mosaic was once part of the mosaic found in an ancient synagogue in what's present-day Tunisia. This specimen dates from c. 550 CE and is made of stone and mortar. The date palm likely symbolized the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil...

This photograph shows a portion of the Narikala Fortress, which runs parallel to the city of Tbilisi, Georgia and the Kura River. The fortress was first built in the 4th century CE and later expanded by the Umayyads during the 7th century...