Images

The stag and the snake mosaic: In some ancient texts, the stag is seen as a rival to the snake. It can also draw a snake out of its hole with its breath. The deer was a symbol of fertility and the animal of Artemis. The stag is illustrated...

Leopards hunting a deer, Byzantine Mosaic, Period: Early Byzantine, circa: 6th century CE. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul, Turkey). Great Palace Mosaic Museum, Istanbul, Turkey. The Great Palace Mosaic Museum was inaugurated in...

Hunting Rabbits: The dogs are attacking the rabbit on its neck and abdomen. The hunter is depicted having just released the dogs, Byzantine Mosaic, Period: Early Byzantine, circa: 6th. century CE. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul...

A man is feeding his mule, Byzantine Mosaic, Period: Early Byzantine, circa: 6th century CE. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul, Turkey). Great Palace Mosaic Museum, Istanbul, Turkey. The Great Palace Mosaic Museum was inaugurated...

A philosopher sitting on a rock. Byzantine Mosaic, Period: Early Byzantine, circa: 6th century CE. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul, Turkey). Great Palace Mosaic Museum, Istanbul, Turkey. The Great Palace Mosaic Museum was inaugurated...

Details from the pastoral compositions in the Great Palace mosaics, Istanbul, Turkey. Period: Early Byzantine, circa: 6th century CE. Place: Constantinople, (Modern Istanbul, Turkey). The Great Palace Mosaic Museum was inaugurated in...

A gold solidus (nomisma) coin of Byzantine emperor Leo V the Armenian (r. 813-820 CE). The reverse side shows his son Constantine. (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com)

Remains of the woolly mammoth calf nicknamed 'Lyuba' (Russian for 'love') discovered in the Yamal peninsula in Russia in 2007. Lyuba - a female - was only about a month old at the time of her death, c. 42,000 years ago. She is the most complete...

Woolly mammoth skull, jaw, and teeth (to the right) on display at the Australian Museum in Sydney in December 2017, on loan from the University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks where it normally resides.

Two children are seated on a dromedary. One of them wears a wreath around his head and is holding a bird in one hand and reins with the other hand. There is also a guide in front of them. Period: Early Byzantine, c. 6th century CE. Place...