Images

This panel depicts a scene from the famous Roman legend of twin brothers, Romulus and Remus. Abandoned as children, they were rescued and suckled by a she-wolf (centre). Another wolf, perhaps her mate, licks their feet, while men with spears...

This replica panel (the original is the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence, Italy) refers to a lost Germanic legend about a figure called Hos who, the runic inscriptions relates, is made to suffer by Ertae. Its mysterious imagery includes...

This is the back panel of the Franks/Auzon Casket. This panel depicts the capture of the city of Jerusalem in 70 CE by the Roman general (later Emperor) Titus. The inscription on this panel appears as a mixture of Old English, Latin, runes...

The left half of this front panel of the casket refers to the Germanic tale of Weland, a smith who was imprisoned and lamed by a legendary king. Weland took revenge by killing the king's sons and turning their skulls into drinking cups. Here...

Image of the Sumerian god Enki. Modern reproduction of a detail of the Adda seal (c. 2300 BCE)

The Gwanggaeto Stele which describes the key events of the Goguryeo king Gwanggaeto the Great (r. 391-413). The 7.3 metre tall stele was erected in 414 CE and stands outside the king's tomb at modern Tonggou, Korea.

This bottle is the only piece of pottery from the Sutton Hoo ship-burial. It was made on a wheel, like Frankish pottery; early Anglo-Saxon pottery was typically handmade. Unglazed and therefore porous, it was only suitable for viscous liquids...

This unusual medium-sized hanging bowl (made of copper-alloy) displays a curious mix of styles and techniques. The enamelled disc seen on the base is typically Celtic, while the open-work ring surrounding it is inlaid with stamped foil that...

This large silver bowl has a diameter of 40.7 centimetres and weighs 2.02 kilogrammes. Its central roundel depicts a classical female head, who is facing to the left. From this roundel radiate a series of flutings, which run to the rim. The...

The weight is inscribed with the numeral II and the legend TEMPL(VM) OPIS AUG(USTAE). It may be a standard weight kept at the Temple of Ops (a goddess of plenty and fertility) on the Capitol at Rome. The weight is 713.6 grams, almost exactly...