Images

The Etruscan bronze figure sculpture of a young boy known as the Ombre della Sera or 'Evening Shadow'. 3rd century BCE. Height: 57 cm. (Museo Etrusco Guarnacci, Volterra, Italy)

The Codex Regius of the Poetic Edda is the oldest and most comprehensive extant source of Norse mythology. 14th century CE. It is housed at the Arni Magnusson Institute of Learning in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Title page of one of the manuscripts from Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda showing various figures of Norse mythology, 18th century CE.

The Buddhist Shitenno-ji temple in Osaka, Japan. Reportedly founded by Prince Shotoku in 530 CE.

A statue of Prince Shotoku, the legendary Japanese ruler and founder of Japanese Buddhism (r. 594-622 CE). (Musee Guimet, Paris)

A statue of Prince Shotoku as a youth, the legendary Japanese ruler and founder of Japanese Buddhism (r. 594-622 CE). Wood, 1200-1350 CE. (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam)

Rectangular wooden inner coffin of Sen from Deir el-Bersha, Middle Kingdom of Egypt, 12th Dynasty, c. 1850 BCE. The British Museum, London.

Rectangular wooden inner coffin of Sen, dating to c. 1850 BCE. The coffin sides are inscribed in ink with religious writings now known as the Coffin Texts. On the floor of the coffin is a composition called the 'Book of Two Ways,' a guide...

Coffin of Khnumnakht from the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, dating to c. 1802–1640 BCE. On display in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The lifesize bronze Etruscan statue from Arretium (Arezzo) known as the Arringatore or 'Orator'. 1st century BCE. (Archaeological Museum of Florence, Italy)