Sardonyx cameo commemorating Sasanian Iranian Shahanshah Shapur I’s (r. 240–70) capture of Roman Emperor Valerian (r. 253–60) at the Battle of Edessa in Spring of 260 CE. Valerian’s fate remains a mystery with no consensus among historians of what happened to him in Sasanian captivity. [3072×2142]April 13, 2025
Egyptian circumcision, in the tomb of the Vizier Ankhmahor and his wife Mereruka. Old Kingdom, ca. 2400 BC, Sakkara. Oriental Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Conversational inscription in comments [1355×1575]April 13, 2025
Waru Waru is an agricultural technique developed in 300 BCE in Bolivia. Located on floodplains, they consist of mounding up soil to create planting beds. The water in the canals absorbs the sun’s heat during the day and radiates it back at night, helping to protect crops from frost [3735×2415]April 13, 2025
The earliest archaeological evidence mentioning Jerusalem was found in Egypt and is dated to the 19th cent. BC. The inscription on this clay figurine lists Egypt’s enemies, amongst them Jerusalem. The figurine in the shape of a kneeling prisoner was smashed in a ritual cursing ceremony [1280×2357]April 13, 2025
Rock Eagle Effigy Mound is an archaeological site in Georgia, USA, estimated to have been constructed between 1000 BCE-1000 CE. The earthwork was built up of thousands of pieces of quartzite laid in the mounded shape of a large bird (102 ft long, and 120 ft wide) [924×1549]April 13, 2025
A festive “dragon robe” for the Qing emperors. This was made during the Jiaqing reign (1796-1820 CE), probably in Suzhou, China. It is made of a mixture of silk and gold threads [769×1629]April 13, 2025
Pedestal from a Roman equestrian statue from the 1st century CE. The inscription says: “To Marcus Allius Avitus, son of Marcus, of the tribus Collina. The people of Valencia, veterans and elders, dedicate [the statue]. By decree of the decurions.” [1224×1890]April 13, 2025
Stone Vishnu sculpture in a pond. Sheshnarayan Temple, built in the 10th Century, located near the ancient town of Pharping, which lies approximately 20 kilometers south-west of Kathmandu, Nepal. [2560×2035]April 13, 2025
Three wine glasses made of pink and clear glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany, American, c. 1900. [3000×2537]April 13, 2025
