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Otagi Nenbutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the hillside of the Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto, Japan. It is known for the 1200 arhat statues that cover the hillside around the temple grounds and was originally founded by Empress Shōtoku around Kyoto's Gion district in 766

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Otagi Nenbutsu-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the hillside of the Arashiyama neighborhood of Kyoto, Japan. It is known for the 1200 arhat statues that cover the hillside around the temple grounds and was originally founded by Empress Shōtoku around Kyoto's Gion district in 766

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Hyakunanto Darani, Circa 764-770. The oldest, traceable printed text in the world, first commissioned by Empress Shōtoku. Outside of the Hōryū-ji temple in Japan, it is unknown how many Darani exist. But for now, at least one more resides in Canada.

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Hyakunanto Darani, Circa 764-770. The oldest, traceable printed text in the world, first commissioned by Empress Shōtoku. Outside of the Hōryū-ji temple in Japan, it is unknown how many Darani exist. But for now, at least one more resides in Canada.

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Statues of the Four Heavenly Kings at Hōryū-ji Temple in Japan, c. 650. The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist deities , each believed to watch over one of the cardinal directions of the world.

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Statues of the Four Heavenly Kings at Hōryū-ji Temple in Japan, c. 650. The Four Heavenly Kings are four Buddhist deities , each believed to watch over one of the cardinal directions of the world.

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The Kawgun Cave is a Buddhist cave temple located in Kayin State, Myanmar. The cave is lined with thousands of small Buddha statues covering its walls. 6th-7th century CE

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The Kawgun Cave is a Buddhist cave temple located in Kayin State, Myanmar. The cave is lined with thousands of small Buddha statues covering its walls. 6th-7th century CE

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The British Guiana One-Cent Magenta , the only known surviving copy of a stamp originally printed as an emergency local issue in British Guiana. It later sold for $9.4 million.

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The British Guiana One-Cent Magenta , the only known surviving copy of a stamp originally printed as an emergency local issue in British Guiana. It later sold for $9.4 million.

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A large wooden statue of Kōmokuten, one of the four Shintennō, a group of fierce-looking guardian deities who protect the four cardinal directions of Buddha's realm. Made during the Edo Period , located in the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, Japan

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A large wooden statue of Kōmokuten, one of the four Shintennō, a group of fierce-looking guardian deities who protect the four cardinal directions of Buddha's realm. Made during the Edo Period , located in the Tōdai-ji temple in Nara, Japan

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A Hand Drawn, Unfinished Buddhist Mandala, Produced in the Fifth Year of the Genbun Era, or 1740. Written using both Sanskrit and Kanji characters. Inscriptions to the rear state it was made at the Rengejo-in Temple of the Koyasan Shingon Sect of Buddhism, in Japan

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A Hand Drawn, Unfinished Buddhist Mandala, Produced in the Fifth Year of the Genbun Era, or 1740. Written using both Sanskrit and Kanji characters. Inscriptions to the rear state it was made at the Rengejo-in Temple of the Koyasan Shingon Sect of Buddhism, in Japan

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A preserved Etruscan wooden head sculpture was located on a funeral urn. There are still slight traces of the original gilding around the mouth. The head was found in Chiusi, in central Italy.

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A preserved Etruscan wooden head sculpture was located on a funeral urn. There are still slight traces of the original gilding around the mouth. The head was found in Chiusi, in central Italy.

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Batu Larung is a large cylindrical stone that has a relief in the form of a human. It's one of the megaliths scattered in the Merangin district, in Indonesia, and which are strongly suspected to have been used for religious activities by the local residents, around thousands of years ago

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Batu Larung is a large cylindrical stone that has a relief in the form of a human. It's one of the megaliths scattered in the Merangin district, in Indonesia, and which are strongly suspected to have been used for religious activities by the local residents, around thousands of years ago

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An ancient sculpture showing a Greek strategist. The marble object was discovered in Herculaneum and is dated to the 1st century CE. It is probably a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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An ancient sculpture showing a Greek strategist. The marble object was discovered in Herculaneum and is dated to the 1st century CE. It is probably a copy of a Greek original from the 5th century BCE. The artifact is in the National Archaeological Museum in Naples.

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Cap known as the Korotakh cap discovered in 1977 inside a medieval stone tower burial vault in the high-altitude village of Korotakh , located along the border of Chechnya and Georgia.

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Cap known as the Korotakh cap discovered in 1977 inside a medieval stone tower burial vault in the high-altitude village of Korotakh , located along the border of Chechnya and Georgia.

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Runestone dated to the 1200-1300's that reads, "I am a stone" It was found in the old church in Losen and was relocated to the Historical Museum of Stockholm in 1864

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Runestone dated to the 1200-1300's that reads, "I am a stone" It was found in the old church in Losen and was relocated to the Historical Museum of Stockholm in 1864

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Felix gem intaglio. A prophesy revealed that the Greeks could only capture Troy if the Palladion statue of Athena was in their procession. Diomedes, right, holds the statue but in order to claim it, he killed the temple guard, whose feet are visible on the ground. This angers the gods

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Felix gem intaglio. A prophesy revealed that the Greeks could only capture Troy if the Palladion statue of Athena was in their procession. Diomedes, right, holds the statue but in order to claim it, he killed the temple guard, whose feet are visible on the ground. This angers the gods

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St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, is a luxury hotel located in the heart of London, UK. It originally opened in 1873 as the Midland Grand Hotel, designed by the British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, and is mostly known for its sublime staircase

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St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, is a luxury hotel located in the heart of London, UK. It originally opened in 1873 as the Midland Grand Hotel, designed by the British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, and is mostly known for its sublime staircase

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Remaining on the former site of Heungbeopsa Temple, this stele is dedicated to the great Buddhist monk Jingong . The main body with inscription was broken down, and its fragments were moved to National museum of Korea

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Remaining on the former site of Heungbeopsa Temple, this stele is dedicated to the great Buddhist monk Jingong . The main body with inscription was broken down, and its fragments were moved to National museum of Korea

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Hejin City Fortress, in China, is a historic structure extensively renovated during the Ming Dynasty . However, its origins likely date back to earlier periods in Chinese history. The fortress is known for its massive walls made of rammed earth, brick, and stone

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Hejin City Fortress, in China, is a historic structure extensively renovated during the Ming Dynasty . However, its origins likely date back to earlier periods in Chinese history. The fortress is known for its massive walls made of rammed earth, brick, and stone

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A self-portrait medallion of Jean Fouquet, originally part of the frame of the Melun Diptych. Fouquet is shown frontally, his gold image is engraved into the black enamel background and framed by his name. Made in 1450 CE, now housed at the Louvre Museum

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A self-portrait medallion of Jean Fouquet, originally part of the frame of the Melun Diptych. Fouquet is shown frontally, his gold image is engraved into the black enamel background and framed by his name. Made in 1450 CE, now housed at the Louvre Museum

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The interior of the main hall of the Genko-an temple in Kyoto, Japan, built in 1694 CE. The temple is famous for its 2 large windows . One is round and is called “The Window of Enlightenment” while the other is square and is called “The Window of Confusion”

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The interior of the main hall of the Genko-an temple in Kyoto, Japan, built in 1694 CE. The temple is famous for its 2 large windows . One is round and is called “The Window of Enlightenment” while the other is square and is called “The Window of Confusion”

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