Explore the diverse breathtaking moments From urban streets to remote landscapes across the globe

1857 vs 2025: Italian photographer and colonel Luigi Pesce, who traveled to Iran during the Qajar Empire, took what is now considered the oldest known photograph from the 2,500-year-old Persepolis.

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1857 vs 2025: Italian photographer and colonel Luigi Pesce, who traveled to Iran during the Qajar Empire, took what is now considered the oldest known photograph from the 2,500-year-old Persepolis.

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7,500-year-old stone toy car from the Late Chalcolithic period, discovered in Mardin, Turkey. It is considered one of the oldest known toys in the world.

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7,500-year-old stone toy car from the Late Chalcolithic period, discovered in Mardin, Turkey. It is considered one of the oldest known toys in the world.

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90 years ago today, local villagers in Shami accidentally unearthed a 2-meter statue while digging in the area. Shortly after, it was moved to the National Museum of Iran and dated to 50 BC. The Shami Statue is now considered the single most important work from the Parthian Empire.

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90 years ago today, local villagers in Shami accidentally unearthed a 2-meter statue while digging in the area. Shortly after, it was moved to the National Museum of Iran and dated to 50 BC. The Shami Statue is now considered the single most important work from the Parthian Empire.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A gold pendant — dating back at least 1,500 years — that was discovered in Denmark in 2020 and features the oldest known reference to the Nordic god Odin.

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A gold pendant — dating back at least 1,500 years — that was discovered in Denmark in 2020 and features the oldest known reference to the Nordic god Odin.

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A hand-colored photograph of a samurai, taken by Italian-British photographer Felice Beato during the Edo period in 1863. The samurai wears a suit of armor, including a kabuto , and holds a katana.

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A hand-colored photograph of a samurai, taken by Italian-British photographer Felice Beato during the Edo period in 1863. The samurai wears a suit of armor, including a kabuto , and holds a katana.

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A 5,200-year-old pottery bowl from Shahr-e Sukhteh bearing what is considered the world's oldest example of animation. It shows five sequential images of a wild goat leaping to reach a tree, and when placed in sequence, they create a brief animated scene. National Museum of Iran.

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A 5,200-year-old pottery bowl from Shahr-e Sukhteh bearing what is considered the world's oldest example of animation. It shows five sequential images of a wild goat leaping to reach a tree, and when placed in sequence, they create a brief animated scene. National Museum of Iran.

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Over 30 film reels from the Qajar Empire have been discovered at Golestan Palace, dated to 1896–1907. They contain some of the earliest footage in Iran’s history, featuring Persian celebrations during that period, government officials in royal palaces, and the dawn of the country’s cinema.

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Over 30 film reels from the Qajar Empire have been discovered at Golestan Palace, dated to 1896–1907. They contain some of the earliest footage in Iran’s history, featuring Persian celebrations during that period, government officials in royal palaces, and the dawn of the country’s cinema.

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In 1949, artists from Iran and Italy gathered to create the history's first statue of a Persian king made in the West: Nader Shah, known in Europe as the "Napoleon of the East." Six years later, a 14-ton statue arrived from Rome at his tomb in Mashhad, where it greets visitors today.

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In 1949, artists from Iran and Italy gathered to create the history's first statue of a Persian king made in the West: Nader Shah, known in Europe as the "Napoleon of the East." Six years later, a 14-ton statue arrived from Rome at his tomb in Mashhad, where it greets visitors today.

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Indonesian cave art is the oldest known figurative art and visual storytelling, dating back at least 51,200 years

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Indonesian cave art is the oldest known figurative art and visual storytelling, dating back at least 51,200 years

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The Lion Man statue is the oldest known carving in the world. It was carved from mammoth ivory and is believed to be 40,000 years old .

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The Lion Man statue is the oldest known carving in the world. It was carved from mammoth ivory and is believed to be 40,000 years old .

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A 2,000-year-old Roman tombstone has been found in a New Orleans backyard, left there by the granddaughter of a U.S. soldier who brought it from Italy during World War II. The tombstone belonged to a Roman soldier and sailor named Sextus Congenius Verus.

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A 2,000-year-old Roman tombstone has been found in a New Orleans backyard, left there by the granddaughter of a U.S. soldier who brought it from Italy during World War II. The tombstone belonged to a Roman soldier and sailor named Sextus Congenius Verus.

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A 1,500-year-old Roman grasswork hat, discovered during Flinders Petrie's 1901–1902 excavation in Egypt, and now housed at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. In 2017, it was radiocarbon dated to 420-568 CE

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A 1,500-year-old Roman grasswork hat, discovered during Flinders Petrie's 1901–1902 excavation in Egypt, and now housed at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. In 2017, it was radiocarbon dated to 420-568 CE

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