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Diorite statue of Gudea, prince of Lagash, dedicated to the god Ningishzida. Gudea was a Sumerian ruler of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia, who ruled c. 2144–2124 BC, at a time when the center of Sumer was still ruled by the Gutian dynasty and the north by Akkad...

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Diorite statue of Gudea, prince of Lagash, dedicated to the god Ningishzida. Gudea was a Sumerian ruler of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia, who ruled c. 2144–2124 BC, at a time when the center of Sumer was still ruled by the Gutian dynasty and the north by Akkad...

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Votive stele of Gudea, Lord of Lagash , led by Ningishzida to a Goddess holding vessel of flowing water. His reign was largely peaceful and marked not by boasts of might, but his devotion to deities like Ningirsu, even foregoing the title of Lugal for more humble Ensi

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Votive stele of Gudea, Lord of Lagash , led by Ningishzida to a Goddess holding vessel of flowing water. His reign was largely peaceful and marked not by boasts of might, but his devotion to deities like Ningirsu, even foregoing the title of Lugal for more humble Ensi

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Alabaster statue of Ebih-Il, a votive sculpture from in ancient Mesopotamia, c. 2400 BC, Early Dynastic IIIB period. Ebih-Il was a high-ranking official of the city-state of Mari in modern-day eastern Syria. The statue, with its lapis lazuli eyes, exemplifies Pre-Akkadian artistry…

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Alabaster statue of Ebih-Il, a votive sculpture from in ancient Mesopotamia, c. 2400 BC, Early Dynastic IIIB period. Ebih-Il was a high-ranking official of the city-state of Mari in modern-day eastern Syria. The statue, with its lapis lazuli eyes, exemplifies Pre-Akkadian artistry…

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A relief of Ereshkigal, the Sumerian goddess of death and the underworld, which was created over 3,800 years ago in what's believed to be present day southern Iraq. It is now on display at the British Museum in London.

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A relief of Ereshkigal, the Sumerian goddess of death and the underworld, which was created over 3,800 years ago in what's believed to be present day southern Iraq. It is now on display at the British Museum in London.

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Painted baked clay statue of a seated god, possibly the sun god Shamash who was responsible for omens

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Painted baked clay statue of a seated god, possibly the sun god Shamash who was responsible for omens

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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The golden seal of the Empress Ashina, made in 579–580 CE with inscription "Empress Dowager Tianyuan" in large seal script. Ashina was a Göktürk princess who became an empress of the Northern Zhou dynasty by marrying the Emperor Wu. Now housed in the Xianyang Museum, China

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Augustus of Prima Porta, 20 BC. At over 6ft high, this statue was a complex statement of the ideas and merits he wanted to convey. It depicts the emperor addressing his soldiers, wearing a cuirass and a cloak. Augustus was both the first Roman Emperor and the one who ruled longest...

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Augustus of Prima Porta, 20 BC. At over 6ft high, this statue was a complex statement of the ideas and merits he wanted to convey. It depicts the emperor addressing his soldiers, wearing a cuirass and a cloak. Augustus was both the first Roman Emperor and the one who ruled longest...

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A bronze statuette of Perdicas: he was apparently a Greek youth studying in Athens, who neglected to sacrifice to Aphrodite; the goddess punished him so he fell in love with his own mother, wasted away and died. 1st century BC. Dumbarton Oaks collection.

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A bronze statuette of Perdicas: he was apparently a Greek youth studying in Athens, who neglected to sacrifice to Aphrodite; the goddess punished him so he fell in love with his own mother, wasted away and died. 1st century BC. Dumbarton Oaks collection.

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This gold bracelet of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Shoshenq IIa is crafted in two hinged sections, and set at its center with a lapis lazuli Mesopotamian cylinder seal dating to the Akkadian Empire . Now housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

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This gold bracelet of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Shoshenq IIa is crafted in two hinged sections, and set at its center with a lapis lazuli Mesopotamian cylinder seal dating to the Akkadian Empire . Now housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

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A six-foot marble statue of the goddess Athena has been discovered at the West Theater in Laodicea, an ancient city in southwestern Turkey. The style of the carving suggests that the sculpture dates to the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, between 27 BCE and 14 CE

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A six-foot marble statue of the goddess Athena has been discovered at the West Theater in Laodicea, an ancient city in southwestern Turkey. The style of the carving suggests that the sculpture dates to the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, between 27 BCE and 14 CE

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Head from a statue of the goddess Hathor in the form of a cow. Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty, ca 1450 BC. Calcite with lapis lazuli and rock crystal. Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the British Museum

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Head from a statue of the goddess Hathor in the form of a cow. Egypt, New Kingdom, 18th dynasty, ca 1450 BC. Calcite with lapis lazuli and rock crystal. Loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the British Museum

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Head of a votive mace with a lion-headed eagle and 6 lions, dedicated at a shrine in Girsu, Iraq. Inscription in archaic script: “Mesilim, king of Kish, builder of the temple of Ningirsu, brought for Ningirsu, Lugalshaengur prince of Lagash”. c. 2550 BCE

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Head of a votive mace with a lion-headed eagle and 6 lions, dedicated at a shrine in Girsu, Iraq. Inscription in archaic script: “Mesilim, king of Kish, builder of the temple of Ningirsu, brought for Ningirsu, Lugalshaengur prince of Lagash”. c. 2550 BCE

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The se-chongtong is a portable gun barrel first produced in 1432 CE to subdue the Jurchen people who invaded northern Joseon in the early Joseon Dynasty. The Korean gun was used by soldiers of different units and civilians, including women and children, as a personal defense weapon

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The se-chongtong is a portable gun barrel first produced in 1432 CE to subdue the Jurchen people who invaded northern Joseon in the early Joseon Dynasty. The Korean gun was used by soldiers of different units and civilians, including women and children, as a personal defense weapon

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A blue and white water dropper in the shape of a fish. Lê dynasty, 15th century.

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A blue and white water dropper in the shape of a fish. Lê dynasty, 15th century.

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Photo dated July 1, 1894 in Delphi, Egypt; the discovery of statue of Antinous circa 130 CE, loved and deified by Emperor Hadrian as the last Roman God after his mysterious death at 19 in the Nile River, worshipped across Mediterranean after a post-mortem discovery of a new star.

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Photo dated July 1, 1894 in Delphi, Egypt; the discovery of statue of Antinous circa 130 CE, loved and deified by Emperor Hadrian as the last Roman God after his mysterious death at 19 in the Nile River, worshipped across Mediterranean after a post-mortem discovery of a new star.

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A limestone statue of Princess Doshfari, daughter of Sanatrug Il of Hatra, 138 A.D. now housed in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. Hatra was an ancient Arabian city in Present day Northern Iraq.

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A limestone statue of Princess Doshfari, daughter of Sanatrug Il of Hatra, 138 A.D. now housed in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. Hatra was an ancient Arabian city in Present day Northern Iraq.

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A Manichæan silk painting of the Buddha-Jesus, from the Southern Song Dynasty, c.12-13th century CE. A syncretic figure is seated in lotus position. He holds a red lotus, in which rests a golden cross. He is haloed by a Christian nimbus, and rests under a Buddhist chatra .

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A Manichæan silk painting of the Buddha-Jesus, from the Southern Song Dynasty, c.12-13th century CE. A syncretic figure is seated in lotus position. He holds a red lotus, in which rests a golden cross. He is haloed by a Christian nimbus, and rests under a Buddhist chatra .

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A bronze table with frogs and snakes design, Warring States Period to Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture Museum in China

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A bronze table with frogs and snakes design, Warring States Period to Western Han Dynasty , now housed at the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture Museum in China

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