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

The only taxidermied blue whale in the world, 1865 CE, now housed at the Natural History Museum in Sweden. The public was allowed to enter it up until a couple was found having sex inside it; now its jaws are opened only for special occasions like Swedish election days

ARTIFACT

The only taxidermied blue whale in the world, 1865 CE, now housed at the Natural History Museum in Sweden. The public was allowed to enter it up until a couple was found having sex inside it; now its jaws are opened only for special occasions like Swedish election days

ARTIFACT / Photography

The pink silk and white lace ballgown of the Swedish Countess Wilhelmina von Hallwyl, made in 1865 CE and now housed at the Hallwyl Museum in Sweden

ARTIFACT

The pink silk and white lace ballgown of the Swedish Countess Wilhelmina von Hallwyl, made in 1865 CE and now housed at the Hallwyl Museum in Sweden

ARTIFACT / Photography

The only one of its kind globally, this Greenlandic whaling suit, made before 1834, is a unique artifact. Hunters used it for waterproofing by crawling through the central opening and sealing it with sealskin. It's now at Denmark's National Museum

ARTIFACT

The only one of its kind globally, this Greenlandic whaling suit, made before 1834, is a unique artifact. Hunters used it for waterproofing by crawling through the central opening and sealing it with sealskin. It's now at Denmark's National Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A bronze bottle with an Arabic inscription, probably a Persian import, found in a woman’s grave in Aska, Sweden. 800-1000 CE, Viking Age, now housed at the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm

ARTIFACT

A bronze bottle with an Arabic inscription, probably a Persian import, found in a woman’s grave in Aska, Sweden. 800-1000 CE, Viking Age, now housed at the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm

ARTIFACT / Photography

A gold scepter found in the tomb of a young Daunian woman in Canosa di Puglia, Italy. 3rd century BCE, now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Taranto

ARTIFACT

A gold scepter found in the tomb of a young Daunian woman in Canosa di Puglia, Italy. 3rd century BCE, now housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Taranto

ARTIFACT / Photography

A large gold bracteate from Gotland in Sweden, 400-550 CE, now housed at the Swedish History Museum

ARTIFACT

A large gold bracteate from Gotland in Sweden, 400-550 CE, now housed at the Swedish History Museum

ARTIFACT / Photography

A specimen of a giant locust eating a mouse, as displayed at the Hintze Hall Balconies, in the Blue Zone of the Natural History Museum, London.

ARTIFACT

A specimen of a giant locust eating a mouse, as displayed at the Hintze Hall Balconies, in the Blue Zone of the Natural History Museum, London.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Unique 2nd century CE Roman sarcophagus of Simpelveld, now housed at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in the Netherlands. The sarcophagus, which was made for a woman, was carved entirely in high relief on the inside in order to look like a room in a luxurious home crammed with furniture

ARTIFACT

The Unique 2nd century CE Roman sarcophagus of Simpelveld, now housed at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in the Netherlands. The sarcophagus, which was made for a woman, was carved entirely in high relief on the inside in order to look like a room in a luxurious home crammed with furniture

ARTIFACT / Photography

An 18th century CE ivory dildo complete with contrivance for simulating ejaculation and its own discreet cloth bag. The didlo was hidden in the seat of a Louis XV armchair found in a convent near Paris. Now housed at the Science Museum in London

ARTIFACT

An 18th century CE ivory dildo complete with contrivance for simulating ejaculation and its own discreet cloth bag. The didlo was hidden in the seat of a Louis XV armchair found in a convent near Paris. Now housed at the Science Museum in London

ARTIFACT / Photography

A bronze water dropper shaped like a long-eared hare. Edo period, 18th–19th century CE, now housed at Tokyo National Museum in Japan

ARTIFACT

A bronze water dropper shaped like a long-eared hare. Edo period, 18th–19th century CE, now housed at Tokyo National Museum in Japan

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Lead Plaque of Magliano, which contains 73 words in the Etruscan language, seems to be a dedicatory text, including as it does many names of mostly underworld deities. It dates to the mid 5th century BCE, and is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence

ARTIFACT

The Lead Plaque of Magliano, which contains 73 words in the Etruscan language, seems to be a dedicatory text, including as it does many names of mostly underworld deities. It dates to the mid 5th century BCE, and is now housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence

ARTIFACT / Photography

A whaling suit from Greenland, made some time before 1834. The hunter crawled into the sealskin suit through the central hole, making it waterproof by pulling the hole closed. Now housed at the National Museum of Denmark

ARTIFACT

A whaling suit from Greenland, made some time before 1834. The hunter crawled into the sealskin suit through the central hole, making it waterproof by pulling the hole closed. Now housed at the National Museum of Denmark

ARTIFACT / Photography

"Fish and octopus " made by the Japanese painter Itō Jakuchū in 1765-1766 CE. Now housed at the Museum of the Imperial Collections in Tokyo

ARTIFACT

"Fish and octopus " made by the Japanese painter Itō Jakuchū in 1765-1766 CE. Now housed at the Museum of the Imperial Collections in Tokyo

ARTIFACT / Photography

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens and inkwell. Now housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

ARTIFACT

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence on this portable desk. It features a hinged writing board and a locking drawer for papers, pens and inkwell. Now housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

ARTIFACT / Photography

In 1822, a white stork found in Germany with a 75 cm spear from central Africa stucked to its neck, demonstrated that birds migrated rather than hibernating or changing form in winter. The specimen was subsequently stuffed and is now housed at the Zoological Collection Rostock

ARTIFACT

In 1822, a white stork found in Germany with a 75 cm spear from central Africa stucked to its neck, demonstrated that birds migrated rather than hibernating or changing form in winter. The specimen was subsequently stuffed and is now housed at the Zoological Collection Rostock

ARTIFACT / Photography

A pedestal-shaped pottery vessel, found at Tall-e Jari in Iran, depicting dancing men. 5000-4000 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Iran

ARTIFACT

A pedestal-shaped pottery vessel, found at Tall-e Jari in Iran, depicting dancing men. 5000-4000 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Iran

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Petelia Tablet from Ancient Greece, c.300-150 BCE: this "passport for the dead" provides instructions on where to go and what to say after crossing into the Greek Underworld, and it was supposed to allow a dead person to obtain special privileges in the afterlife

ARTIFACT

The Petelia Tablet from Ancient Greece, c.300-150 BCE: this "passport for the dead" provides instructions on where to go and what to say after crossing into the Greek Underworld, and it was supposed to allow a dead person to obtain special privileges in the afterlife

ARTIFACT / Photography

A black book of hours made around 1458 CE, and now in the collection of the Hispanic Society of America museum in New York City. It has been suggested that it was a bereavement gift to Maria of Castile, queen of Alfonso V of Aragon, who died in Valencia in 1458

ARTIFACT

A black book of hours made around 1458 CE, and now in the collection of the Hispanic Society of America museum in New York City. It has been suggested that it was a bereavement gift to Maria of Castile, queen of Alfonso V of Aragon, who died in Valencia in 1458

ARTIFACT / Photography

A mantle with bird motifs, made of wool and cotton, found at Wari Kayán necropolis in Peru. 200 BCE-50 CE, Paracas culture, now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

ARTIFACT

A mantle with bird motifs, made of wool and cotton, found at Wari Kayán necropolis in Peru. 200 BCE-50 CE, Paracas culture, now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History of Peru

ARTIFACT / Photography

A silver disc with spirals, made by the Moche civilization in Peru. Now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

ARTIFACT

A silver disc with spirals, made by the Moche civilization in Peru. Now housed at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru

ARTIFACT / Photography