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

At Persepolis in Iran, dating 518 BC, this stone lion greets the viewer with a smiling face from the front, yet as you move to the side, the same lion appears fierce and angry. It is a masterpiece of ancient Persian art that captures both serenity and aggression.

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At Persepolis in Iran, dating 518 BC, this stone lion greets the viewer with a smiling face from the front, yet as you move to the side, the same lion appears fierce and angry. It is a masterpiece of ancient Persian art that captures both serenity and aggression.

ARTIFACT / Photography

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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Bronze Drum from the Idaean Cave. In ancient Greece, the tympanon was a type of circular, shallow tambourine, beaten with the palm of the hand or a stick. This one dates from the 8th century BC and is considered the first to appear in Greek art. It is a votive bronze disc found...

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Bronze Drum from the Idaean Cave. In ancient Greece, the tympanon was a type of circular, shallow tambourine, beaten with the palm of the hand or a stick. This one dates from the 8th century BC and is considered the first to appear in Greek art. It is a votive bronze disc found...

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The Dafineh Museum in Tehran has reopened after 8 years with a new artifact that may be one of the most significant relics of the ancient world: the Scepter of Darius the Great . Crafted from gold and lapis lazuli, it was discovered in 1959 at the Apadana Palace in Persepolis.

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The Dafineh Museum in Tehran has reopened after 8 years with a new artifact that may be one of the most significant relics of the ancient world: the Scepter of Darius the Great . Crafted from gold and lapis lazuli, it was discovered in 1959 at the Apadana Palace in Persepolis.

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When Alexander marched toward Persepolis in 330 BC and set the city ablaze, Persian artisans were carving the capital of a new column. Over 2,300 years later, the unfinished capital still sits on the same stone base where it was being shaped.

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When Alexander marched toward Persepolis in 330 BC and set the city ablaze, Persian artisans were carving the capital of a new column. Over 2,300 years later, the unfinished capital still sits on the same stone base where it was being shaped.

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Trapped within a solid piece of amber, a praying mantis is preserved in a time capsule dating back 30 million years, serving as both a natural wonder and a timeless artifact.

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Trapped within a solid piece of amber, a praying mantis is preserved in a time capsule dating back 30 million years, serving as both a natural wonder and a timeless artifact.

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A Persian royal rhyton crafted from pure gold, widely regarded as the best-preserved example from the ancient world. Dating back to the Achaemenid Empire , it was discovered in Hamadan and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A Persian royal rhyton crafted from pure gold, widely regarded as the best-preserved example from the ancient world. Dating back to the Achaemenid Empire , it was discovered in Hamadan and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A thousand-year-old face has emerged from the bottom of Lake Lednica. Discovered among the ruined ramparts of the stronghold on Ostrów Lednicki ~ Poland, this beam carved with a human face is one of the most interesting finds of recent years.

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A thousand-year-old face has emerged from the bottom of Lake Lednica. Discovered among the ruined ramparts of the stronghold on Ostrów Lednicki ~ Poland, this beam carved with a human face is one of the most interesting finds of recent years.

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The Arch of Ctesiphon in modern-day Iraq is the only remaining structure of ancient Ctesiphon, built in 242–272 AD during the Sassanid Empire. Considered a landmark in architecture history, the Persian masterpiece was on the brink of collapse in 2021 when Iran intervened to restore it.

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The Arch of Ctesiphon in modern-day Iraq is the only remaining structure of ancient Ctesiphon, built in 242–272 AD during the Sassanid Empire. Considered a landmark in architecture history, the Persian masterpiece was on the brink of collapse in 2021 when Iran intervened to restore it.

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The tomb of Prince Wanyan Yan, from the Jin Dynasty , and his wife who was buried alive with him. The wife had bound feet, leading to speculation that she was Princess Qingfu from the Song dynasty, who was captured during the Jingkang Incident at the age of 8

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The tomb of Prince Wanyan Yan, from the Jin Dynasty , and his wife who was buried alive with him. The wife had bound feet, leading to speculation that she was Princess Qingfu from the Song dynasty, who was captured during the Jingkang Incident at the age of 8

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Rock Crystal Flask from Ancient Rome, c.25 BCE: this stunning little flask measures just 5.7cm tall, and it was carved from a solid piece of rock crystal more than 2,000 years ago

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Rock Crystal Flask from Ancient Rome, c.25 BCE: this stunning little flask measures just 5.7cm tall, and it was carved from a solid piece of rock crystal more than 2,000 years ago

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An ancient bronze griffin head dating back to the 7th century BC, has been repatriated to Greece from US after it was stolen nearly a century ago, marking the latest repatriation in a broader shift of the museum world to return stolen artifacts to their places of origin.

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An ancient bronze griffin head dating back to the 7th century BC, has been repatriated to Greece from US after it was stolen nearly a century ago, marking the latest repatriation in a broader shift of the museum world to return stolen artifacts to their places of origin.

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This is the city of Hamadan, founded in the 12th century BC. It became the first Iranian capital in 700 BC, chosen by both the Achaemenid and Parthian Empires as their summer capital, looted by Alexander, sacked by the Mongols, yet still holds its ancient layout with 600,000 inhabitants.

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This is the city of Hamadan, founded in the 12th century BC. It became the first Iranian capital in 700 BC, chosen by both the Achaemenid and Parthian Empires as their summer capital, looted by Alexander, sacked by the Mongols, yet still holds its ancient layout with 600,000 inhabitants.

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A historic discovery has been made in the Iranian city of Abdanan, where archaeologists have founded the lost region which Darius the Great called it in a inscription as "ABIRĀDŪŠ" , an area with three mines dug into mountain where the stones of his palace in Susa came from.

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A historic discovery has been made in the Iranian city of Abdanan, where archaeologists have founded the lost region which Darius the Great called it in a inscription as "ABIRĀDŪŠ" , an area with three mines dug into mountain where the stones of his palace in Susa came from.

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Persepolis in Iran, heart of the Persian Empire, tonight hosted the Armenian Philharmonic's 100th anniversary. Attended by 1,500 people, including ambassadors from 23 countries and UN envoys, it marked one of the biggest international concerts ever held at an ancient site.

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Persepolis in Iran, heart of the Persian Empire, tonight hosted the Armenian Philharmonic's 100th anniversary. Attended by 1,500 people, including ambassadors from 23 countries and UN envoys, it marked one of the biggest international concerts ever held at an ancient site.

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Near Rome, at the ancient city of Gabii, archaeologists have uncovered a massive stone basin. It dates to around 250 BCE. In ancient times, Gabia was a significant city-state and one of the rivals to Rome’s growing power.

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Near Rome, at the ancient city of Gabii, archaeologists have uncovered a massive stone basin. It dates to around 250 BCE. In ancient times, Gabia was a significant city-state and one of the rivals to Rome’s growing power.

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Roman figurine showing a dog with a protruding tongue. The finding is dating back to 4-5th century CE and it's made of copper. This was found in Gloucestershire .

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Roman figurine showing a dog with a protruding tongue. The finding is dating back to 4-5th century CE and it's made of copper. This was found in Gloucestershire .

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Toy from Ancient Greece, c.450 BCE: this doll was crafted in the form of a woman with a rolling pin, and it has articulated joints that allow the rolling pin to be pushed back and forth

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Toy from Ancient Greece, c.450 BCE: this doll was crafted in the form of a woman with a rolling pin, and it has articulated joints that allow the rolling pin to be pushed back and forth

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This two-part Maya vessel is made of slip-painted ceramic and features the form of what appears to be an armadillo with a human-like face. From Petén in Guatemala, 300-600 CE, now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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This two-part Maya vessel is made of slip-painted ceramic and features the form of what appears to be an armadillo with a human-like face. From Petén in Guatemala, 300-600 CE, now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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Darius the Great seated on the royal throne, with his son Xerxes standing behind him. Part of the northern wall of Persepolis, 518–460 BC, housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Darius the Great seated on the royal throne, with his son Xerxes standing behind him. Part of the northern wall of Persepolis, 518–460 BC, housed at National Museum of Iran.

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