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

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.

ARTIFACT

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.

ARTIFACT / Photography

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

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

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.

ARTIFACT

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.

ARTIFACT / Photography

This thin-walled pottery bowl was made over 6000 years ago at a pre-historic site known as Tall-i Bakun, just 3km south of what later became the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Persepolis, Iran.

ARTIFACT

This thin-walled pottery bowl was made over 6000 years ago at a pre-historic site known as Tall-i Bakun, just 3km south of what later became the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Persepolis, Iran.

ARTIFACT / Photography

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.

ARTIFACT

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.

ARTIFACT / Photography

Part of the letter from Persian King Tahmasp to Ottoman Sultan Suleiman, after the Ottomans' swift retreat from Iran in 1554: "The Roman entered here, shit himself, and left the next day. You failed to stay even for a single day here."

ARTIFACT

Part of the letter from Persian King Tahmasp to Ottoman Sultan Suleiman, after the Ottomans' swift retreat from Iran in 1554: "The Roman entered here, shit himself, and left the next day. You failed to stay even for a single day here."

ARTIFACT / Photography

Discovered in a cave in southern Poland in the 1980s, this prehistoric boomerang was made from a mammoth tusk and estimated to be 18,000 years old. But new analysis has uncovered that the boomerang is between 39,000 to 42,000 years old, making it the oldest known boomerang in history.

ARTIFACT

Discovered in a cave in southern Poland in the 1980s, this prehistoric boomerang was made from a mammoth tusk and estimated to be 18,000 years old. But new analysis has uncovered that the boomerang is between 39,000 to 42,000 years old, making it the oldest known boomerang in history.

ARTIFACT / Photography

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 .

ARTIFACT

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 .

ARTIFACT / Photography

Garshāsp is a 13-meter statue in Tehran depicting the mythological Persian king from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh , thrusting his spear into the dragon's mouth. After the fall of the Qajar Empire, it replaced the statue of Nasser al-Din Shah , and it still stands today.

ARTIFACT

Garshāsp is a 13-meter statue in Tehran depicting the mythological Persian king from Ferdowsi's Shahnameh , thrusting his spear into the dragon's mouth. After the fall of the Qajar Empire, it replaced the statue of Nasser al-Din Shah , and it still stands today.

ARTIFACT / Photography

This crystal cup, excavated from a Banshan Shitang Warring States tomb in Hangzhou; carbon-14 dated to the mid-to-late Warring States period, over 2,000 years ago

ARTIFACT

This crystal cup, excavated from a Banshan Shitang Warring States tomb in Hangzhou; carbon-14 dated to the mid-to-late Warring States period, over 2,000 years ago

ARTIFACT / Photography

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.

ARTIFACT

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.

ARTIFACT / Photography

The east and north façades of the Parthenon, Acropolis Athens, Greece, 430's BC. When you reached the Acropolis and crossed the Propylaea you met the Parthenon to your right with the west façade in all its glory. That end, however, was not the main façade

ARTIFACT

The east and north façades of the Parthenon, Acropolis Athens, Greece, 430's BC. When you reached the Acropolis and crossed the Propylaea you met the Parthenon to your right with the west façade in all its glory. That end, however, was not the main façade

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Vimose coat is a 22-pound piece of chain armor thrown into a Danish bog as a victory offering after battle some 1,800 years ago. Made by hand from nearly 20,000 tiny iron rings, it is the oldest completely preserved chain mail from Northern Europe

ARTIFACT

The Vimose coat is a 22-pound piece of chain armor thrown into a Danish bog as a victory offering after battle some 1,800 years ago. Made by hand from nearly 20,000 tiny iron rings, it is the oldest completely preserved chain mail from Northern Europe

ARTIFACT / Photography

A historical jar from the Parthian Empire, dating to 247 BC–224 AD, has been discovered. It was accidentally caught in the nets of local fishermen in southern Iran while they were fishing in the depths of the Persian Gulf. Few Parthian jars have survived, making this discovery remarkable.

ARTIFACT

A historical jar from the Parthian Empire, dating to 247 BC–224 AD, has been discovered. It was accidentally caught in the nets of local fishermen in southern Iran while they were fishing in the depths of the Persian Gulf. Few Parthian jars have survived, making this discovery remarkable.

ARTIFACT / Photography

A Chu-style tomb guardian beast unearthed from tomb No. 2 at Changtaiguan, China, Warring States period . The beast has the appearance of a crouching tiger, with short antlers, 2 large red eyes, a wide mouth with bared teeth, and a long tongue hanging down to its chest

ARTIFACT

A Chu-style tomb guardian beast unearthed from tomb No. 2 at Changtaiguan, China, Warring States period . The beast has the appearance of a crouching tiger, with short antlers, 2 large red eyes, a wide mouth with bared teeth, and a long tongue hanging down to its chest

ARTIFACT / Photography

The Treasury seen from the Siq, Petra, 1st Century AD. One of the most elaborate rock-cut tombs in the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, as most of the surviving buildings and tombs in the city, the facade was carved out of the cliff. This was the first glimpse of Petra on arrival...

ARTIFACT

The Treasury seen from the Siq, Petra, 1st Century AD. One of the most elaborate rock-cut tombs in the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, as most of the surviving buildings and tombs in the city, the facade was carved out of the cliff. This was the first glimpse of Petra on arrival...

ARTIFACT / Photography