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

Alternate colonnade, Mont-Saint-Michell abbey cloister, 12th century, France. Contrary to tradition, the cloister was neither built at the center of the building nor enclosed, but on the side, and with wide windows to the landscape far below. The view surely helped relax and meditate

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Alternate colonnade, Mont-Saint-Michell abbey cloister, 12th century, France. Contrary to tradition, the cloister was neither built at the center of the building nor enclosed, but on the side, and with wide windows to the landscape far below. The view surely helped relax and meditate

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The 18th century buildings of Arles share the urban landscape with a Roman amphitheater built in 90 aD. With the fall of the Western Empire, the amphitheatre was transformed into a fortress with four towers. The structure encircled more than 200 houses, becoming a real town...

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The 18th century buildings of Arles share the urban landscape with a Roman amphitheater built in 90 aD. With the fall of the Western Empire, the amphitheatre was transformed into a fortress with four towers. The structure encircled more than 200 houses, becoming a real town...

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Harmondsworth Great Barn is a medieval barn on the former Manor Farm in the village of Harmondsworth. Built in the early 15th century CE by Winchester College, it is the largest timber-framed building in England and is regarded as an outstanding example of medieval carpentry

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Harmondsworth Great Barn is a medieval barn on the former Manor Farm in the village of Harmondsworth. Built in the early 15th century CE by Winchester College, it is the largest timber-framed building in England and is regarded as an outstanding example of medieval carpentry

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A Sogdian pear-shaped gilt silver ewer adorned on each side by a winged Bactrian camel enclosed within a rope-bordered medallion. Found in 1878 in Russia, late 7th–beginning of 8th century CE, now housed at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg

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A Sogdian pear-shaped gilt silver ewer adorned on each side by a winged Bactrian camel enclosed within a rope-bordered medallion. Found in 1878 in Russia, late 7th–beginning of 8th century CE, now housed at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg

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The Ancient City of Hegra, in the Arabian Desert, c.50 CE: this rock-hewn city was built by the Nabataeans, and it originally served as a center for international trade, but it was later transformed into a necropolis with more than 100 monumental tombs

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The Ancient City of Hegra, in the Arabian Desert, c.50 CE: this rock-hewn city was built by the Nabataeans, and it originally served as a center for international trade, but it was later transformed into a necropolis with more than 100 monumental tombs

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A 5th century CE Visigothic gold ring, from Seysses in France, with cloisonné decoration of glass and garnet raptor heads. Now housed at the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse

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A 5th century CE Visigothic gold ring, from Seysses in France, with cloisonné decoration of glass and garnet raptor heads. Now housed at the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse

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In 2016, Juan Francisco from Spain decided to make an overhaul of his house. But the work did not last long, because behind the wall, he found a bas-relief from the Renaissance belonging to master Andres de Vandelvir, so Juan immediately informed the city administration.

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In 2016, Juan Francisco from Spain decided to make an overhaul of his house. But the work did not last long, because behind the wall, he found a bas-relief from the Renaissance belonging to master Andres de Vandelvir, so Juan immediately informed the city administration.

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An aerial view of Iraj Castle, a Sasanian fortification built in the 4th-5th century CE in Iran. The monument is known for its peculiar design: large defensive walls with embedded rooms and arches, with towers at regular intervals, enclosing a vast empty interior of 190 hectares

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An aerial view of Iraj Castle, a Sasanian fortification built in the 4th-5th century CE in Iran. The monument is known for its peculiar design: large defensive walls with embedded rooms and arches, with towers at regular intervals, enclosing a vast empty interior of 190 hectares

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Nymphaeum in Jerasa, Jerash, Jordan, 190 AD. Built as a main source of water to the multiple small public fountains along the Cardo. It consisted of two side aisles which enclosed a central semi-circular apse that was topped with a concrete vault. The façade was richly ornamented...

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Nymphaeum in Jerasa, Jerash, Jordan, 190 AD. Built as a main source of water to the multiple small public fountains along the Cardo. It consisted of two side aisles which enclosed a central semi-circular apse that was topped with a concrete vault. The façade was richly ornamented...

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Qajar-era photographs of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great reveals that the structure was once part of a larger complex. A gate and several columns can be seen, confirming that when it was built in 540 BC, there was an enclosed ceremonial area with a formal entrance path leading up to the tomb.

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Qajar-era photographs of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great reveals that the structure was once part of a larger complex. A gate and several columns can be seen, confirming that when it was built in 540 BC, there was an enclosed ceremonial area with a formal entrance path leading up to the tomb.

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The Criel Mound in West Virginia, built in 250–150 BC. Inside the mound, there was 2 skeletons near the top, and 11 at the base, which consisted of a large skeleton at the center surrounded by 10 others arranged in a spoke-like pattern with their feet pointing toward the central skeleton

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The Criel Mound in West Virginia, built in 250–150 BC. Inside the mound, there was 2 skeletons near the top, and 11 at the base, which consisted of a large skeleton at the center surrounded by 10 others arranged in a spoke-like pattern with their feet pointing toward the central skeleton

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A 16th century travelling communion set. The set is important because it was made and used at the time when Henry VIII had broken with Rome but still adhered, with his own modifications, to the medieval doctrine of the sacraments.

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A 16th century travelling communion set. The set is important because it was made and used at the time when Henry VIII had broken with Rome but still adhered, with his own modifications, to the medieval doctrine of the sacraments.

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Treasury chamber portal and round window, Petra, Nabatean Kingdom, 1st c. AD. Jordan. The two side portals are richly decorated. The pilasters end in floral capitals as those of the upper order of the building. Large volutes carry a wide cornice with winged creatures at the corners.

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Treasury chamber portal and round window, Petra, Nabatean Kingdom, 1st c. AD. Jordan. The two side portals are richly decorated. The pilasters end in floral capitals as those of the upper order of the building. Large volutes carry a wide cornice with winged creatures at the corners.

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The 307-year-old Church of the Transfiguration, located on Kizhi island in Russia, was built entirely of wood without using a single nail. The church has 22 domes and with a height of 37 meters, it is one of the tallest wooden buildings in Northern Europe

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The 307-year-old Church of the Transfiguration, located on Kizhi island in Russia, was built entirely of wood without using a single nail. The church has 22 domes and with a height of 37 meters, it is one of the tallest wooden buildings in Northern Europe

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In 1797 Heage Windmill was a 4-sailed tower mill built of local sandstone. In 1850 the common canvas sails were replaced with patent sails with shutters and a faintail was added to automatically turn the cap into the wind. Later it was to boast these six sails each weighing about a ton.

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In 1797 Heage Windmill was a 4-sailed tower mill built of local sandstone. In 1850 the common canvas sails were replaced with patent sails with shutters and a faintail was added to automatically turn the cap into the wind. Later it was to boast these six sails each weighing about a ton.

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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

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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

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2nd century CE Roman pipe burial from Wales. Within the tomb was a lead canister containing cremated bones and a piece of linen bearing traces of frankincense. Pipe burials are thought to have allowed relatives to pour blood or wine into the container to nourish the soul of the deceased

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2nd century CE Roman pipe burial from Wales. Within the tomb was a lead canister containing cremated bones and a piece of linen bearing traces of frankincense. Pipe burials are thought to have allowed relatives to pour blood or wine into the container to nourish the soul of the deceased

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Gold imitation dinar of King Offa of Mercia, England, late 8th century. It copies an Abbasid coin, but the Latin text “OFFA REX” is upside down relative to the Arabic.

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Gold imitation dinar of King Offa of Mercia, England, late 8th century. It copies an Abbasid coin, but the Latin text “OFFA REX” is upside down relative to the Arabic.

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A painted round table from one of the dining rooms at villa Moregine in Pompeii. The table has a marble top from the centre of which water flowed to enhance the dining experience. The beds were faced with marble, and a small channel ran around inside them and was fed by 14 water jets

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A painted round table from one of the dining rooms at villa Moregine in Pompeii. The table has a marble top from the centre of which water flowed to enhance the dining experience. The beds were faced with marble, and a small channel ran around inside them and was fed by 14 water jets

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