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The Tomb of Payava is a Lycian tall rectangular barrel-vaulted stone sarcophagus, and one of the most famous tombs of Xanthos in Turkey. It was built in the Achaemenid Persian Empire, for Payava, who was probably the ruler of Xanthos in 360 BCE. Now housed at the British Museum

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The Tomb of Payava is a Lycian tall rectangular barrel-vaulted stone sarcophagus, and one of the most famous tombs of Xanthos in Turkey. It was built in the Achaemenid Persian Empire, for Payava, who was probably the ruler of Xanthos in 360 BCE. Now housed at the British Museum

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Golden hollow artifact in the shape of a fish, possibly a vessel used for perfumes. Part of the Oxus Treasure, it was found at Takht-i Kuwad, Tajikistan, included in the Achaemenid empire at the time; it's dated to 5th - 4th c. BCE. British museum, nr. 123917

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Golden hollow artifact in the shape of a fish, possibly a vessel used for perfumes. Part of the Oxus Treasure, it was found at Takht-i Kuwad, Tajikistan, included in the Achaemenid empire at the time; it's dated to 5th - 4th c. BCE. British museum, nr. 123917

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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.

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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.

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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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The Mildenhall Treasure is a large hoard of 34 masterpieces of Roman silver tableware from the 4th century CE, and by far the most valuable Roman objects artistically and by weight of bullion in Britain. It was found at West Row in 1942, and is now housed at the British Museum

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The Mildenhall Treasure is a large hoard of 34 masterpieces of Roman silver tableware from the 4th century CE, and by far the most valuable Roman objects artistically and by weight of bullion in Britain. It was found at West Row in 1942, and is now housed at the British Museum

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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Model of equipment for Opening-of-Mouth ceremony: 3 rock crystal vessels and one obsidian vessel; one pink limestone implement and one schist implement; set into recesses in rectangular limestone tablet. From the Tomb of Idy in Abydos, Egypt. 6th Dynasty , British Museum

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Model of equipment for Opening-of-Mouth ceremony: 3 rock crystal vessels and one obsidian vessel; one pink limestone implement and one schist implement; set into recesses in rectangular limestone tablet. From the Tomb of Idy in Abydos, Egypt. 6th Dynasty , British Museum

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Fluorite chalice known as the Crawford cup, 50-100 AD. According to the Roman author Pliny, the emperor Nero once paid a million sesterces to acquire such a cup. This cup was found in Cilicia, modern Turkey in a Roman tomb along with the Barber cup. Now in the British Museum

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Fluorite chalice known as the Crawford cup, 50-100 AD. According to the Roman author Pliny, the emperor Nero once paid a million sesterces to acquire such a cup. This cup was found in Cilicia, modern Turkey in a Roman tomb along with the Barber cup. Now in the British Museum

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An Etruscan parasol dating back to the 6th-5th century BCE, now housed at Tarquinia Archaeological Museum in Italy. Of the parasol, only the bone elements remain, while those made of perishable material, such as wood, fabric, or vegetable fibers, have been lost

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An Etruscan parasol dating back to the 6th-5th century BCE, now housed at Tarquinia Archaeological Museum in Italy. Of the parasol, only the bone elements remain, while those made of perishable material, such as wood, fabric, or vegetable fibers, have been lost

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Reconstruction of the Achaemenid Persian 'Ganauka' or 'riding dress' in the British Museum, London. The Ganauka was a link to the Persians origin as nomads from the Eurasian steppes

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Reconstruction of the Achaemenid Persian 'Ganauka' or 'riding dress' in the British Museum, London. The Ganauka was a link to the Persians origin as nomads from the Eurasian steppes

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The Queen of the Night relief, terracotta, Old Babylonian Empire, c. 1775 BC. Current state vs. colors restored according to experts at the British Museum after analysis of pigment traces. The relief is dimly lit from below, as it probably was originally ...

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The Queen of the Night relief, terracotta, Old Babylonian Empire, c. 1775 BC. Current state vs. colors restored according to experts at the British Museum after analysis of pigment traces. The relief is dimly lit from below, as it probably was originally ...

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The 4000-year-old Harput relief, now housed at the Elazig City Museum in Turkey, was discovered by chance in 2016. This 4-ton limestone relief depicts the conquest of a fortress and the arrival of prisoners before the king

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The 4000-year-old Harput relief, now housed at the Elazig City Museum in Turkey, was discovered by chance in 2016. This 4-ton limestone relief depicts the conquest of a fortress and the arrival of prisoners before the king

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A proverb tablet, dated to the Old Babylonian Period , which says: "The dog understands: 'Take it!' It does not understand: 'Put it down!'". From Iraq, now housed at the British Museum

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A proverb tablet, dated to the Old Babylonian Period , which says: "The dog understands: 'Take it!' It does not understand: 'Put it down!'". From Iraq, now housed at the British Museum

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2nd century CE Roman leather shoes for a man, woman and child, recovered from the Bar Hill Fort in the centre of the Antonine Wall. Now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

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2nd century CE Roman leather shoes for a man, woman and child, recovered from the Bar Hill Fort in the centre of the Antonine Wall. Now housed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, Scotland

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A marble Roman sarcophagus with the myth of Prometheus, ca. 300 CE, now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

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A marble Roman sarcophagus with the myth of Prometheus, ca. 300 CE, now housed at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples in Italy

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This large relief sculpture of a crouching feline was carved by Nopiloa artist from an irregular boulder of volcanic stone. It most likely depicts one of the 2 largest predators in the Americas, either a jaguar or a puma. From Mexico, 600–1000 CE, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

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This large relief sculpture of a crouching feline was carved by Nopiloa artist from an irregular boulder of volcanic stone. It most likely depicts one of the 2 largest predators in the Americas, either a jaguar or a puma. From Mexico, 600–1000 CE, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum

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“Glazed brick relief panel : Perhaps the 'Immortals' who formed the king's personal bodyguard”

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“Glazed brick relief panel : Perhaps the 'Immortals' who formed the king's personal bodyguard”

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Royal staff handle from the Achaemenid Empire . It features a cylindrical gold socket, ending in two lapis lazuli lion heads. The socket is decorated with repoussé work, and traces of ivory or bone remain inside. On display at the Iranian Gallery, British Museum.

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Royal staff handle from the Achaemenid Empire . It features a cylindrical gold socket, ending in two lapis lazuli lion heads. The socket is decorated with repoussé work, and traces of ivory or bone remain inside. On display at the Iranian Gallery, British Museum.

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