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A ceramic incense burner with lid, in the Teotihuacan style. The lid depicts a woman, or female deity, seated and holding a water bird on her lap. From Guatemala, 150/200-650 CE

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A ceramic incense burner with lid, in the Teotihuacan style. The lid depicts a woman, or female deity, seated and holding a water bird on her lap. From Guatemala, 150/200-650 CE

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A painted Teotihuacan Style ceramic incense burner, located in the Archeological Museum at the museums promenade of the Casa Santo Domingo in the town of Antigua, Guatemala. 600-900 CE

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A painted Teotihuacan Style ceramic incense burner, located in the Archeological Museum at the museums promenade of the Casa Santo Domingo in the town of Antigua, Guatemala. 600-900 CE

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A ceramic Maya vase with hunters and waterbirds. Probably from Guatemala, 600–900 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston

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A ceramic Maya vase with hunters and waterbirds. Probably from Guatemala, 600–900 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston

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A codex-style ceramic plate decorated with the Maya death god Cizin wearing a turtle shell. From northern Petén in Guatemala or southeastern Campeche in Mexico, 600-900 CE, sold in 2019 at Binoche & Giquello in Paris

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A codex-style ceramic plate decorated with the Maya death god Cizin wearing a turtle shell. From northern Petén in Guatemala or southeastern Campeche in Mexico, 600-900 CE, sold in 2019 at Binoche & Giquello in Paris

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A female mummy with children, from northern Chile. Her head is resting on a child mummy, while another one lies in the woman's lap. 11th-14th century CE

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A female mummy with children, from northern Chile. Her head is resting on a child mummy, while another one lies in the woman's lap. 11th-14th century CE

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A limestone Roman funerary stele depicting a seated woman with necklaces and earrings. From Athienou in Cyprus, end of 1st century CE, now housed at the Louvre museum in Paris

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A limestone Roman funerary stele depicting a seated woman with necklaces and earrings. From Athienou in Cyprus, end of 1st century CE, now housed at the Louvre museum in Paris

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This incense burner, depicts one of the Palenque Triad of deities that the Maya called Kinich Ajaw, or "Sun Lord." He is shown here with his trademark nose, and shell and fish symbols around his mouth. The stacking of faces is a hallmark of incense burners from Palenque. 600-900. Walters

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This incense burner, depicts one of the Palenque Triad of deities that the Maya called Kinich Ajaw, or "Sun Lord." He is shown here with his trademark nose, and shell and fish symbols around his mouth. The stacking of faces is a hallmark of incense burners from Palenque. 600-900. Walters

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Harpy, Pompeii, c. 50 AD. Mosaic emblem in opus vermiculatum from polychrome tesserae. A harpy, a woman with bird's feet and wings, depicted on a black background holds a water jug in her hand and a tray with an offering on her head. A dove and a cupid complete the scene.

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Harpy, Pompeii, c. 50 AD. Mosaic emblem in opus vermiculatum from polychrome tesserae. A harpy, a woman with bird's feet and wings, depicted on a black background holds a water jug in her hand and a tray with an offering on her head. A dove and a cupid complete the scene.

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Roman mosaic depicts a man lying in bed and his partner standing. The object is dated to 1st BCE - 1st century CE.

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Roman mosaic depicts a man lying in bed and his partner standing. The object is dated to 1st BCE - 1st century CE.

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A ceramic Maya vase from Guatemala, 600-800 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A ceramic Maya vase from Guatemala, 600-800 CE, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

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A Nasca ceramic double spout with bridge jar with a man and a woman copulating. From Peru, 100 BCE-650 CE, now housed at the British Museum

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A Nasca ceramic double spout with bridge jar with a man and a woman copulating. From Peru, 100 BCE-650 CE, now housed at the British Museum

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An Elamite silver cup found in Marvdasht, Iran, depicting on one side, a standing woman wearing a kaunakes and a tiara or headband, and on the other side, a seated woman with long flowing hair, also wearing a kaunakes, 3 necklaces and a braid or hairband. 2000 BCE, Museum of Ancient Iran

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An Elamite silver cup found in Marvdasht, Iran, depicting on one side, a standing woman wearing a kaunakes and a tiara or headband, and on the other side, a seated woman with long flowing hair, also wearing a kaunakes, 3 necklaces and a braid or hairband. 2000 BCE, Museum of Ancient Iran

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A Naranjo Tiquisate style ceramic female figure from Guatemala, ca. 400–600 CE

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A Naranjo Tiquisate style ceramic female figure from Guatemala, ca. 400–600 CE

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A Maya ceramic dynastic vase with a hieroglyphic sequence listing 19 rulers from the kaanul dynasty of the Snake Head kingdom, and supplying names, titles, and dates for their elevation to power. From Mexico or Guatemala, 650–800 CE, now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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A Maya ceramic dynastic vase with a hieroglyphic sequence listing 19 rulers from the kaanul dynasty of the Snake Head kingdom, and supplying names, titles, and dates for their elevation to power. From Mexico or Guatemala, 650–800 CE, now housed at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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A 1st century CE Roman gold ring with an engraved aquamarine depicting a nereid on a seahorse. From Petescia in Italy, now housed at the Altes Museum in Berlin

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A 1st century CE Roman gold ring with an engraved aquamarine depicting a nereid on a seahorse. From Petescia in Italy, now housed at the Altes Museum in Berlin

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A Purepecha incense burner showing a deity with a "Tlaloc headdress," 1350–1521 CE.

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A Purepecha incense burner showing a deity with a "Tlaloc headdress," 1350–1521 CE.

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A woman's leather sandal decorated with a topaz, found in a well at Saalburg Roman fort in Germany. 100-150 CE, now housed at the Saalburg Museum

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A woman's leather sandal decorated with a topaz, found in a well at Saalburg Roman fort in Germany. 100-150 CE, now housed at the Saalburg Museum

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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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A Tlatilco ceramic figure depicting a woman kissing her pet dog. 1250-800 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico city

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A Tlatilco ceramic figure depicting a woman kissing her pet dog. 1250-800 BCE, now housed at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico city

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A gold stater from the ancient city of Tarentum in Italy, depicting on the obverse the youthful head of Herakles wearing lion skin. 281-276 BCE

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A gold stater from the ancient city of Tarentum in Italy, depicting on the obverse the youthful head of Herakles wearing lion skin. 281-276 BCE

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