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The Olmec Stela 2 at the Parque-Museo La Venta, in Mexico, is a 3.66 m tall low-relief basalt sculpture, dating back to 900-400 BCE. The front of the stele depicts a central, highly adorned figure, surrounded by other stylized individuals, and wearing an elaborate, tall headdress

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The Olmec Stela 2 at the Parque-Museo La Venta, in Mexico, is a 3.66 m tall low-relief basalt sculpture, dating back to 900-400 BCE. The front of the stele depicts a central, highly adorned figure, surrounded by other stylized individuals, and wearing an elaborate, tall headdress

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All of the 17 known Olmec colossal heads discovered so far. The heads date from at least 900 BCE, and it is thought that they represent portraits of powerful individual Olmec rulers. The head, in the 1st picture, is the largest of them all, measuring 3.4 m in height and weighs 40 tons

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All of the 17 known Olmec colossal heads discovered so far. The heads date from at least 900 BCE, and it is thought that they represent portraits of powerful individual Olmec rulers. The head, in the 1st picture, is the largest of them all, measuring 3.4 m in height and weighs 40 tons

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This unusual Costa Rican sculpture is of two naked males wearing flat headdresses engaging in a homosexual activity. Carved of basalt stone, the sculpture is highly stylized and created in a simple, minimal manner.

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This unusual Costa Rican sculpture is of two naked males wearing flat headdresses engaging in a homosexual activity. Carved of basalt stone, the sculpture is highly stylized and created in a simple, minimal manner.

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These clay sculpture are part of a group known as the 11 Lords of Cacaxtla, found in San Miguel del Milagro. These sculptures, which at one time were part of an important building, probably represent priests or deities, dressed in headdresses and elaborate costumes. 600-1000 CE, Mexico

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These clay sculpture are part of a group known as the 11 Lords of Cacaxtla, found in San Miguel del Milagro. These sculptures, which at one time were part of an important building, probably represent priests or deities, dressed in headdresses and elaborate costumes. 600-1000 CE, Mexico

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Basalt sculpture of a painted eagle, found at a buried small temple in Mexico City . Central Mexico, Aztec Civilization, 1325-1500, Now at the Templo Mayor Museum in the city

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Basalt sculpture of a painted eagle, found at a buried small temple in Mexico City . Central Mexico, Aztec Civilization, 1325-1500, Now at the Templo Mayor Museum in the city

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A stela from Bilbao, in Guatemala, depicting a larger ballplayer figure and a smaller death god, both of whom are wearing ballgame yokes, standing in front of a temple. The ballplayer is offering a human heart to the sun. Cotzumalhuapa culture, 600–800 CE, Ethnological Museum of Berlin

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A stela from Bilbao, in Guatemala, depicting a larger ballplayer figure and a smaller death god, both of whom are wearing ballgame yokes, standing in front of a temple. The ballplayer is offering a human heart to the sun. Cotzumalhuapa culture, 600–800 CE, Ethnological Museum of Berlin

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In the crypts beneath the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, Egypt, a relief from the Ptolemaic period depicts an elaborate menat necklace, acting as a divine amulet and counterweight, adorned with four Hathor-headed sistrums. 54-30 BCE

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In the crypts beneath the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, Egypt, a relief from the Ptolemaic period depicts an elaborate menat necklace, acting as a divine amulet and counterweight, adorned with four Hathor-headed sistrums. 54-30 BCE

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The Stele of Tabi is a Maya sculpture depicting two hunters carrying a bound deer. Classic Period , now housed at the Palacio Cantón Museum in Mexico

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The Stele of Tabi is a Maya sculpture depicting two hunters carrying a bound deer. Classic Period , now housed at the Palacio Cantón Museum in Mexico

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Dea Dardanica is a marble sculpture, found in Kosovo and made in the 2nd-3rd century CE, that represents an ancient goddess. While the exact nature of her worship and beliefs surrounding her vary, she is generally understood to have been revered by the indigenous Dardanian people

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Dea Dardanica is a marble sculpture, found in Kosovo and made in the 2nd-3rd century CE, that represents an ancient goddess. While the exact nature of her worship and beliefs surrounding her vary, she is generally understood to have been revered by the indigenous Dardanian people

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2,300-Year-Old Horse Headdress from Siberia, c.350-300 BCE: this elaborate headgear was designed to be worn by a horse, and it's decorated with a figure of a rooster perched atop the head of a ram

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2,300-Year-Old Horse Headdress from Siberia, c.350-300 BCE: this elaborate headgear was designed to be worn by a horse, and it's decorated with a figure of a rooster perched atop the head of a ram

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Arco I, discovered in 1989 in Arco, Italy, is 2.15 meter high limestone stela that depicts a heavily armed, apparently male figure with 7 daggers, 3 axes, 3 halberds, and an ornamental necklace. 3000-2500 BCE, now housed at the Museo Alto Garda

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Arco I, discovered in 1989 in Arco, Italy, is 2.15 meter high limestone stela that depicts a heavily armed, apparently male figure with 7 daggers, 3 axes, 3 halberds, and an ornamental necklace. 3000-2500 BCE, now housed at the Museo Alto Garda

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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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The graffiti of Addaura found at the Addaura cave in Sicily, and carved around 14,000-20,000 years ago. The scene depicts a group of people, arranged in a circle, surrounding 2 central figures with their heads covered and their bodies strongly arched back

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The graffiti of Addaura found at the Addaura cave in Sicily, and carved around 14,000-20,000 years ago. The scene depicts a group of people, arranged in a circle, surrounding 2 central figures with their heads covered and their bodies strongly arched back

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The round tower, at the Kilmacduagh Monastery in Ireland, is notable both for being well-preserved but also because of its heavy lean, over half a metre from the vertical. The tower is over 30 metres tall, and probably dates from the 10th century CE

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The round tower, at the Kilmacduagh Monastery in Ireland, is notable both for being well-preserved but also because of its heavy lean, over half a metre from the vertical. The tower is over 30 metres tall, and probably dates from the 10th century CE

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A Roman mosaic from Antioch, now housed at the Louvre Museum, 475-500 CE. The center of the mosaic panel, surrounded by a border decorated with winged mountain goats, depicts a phoenix on a bed of rosebuds

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A Roman mosaic from Antioch, now housed at the Louvre Museum, 475-500 CE. The center of the mosaic panel, surrounded by a border decorated with winged mountain goats, depicts a phoenix on a bed of rosebuds

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This Toltec turkey-shaped vessel may have been part of the burial of a high-ranking figure. It dates from the Early Postclassic period and is currently part of the collection of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

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This Toltec turkey-shaped vessel may have been part of the burial of a high-ranking figure. It dates from the Early Postclassic period and is currently part of the collection of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

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Standing 24 centimeters tall and weighing 550 grams, this gold sculpture was found in an Incan tomb at Hualla Hualla, at the foot of Nevado Ausengate, a deified peak in Cusco. 13th-16th century CE, now housed at the Museo Histórico Regional de Cusco in Peru

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Standing 24 centimeters tall and weighing 550 grams, this gold sculpture was found in an Incan tomb at Hualla Hualla, at the foot of Nevado Ausengate, a deified peak in Cusco. 13th-16th century CE, now housed at the Museo Histórico Regional de Cusco in Peru

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A ceramic sculpture of a maternal goddess, dating back to about 2500-3000BCE, found in Mehrgarh, western Pakistan

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A ceramic sculpture of a maternal goddess, dating back to about 2500-3000BCE, found in Mehrgarh, western Pakistan

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"La Parisienne", aka the Minoan Lady, is a fresco fragment from the Palace of Knossos in Crete, dated around 1400 BC. It depicts a young woman in profile with large, black-outlined eyes, bright red lips, fair skin and black hair, often interpreted as a priestess due to her attire...

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"La Parisienne", aka the Minoan Lady, is a fresco fragment from the Palace of Knossos in Crete, dated around 1400 BC. It depicts a young woman in profile with large, black-outlined eyes, bright red lips, fair skin and black hair, often interpreted as a priestess due to her attire...

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Corinthian terracotta figurine with articulated limbs, 5th century BCE. The attire—cylindrical polos , short tunic and shoes—seems to indicate a ritual dancer. A small hole on the top of the head indicates that the figurine was meant to be suspended

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Corinthian terracotta figurine with articulated limbs, 5th century BCE. The attire—cylindrical polos , short tunic and shoes—seems to indicate a ritual dancer. A small hole on the top of the head indicates that the figurine was meant to be suspended

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