Our history is full of amazing stories, intriguing discoveries, and incredible craftsmanship that tell the tale of our existence on this planet.
Our history is full of amazing stories, intriguing discoveries, and incredible craftsmanship that tell the tale of our existence on this planet. From ancient artworks to incredible technologies long forgotten, humans have a very storied past on this rock floating through space that we call home.
1
Black shield (dhal) with four bosses. India, 17th century.
2
Bay window with Triton, the Greek god of the sea at Pena Palace in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera.
3
Gilded bronze key featuring the Bavarian coat-of-arms on both sides, c. 1810.
4
Silver Coffin of Psusennes I (1001 BC) Ancient Egypt.
5
Ancient Necklace from Georgia (South Caucasus), c. 100-200 CE: this piece includes an amulet case with a central relief of a ram's head carved in amethyst, a garnet-studded perfume vial, and a thick chain woven out of gold.
6
Saddle with ornate gold plates. Tibet, 15th-17th century.
7
The Pineapple, dome in Dunmore, Scotland. 1761-1776.
8
Bronze food vessel with four horns. China, Western Zhou dynasty, 1000-900 century BC.
9
The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire. Otto III was crowned HRE with it in 994 by Pope Gregory V. The cross was added early 11th century, and the arch ca. 1030.
10
A 3-inch statue of King Khufu. One of the only known depictions of the person who commissioned the construction of the great pyramid.
11
A London-made silver-gilt early C16th surgeon's instrument case called a plaster box. Designed to be hung from the belt, the interior is divided into sections capable of holding six or seven smaller instruments thought to have been a large scalpel, forceps, scissors, lancets, and probes.
12
Roundel from a Roman villa, St Mary, Dorset, 4th century AD with a mosaic representing Christ.
13
Bronze axe with taotie pattern. China, Shang dynasty, 13th-11th century BC.
14
Ishtar Gate Dragon, c.570 BC. Babylon. The Neo-Babylonian Empire reached its peak during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II. During his reign, Babylon became a city of splendor. As the stone was hard to come by, buildings were erected from molded colorfully glazed bricks.
15
Armour of Henry II of France 1555.
16
Gold Mermaid Saltcellar Cup, studded with 184 rubies, diamonds, and two pieces of agate. France or Florence, XVI Century.
17
Roman relief showing tropaion. The tropaion was a form of military monument, erected by the Greeks and Romans in honor of the victory in battle.
18
Japanese Sword and Scabbard - 17th-century blade, mounting 19th century.
19
Sword Guard - Murasakibara Toshiyoshi (b. 1829)
20
Silver tea or sugar caddy, English, c. 1752-1753.
21
Hunting hound, Assyrian Empire, c.645 BC. The hunters and hounds are shown on reliefs of the North Palace of Nineveh. Considered the supreme masterpieces of Assyrian art, these reliefs show the ritual "hunt" by King Ashurbanipal (reigned 668 – c. 627 BC).
22
The gold and rock crsytal sceptre of the Lord Mayor of London. Presented to the City of London by Henry V between 1415-21 in recognition of the city's granting of 10,000 marks that helped lead to victory at Agincourt. Last carried by the 641st Lord Mayor at the Coronation in May 23.
23
Viking jewelry was found in Grötlingbo Parish, Gotland, Sweden.
24
Oak block used in the last public beheading on Tower Hill.
25
Barbados Pineapple Penny. 1788.
26
Al-Jahiz’s Kitab Al-Hayawan: the Book of the Animals. Abbasid Caliphate, medieval Islamic Golden Age, 776-868 A.D.
