The Mask Stone (DR 66): A Viking Memorial with a Mysterious BattleThe Mask Stone, officially known as Danish Runic Inscription 66 (DR 66), is a fascinating Viking Age runestone discovered in Aarhus, Denmark. Carved from granite, this ancient memorial is most notable for its depiction of a facial mask, a motif thought to ward off…
Ancient Civilizations
All Ancient Civilizations, Cultures and People
The Rampin Rider
The Rampin Rider is a notable example of ancient Greek sculpture from the Archaic period. This period, spanning from roughly 700 BC to 480 BC, marked a time of significant artistic development in Greece. The sculpture is believed to date to around 550 BC, placing it within the early stages of the Archaic period. It…
The Peplos Kore
The Peplos Kore is a well-known statue from ancient Greece. It dates to around 530 BC and was discovered on the Acropolis in Athens. The statue is an example of the Archaic Greek style and represents a young woman, or kore.DescriptionThe statue stands about 4 feet tall and is made from marble. The Peplos Kore…
The Oxford Palette
The Oxford Palette is a significant artifact from ancient Egypt, dating to the late Predynastic Period, around 3200–3000 BC. This stone palette, housed in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, is a prime example of early Egyptian artistry and symbolic communication.Description and FunctionThe palette is carved from schist, a type of metamorphic rock. It measures approximately…
The Warka Vase
The Warka Vase is one of the most significant artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia. It was discovered in the ruins of the ancient city of Uruk, also known as Warka, in present-day Iraq. This vase dates back to approximately 3200–3000 BC, during the Uruk period, when Uruk was a powerful city-state. Scholars consider the vase a…
Assur
Assur, also known as Ashur, was an ancient city, religious capital, and the namesake of the Assyrian Empire. It is located on the western bank of the Tigris River in northern Mesopotamia, in modern-day Iraq. The city holds immense historical significance due to its role as a political and religious center over several millennia. Assur…