The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) was one of the most significant and prosperous periods of cultural change and discovery in the annals of Chinese history. The period saw, in particular, the birth of the Silk Road, the invention of paper, and a revitalised, and more formalised, vigour for Confucian teachings. The Birth … Read more
The association between various animals and their related qualities and connotations, have long played a major role in Chinese culture, impacting everything from art and language, to folk stories and the affectionate nicknames given to children by their parents (known as xiǎo míng). While animal motifs appear frequently in the art of many cultures, animal … Read more
Tek Sing, translating as True Star, was a large Chinese sailing ship, which sank in February 1822. The ship measured 60 metres in length and over 10 metres in width. The cargo was loaded with porcelain, silks, spices and medicines. The ship left the port of Amoy, a central port for Chinese trading prowess, and … Read more
The Hoi An Shipwreck The Hoi An shipwreck sank in the middle of a typhoon zone known as the Dragon Sea, between the late 15th century and early 16th century. It has been named after the nearby town of Faifo, known in modern geography as Hoi An. The shipwreck was found in the early 1990s … Read more
Currency was introduced in Rome during the 3rd century BC, and extended through the years of the Republic and into Imperial times. Roman Imperial coins are double-faced, and bore the name and portrait of the issuing Emperor, as well as a variation of other motifs. This is evidence of the wide cultural and religious range … Read more
Since Rome first began minting coins in 289 BC, they took on enormous importance throughout the Roman world. This was not only because of their practical importance in everyday transactions, but also due to the imagery they bore, which transmitted powerful messages about the state as far as the coins themselves travelled. This imagery was … Read more
Jewellery in the Roman Republic The core ideologies of the Roman Republic, centred around moderation and restraint, meant that elaborate jewellery was relatively unpopular until the transformation to imperial rule. The law of the Twelve Tables in the 5th century BC, limited the amount of gold which might have been buried with the dead. The … Read more
In Ancient Greek culture and mythology Eros was the god associated with physical attraction and love, capable of making divine or mortal individuals fall in love with his enchanted arrows. In most ancient theogonies Eros was thought to have been born from primitive chaos, and was considered a solemn and primordial god, often associated to … Read more
Horses in Ancient China Horses were amongst the most important animals in Ancient Chinese Culture and mythology. Horses have been present from the very beginning of Chinese culture, both on a mythical and symbolic level and they represent speed, perseverance, imagination and symbolize pure male strength – Yang. Horses in Tang Dynasty Culture Originally the … Read more
When we think of Ancient Greek sculptural production, what comes to mind are the beautiful white marble friezes or the immaculate grand statues of gods and goddesses. Although it is broadly commonplace to think that all Ancient Greek, and later Roman, production was created colourless, the myth of whiteness is actually a Renaissance invention. Classical … Read more
Shabtis in Ancient Egypt Shabtis, or Ushabtis, are the inseparable companions of the ancient Egyptians, buried with the deceased among other grave goods. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife was a mirror image of the world they knew.When the deceased successfully passed the ceremony of the weighing of the heart, they were therefore directed … Read more
Heart and Soul The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul resided inside the heart, but the organ’s exact role to bodily function was not fully understood. Despite not knowing its physiological importance, the ancient Egyptians knew the heart played a central role in the bodily and spiritual operation of the individual. The multitude of heart … Read more
Jewellery: Wealth and Power The development of the Ancient Greek civilization brought the first great use of jewellery, which was seen as a symbol of power and a way to express wealth. Jewellery was also used for amuletic and religious purposes. After the arrival of metallurgy, the Greeks began to create increasingly complex designs to … Read more
The Practice of Drinking Together in Ancient Greece The ancient Greeks were serious party goers, as it is witnessed by the many vessels in ancient Attic pottery depicting symposium scenes. Symposium literally translates to “to drink together” and it was the part of the banquet after the meal, when men would gather and drink for … Read more
Ancient Scythians were a nomadic population who originally lived in modern South Siberia, but later extended their influence all over Central Asia between the 7th Century BC and the 2nd century BC. Scythians did not produce any written testimony of their culture. Almost everything we know about these nomadic warriors comes from a collection of … Read more
Roman Games Roman games were not so different from many that we still know and enjoy today, with the Roman Tabula being likened to modern backgammon, Terni Lapili as our tic-tac-toe, and Latrunculi not dissimilar to chess or draughts. While there is numerous physical evidence for these games, such as the sets themselves and … Read more
Jewellery has long formed an important part of personal display, and few places was this clearer than in antiquity. Though quality and quantity of jewellery increases depending in the wealth of the wearer, people from all social strata of many ancient civilisations chose to adorn themselves with jewellery of some description. The first form of … Read more
Pottery Neolithic The area referred to as the Holy Land, which roughly corresponds to the geographical region located between the river Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea, has witnessed one of the longest productions of pottery in history, from the Neolithic period up until the 19th century. The Holy Land was also the first region to … Read more
Roman Influence Perhaps the most prominent feature of Byzantine jewellery is the presence of votive items; be it rings or pendants, the religious aspect is consistently present throughout the period. Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire from the 5th century AD onwards, until the conquest by the Ottoman … Read more
Across the ancient world, there is a vast array of objects that were worn by their owners for the sake of protection, most frequently amulets. Jewellery of this apotropaic nature most often takes shape in the form of pendants, and we find them in abundance from a number of civilisations, especially Egypt. These amulets feature … Read more
Divinatio et Signa The relationship with the gods was fundamental for ancient civilizations. Ancient Romans consulted the gods before any public or private activity. The signa, or signs, through which the gods manifested their will were many. Divinatio, or divination, was precisely the art of interpreting these signs. Luckily, many different artefacts have been recovered … Read more
Glass Unguentaria Amongst Roman glass artefacts, unguentaria are some of the most common finds. Their original use was to store mostly perfumes and cosmetics and thus, they were in high demand across the Roman world. Most unguentaria come in a few common shapes and many different colours. Though there are examples of unusual designs for … Read more
Core-Formed and Cast Glass Core-formed and cast glass vessels were first produced in Egypt and Mesopotamia as early as the 15th century BC. The core formed or sand core glass vessels were created when a core of sand, mud or clay was formed around the end of a metal rod. Molten glass was then trailed … Read more
A Cultural Golden Age The Tang Dynasty (618-906 AD) is considered a golden age in Chinese history, witnessing the prosperity of culture, economy, diplomacy and politics under a unified government. As is so often the case, where there is political and economic stability, art flourishes, and with the Tang Empire’s expansion into Central Asia, Tang … Read more
The Celts With the word Celts we usually refer to various population tribes living in several parts of Europe from the Late European Bronze Age onwards. The Celtic culture started to evolve from 1200 BC with the Hallstat culture, and had its apogee around the 4th-3rd century BC, a period identified with La Tene culture … Read more
