The Earliest Dated Buddha Statue from China
The earliest visual images of the Buddha were transmitted to China by travelers along the ancient Silk Roads.
What is conflated narrative? | The Enlightenment relief at the Great Stupa at Sanchi
How does a single image show the passage of time?
Colima Dogs and West Mexican Ceramics
Dogs have been immortalized in art across the globe for thousands of years.
What is continuous narrative? | The Great Departure relief at the Great Stupa at Sanchi
Because early Buddhist art is aniconic, we explain the symbols used to depict the Buddha’s presence in this scene and show how they repeat from right to left to illustrate how his story unfolds.
How to Do a Visual Analysis in Art History: An Ancient Chinese Bronze Vessel
This video explains how to do a visual analysis (formal analysis) of a 5th-century BCE Chinese bronze vessel.
Zapotec Funerary Urns in Mesoamerica: Inside Ancient Mexican Tombs
Zapotec funerary urns are unique to ancient Mexico.
Lady Sak K'uk', Queen of Palenque
Who is the ancient Maya queen Lady Sak K’uk’ of Palenque?
The Terracotta Warriors
The terracotta army in the tomb of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, is one of the most fascinating discoveries in archaeology.
The Ancient World in Art
From the art of ancient Egypt and Nubia to early China, Imperial Rome, and the Andes, the art of the ancient world continues to resonate today.
Introduction to the Birth of the Buddha and Queen Maya
How was the birth of the Buddha shown in art?
Equestrian portraits explained
How would you like to be remembered? This is a key question for anyone having their portrait created, including the ancient Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback.
Chinese Music for the Dead: The Marquis Yi of Zeng’s Bells
In the 1970s, archaeologists in China made one of the most impressive archaeological discoveries in world history from the tomb of a marquis (the Marquis Yi of Zeng) who lived and died in south China in the 5th century BCE.
A symbol of Heaven? A Chinese jade bi disk
What can a jade disk crafted in Neolithic China tell us about the cosmos? These circular disks may be connected to early Chinese views of the universe that consisted of a square Earth and a round (circular) canopy that represented Heaven.
Tlatilco culture and an ancient fish figurine in Mesoamerica
Dive into the captivating world of ancient Central Mexico with a vibrant figurine showing a fish!
Bones and the Zapotec at ancient Monte Albán | Mesoamerican Art
Get to know a little about bones in art and ancient Zapotec culture at Monte Albán in Oaxaca, Mexico.
The Illusion of the Terracotta Army, Tomb of the First Emperor of China
The tomb of the First Emperor of China, who died in 210 BCE, was never excavated, but in the 1970s three pits were found nearby that contained a terracotta army! These pits contained over 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors lined up in trenches in military formation.
Predicting the future with turtle shells
How did ancient Chinese kings predict the future with turtle shells? Why did Shang dynasty king Wu Ding use turtle shells and animal bones to resolve his terrible toothache?
Ancient Egyptians loved cats
Are you ready to step back in time with us and unravel the mysteries of cat worship, mummification, and the rich symbolism surrounding these cats in ancient Egypt? If you're a cat lover or hiss-tory enthusiast, our video is for you! It’s pawsitively awesome.