A-Level: Nature—Animals in 2D or 3D works

videos + essays

<em>Standard of Ur</em> and other objects from the Royal Graves
Standard of Ur and other objects from the Royal Graves

Intentionally buried as part of an elaborate ritual, this ornate object tells us so much, but also too little.

Athanadoros, Hagesandros, and Polydoros of Rhodes, <em>Laocoön and his Sons</em>
Athanadoros, Hagesandros, and Polydoros of Rhodes, Laocoön and his Sons

The writhing agony of the Trojan Laocoon made this Hellenistic masterpiece famous throughout history.

The Great Relief at Mamallapuram
The Great Relief at Mamallapuram

This extraordinary carving is one of the largest relief sculptures in the world. Scholars still debate its meaning.

A-Level: Tipu’s Tiger
A-Level: Tipu’s Tiger

Made for a sultan, this unusual automaton emblematizes the fierce hostility between British and Indian rulers.

Illustration from the <em>Akbarnama</em>
Illustration from the Akbarnama

Under Akbar the Great, the Mughal style of painting blended Indian, Persian, and Western artistic traditions.

Double-headed serpent
Double-headed serpent

Snakes shedding their skin was a powerful metaphor for the Aztecs and is reflected in their pantheon of gods.

<em>Bahram Gur Fights the Karg (Horned Wolf)</em>
Bahram Gur Fights the Karg (Horned Wolf)

In this hunting scene from the Persian Book of Kings, the ruler Bahram lives up to his nickname “Gur,” or swift.

Ceremonial Palm Wine Vessel (Cameroon Grasslands peoples)
Ceremonial Palm Wine Vessel (Cameroon Grasslands peoples)

Lavishly decorated with expensive materials for the chief’s exclusive use, this isn’t your average wine bottle.

Linguist Staff (Okyeamepoma) (Asante peoples)
Linguist Staff (Okyeamepoma) (Asante peoples)

While its itsy bitsy American counterpart climbed up the waterspout, the spider shown here brought wisdom to Ghana.

Buffalo (<em>Bocio</em>) (Fon peoples)
Buffalo (Bocio) (Fon peoples)

Symbols for the Fon kings, which were determined in a divination ceremony, supported and enhanced his authority.

Feline-Head Bottle
Feline-Head Bottle

Multiple points of view are combined in the decoration of this vessel, tip it and see!

Kòmò Helmet Mask (Kòmòkunw) (Bamana peoples)
Kòmò Helmet Mask (Kòmòkunw) (Bamana peoples)

Intended to intimidate, this headdress was used by a member of the powerful Kumo society of blacksmiths.