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Sepulchral inscription for the Roman Freedwoman Allia Potestas who lived between the 1st and 4th centuries CE., Museo Epigrafico, Rome

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Sepulchral inscription for the Roman Freedwoman Allia Potestas who lived between the 1st and 4th centuries CE., Museo Epigrafico, Rome

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This tombstone, made for a woman named Hyralia, bears a seven-line Coptic inscription within a frame of engraved vines: "Do not grieve, Hyralia; no one is immortal on earth! This is the path of every human being." 9th century AD

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This tombstone, made for a woman named Hyralia, bears a seven-line Coptic inscription within a frame of engraved vines: "Do not grieve, Hyralia; no one is immortal on earth! This is the path of every human being." 9th century AD

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Wedding ring with Latin inscription on the band: "SELEVCE ET CVRACE VIVAS IN DEO = Seleucus and Kyriace, live in God!" Square seal plate with the facing busts of a married couple. The man's name indicates Syrian origin, the woman's Greek origin. 4th century AD

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Wedding ring with Latin inscription on the band: "SELEVCE ET CVRACE VIVAS IN DEO = Seleucus and Kyriace, live in God!" Square seal plate with the facing busts of a married couple. The man's name indicates Syrian origin, the woman's Greek origin. 4th century AD

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Roman Milan cage cup: The Coppa diatreta Trivulzio at the Museo archeologico Milan, the only example with no damage at all. This has the inscription: BIBE VIVAS MVLTIS ANNIS: "Drink and you will live for many years". It is 4th century, found in the 17th century in a sarcophagus.

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Roman Milan cage cup: The Coppa diatreta Trivulzio at the Museo archeologico Milan, the only example with no damage at all. This has the inscription: BIBE VIVAS MVLTIS ANNIS: "Drink and you will live for many years". It is 4th century, found in the 17th century in a sarcophagus.

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A 1st century CE Roman gold ring with an engraved aquamarine depicting a nereid on a seahorse. From Petescia in Italy, now housed at the Altes Museum in Berlin

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A 1st century CE Roman gold ring with an engraved aquamarine depicting a nereid on a seahorse. From Petescia in Italy, now housed at the Altes Museum in Berlin

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Detail of the pavement, with reused elements and inscriptions, in the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano, Roma, 13th century

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Detail of the pavement, with reused elements and inscriptions, in the Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano, Roma, 13th century

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A 4th century CE Roman mosaic from the villa of Pompeianus, in Algeria, representing the estate and the owner's horses. The bottom picture shows a detail from the mosaic, which depicts a race horse and an inscription which says "Whether you win or not, we love you Polidoxus"

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A 4th century CE Roman mosaic from the villa of Pompeianus, in Algeria, representing the estate and the owner's horses. The bottom picture shows a detail from the mosaic, which depicts a race horse and an inscription which says "Whether you win or not, we love you Polidoxus"

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Face of Slonk Hill Man an Iron Age hunk who lived between 2,400 and 2,200 years ago. He was found in 1968 not too far from Brighton, by the Holmbush Shopping Centre. Image credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums; Brighton & Hove

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Face of Slonk Hill Man an Iron Age hunk who lived between 2,400 and 2,200 years ago. He was found in 1968 not too far from Brighton, by the Holmbush Shopping Centre. Image credit: Royal Pavilion & Museums; Brighton & Hove

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Fragment of a Roman wall painting with a Latin inscription from the 3rd century CE. The object was found on the remains of an amphitheater in ancient Viminacium in eastern Serbia.

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Fragment of a Roman wall painting with a Latin inscription from the 3rd century CE. The object was found on the remains of an amphitheater in ancient Viminacium in eastern Serbia.

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Goddess Astarte in Alabaster, stucco, gold, rubies from between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE.On loan to The MET from the Louvre.

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Goddess Astarte in Alabaster, stucco, gold, rubies from between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE.On loan to The MET from the Louvre.

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Runestone in Krogsta, from the 6th century AD, with a human figure and an inscription. One of three known rune stones in Uppland carved with the elder rune alphabet, and the only one still in its original position

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Runestone in Krogsta, from the 6th century AD, with a human figure and an inscription. One of three known rune stones in Uppland carved with the elder rune alphabet, and the only one still in its original position

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Fragments of a stone inscription from Olympia : the Rules of the Isolympic games in Naples, the Sebasta. These games, based on the Olympics, were founded for Roman emperor Augustus in 2 BCE - 2 CE ca. The inscription is of 1st-2nd c. CE; at the Arch. Mus. of Olympia

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Fragments of a stone inscription from Olympia : the Rules of the Isolympic games in Naples, the Sebasta. These games, based on the Olympics, were founded for Roman emperor Augustus in 2 BCE - 2 CE ca. The inscription is of 1st-2nd c. CE; at the Arch. Mus. of Olympia

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Roman portrait of the baker Terentius Neo and his wife. The object was found in their villa in Pompeii and dates back to the 1st century CE. The artefact is in the collection of the Museo Archeologico di Napoli.

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Roman portrait of the baker Terentius Neo and his wife. The object was found in their villa in Pompeii and dates back to the 1st century CE. The artefact is in the collection of the Museo Archeologico di Napoli.

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9th-century Viking ring with an Arabic inscription reading ‘For/to God,’ found in a woman’s grave in Sweden. [1182x1710)

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9th-century Viking ring with an Arabic inscription reading ‘For/to God,’ found in a woman’s grave in Sweden. [1182x1710)

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The epitaph of Licinia Eucharis, an ancient Roman stage actress who died at the age of 14. She is one of the few ancient actresses known to have achieved fame and respect in her profession during the Roman Republic. The 1st century BCE epitaph on her tomb was written by her father

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The epitaph of Licinia Eucharis, an ancient Roman stage actress who died at the age of 14. She is one of the few ancient actresses known to have achieved fame and respect in her profession during the Roman Republic. The 1st century BCE epitaph on her tomb was written by her father

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A beautiful Roman mosaic from the 4th century CE, showing a labyrinth. The object was found in the imperial palace in Gamzigrad . The labyrinth is surrounded by a wall and watchtowers.

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A beautiful Roman mosaic from the 4th century CE, showing a labyrinth. The object was found in the imperial palace in Gamzigrad . The labyrinth is surrounded by a wall and watchtowers.

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Hematite Phoenix Intaglio with a “Digest!” inscription on the reverse shows that the intaglio was considered an amulet for digestion and proper stomach function. According to tradition, the phoenix never ate and therefore had no digestive problems. 1st–3rd centuries AD. BnF Museum

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Hematite Phoenix Intaglio with a “Digest!” inscription on the reverse shows that the intaglio was considered an amulet for digestion and proper stomach function. According to tradition, the phoenix never ate and therefore had no digestive problems. 1st–3rd centuries AD. BnF Museum

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Made of bronze, Roman lamp in the shape of a griffin. The object is dated to the 4th century CE and was found in Serbia.

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Made of bronze, Roman lamp in the shape of a griffin. The object is dated to the 4th century CE and was found in Serbia.

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An Anglo-Saxon agate finger-ring engraved with a runic inscription around the outside. 8th-10th century CE, now housed at the British Museum

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An Anglo-Saxon agate finger-ring engraved with a runic inscription around the outside. 8th-10th century CE, now housed at the British Museum

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