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Pazuzu figurine: An ancient statue of the Mesopotamian 'demon' god who inspired 'The Exorcist'Statues of the Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu are often found at archaeological sites, and his cultural relevance is seen in recent comparisons to creepy-looking Labubu dolls.
middle-east -
Sabu Disk: A mysterious 5,000-year-old Egyptian stone sculpture that looks like a hubcapThis unique disk-shaped bowl, found in a 5,000-year-old Egyptian tomb, has puzzled archaeologists for nearly a century.
17 Commentsancient-egyptians -
Hornelund Brooches: Viking age gold ornaments mysteriously buried in Denmark 1,000 years agoTwo brooches from Denmark are unique examples of Viking Age goldwork that includes Christian and Norse designs.
2 Commentsvikings -
Meskalamdug's Helmet: One of the world's oldest helmets depicts a Mesopotamian prince's man bunThis 15-karat gold helmet was discovered in a royal tomb at Ur, but it may only have been worn for ceremonial purposes.
middle-east -
Vounous Bowl: A 4,000-year-old basin holding 4 miniature cows and 18 people — that was buried for mysterious reasons in a Bronze Age tomb in CyprusExperts have debated the meaning of this tomb offering for decades but generally agree it depicts some sort of ceremony or ritual.
11 Commentsarchaeology -
Roman dodecahedron: A mysterious 12-sided object that has baffled archaeologists for centuriesThere are more than 50 theories for the function of this 12-sided, pentagonal-faced bronze object — but archaeologists have never quite figured it out.
47 Commentsromans -
Penguin Vessel: 1,600-year-old Nazca depiction of a cold-water Humboldt penguin that lives in tropical PeruA rare penguin-shaped pot reveals the Nazca's interest in depicting the wildlife around them.
americas -
Monomachos Crown: The 1,000-year-old crown honoring 'the one who fights alone' found by a farmer in a fieldOne of only three surviving Byzantine crowns, it depicts a man and two sisters who jointly ruled the empire in the 11th century.
archaeology -
Assyrian swimmers: 2,900-year-old carving of soldiers using inflatable goat skins to cross a riverA carved panel found at Nimrud depicts Assyrian soldiers swimming across a river and using inflatable goat skins as floaties.
7 Commentsmiddle-east
