Future Past

Gold ring depicting <n>King Akhenaten</n> and <n>Queen Nefertiti</n>, Egypt, <n>Amarna Period</n>, ca. 1353–1336 BC.

An <n>Early-stage Cuneiform Token with Counting Inscription</n> from ancient <n>Sumer</n>.

An <n>Etruscan Alphabet Tablet</n> from the 6th-5th century BC. Photo by <n>G. Nimatallah</n>.

<n>Greco-bactrian chalcedony intaglio with griffin</n> from Tilliya Tepe, Afghanistan, 1st century AD.

<n>Etruscan</n> <n>silver-gilt ring</n> from the <n>Archaic</n> period, late 6th–early 5th century B.C.

<n>The Kiss</n>, a 1912 limestone sculpture by artist <n>Constantin Brâncuși</n>.

Bronze <n>Statue of the goddess Bastet</n>, c. 600 BC. From the collection of the <n>Neues Museum</n>.

<n>Jade dragon pendant</n> from China's <n>Western Han dynasty</n>, c. 200 BC.

A <n>Roman signet ring</n> in gold and niccolo onyx, dating from the 1st-3rd century CE.

A 3rd century BC <n>silver stater from Knossos</n> depicting the Labyrinth. Photo by <n>Ashmolean Museum</n>.

An <n>Ancient Egyptian black serpentine scarab</n> amulet, dated to 664-332 BCE.