1, The Double Statue Of Mephistopheles And Margarita
Perhaps one of the most incredible sculptures in the world. There is a well-known sculpture called “The Double Statue of Mephistopheles and Margarita”. The fact is that on one side of the statue there is a male figure, and on the other – a female one. The sculpture is created from a single piece of the oldest sycamore tree.
2, Cat Paw Prints In The Medieval Floor Tiles Of The 12th Century Ce St Peter Church In Wormleighton, England
3, The Gate Of All Nations In Persepolis
A massive guardian statue stands at the Gate of All Nations in Persepolis, the ceremonial heart of the Achaemenid Empire, located in present-day Iran. Commissioned by King Xerxes I in the 5th century BCE, this gate once received envoys from across the empire during New Year festivities. Carved from limestone, the figure features a bull’s body, eagle’s wings, and a human head—symbolizing power, guardianship, and royal dignity. Drawing inspiration from the Assyrian lamassu yet showcasing Persian elements, it exemplifies the empire’s majesty. Although weathered by time, the sculpture still powerfully conveys the artistry and authority of ancient Persia
4, Ancient Marvel, From 1516, The Visionary Mind Of Leonardo Da Vinci Manifested In The Form Of A Captivating Spiral Staircase
5, The Nushabad Underground City Near Kashan, Iran
The Nushabad Underground City near Kashan, Iran, stands as a 1,500-year-old marvel from the Sassanian era. Carved an impressive 4 to 18 meters deep across three levels, this labyrinth stretches over 4 square kilometers. Its intricate network of tunnels, rooms, and air ducts provided refuge for locals seeking shelter from invaders like the Mongols and Arabs. With hidden entrances tucked beneath homes and forts, plus cunning traps like narrow curving passages, it safely housed thousands for days, complete with wells and storage.
This incredible city was utilized into the Qajar era (1789-1925) but was gradually abandoned as external threats diminished. Its secrets lay buried under desert sands, forgotten by time, until 2005. That year, a Nushabad resident, while digging a drainage ditch, stumbled into a tunnel and unveiled this lost world.
6, The Thracian Chariot
Nestled in the tranquil landscapes of Bulgaria, archaeologists have made a startling find: a beautifully crafted wooden chariot dating back two millennia, adorned with vivid imagery from Thracian mythology. This incredible artifact provides a fascinating insight into the burial practices and spiritual beliefs of the ancient Thracian civilization that once flourished in this area.
Discovered in the grave of a significant Thracian noble from the 1st century AD, the chariot exemplifies the exceptional craftsmanship of its time. It features four robust wheels, each measuring around 4 feet in diameter, decorated with intricately crafted, silver-plated figures of the god Eros and mythical, panther-like beasts.
In addition to the chariot, the remains of two horses and a dog were found, believed to have been interred to assist the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. This tradition was a crucial element of Thracian burial rituals, underscoring their deep conviction in existence beyond death.
7, Mycenaean Daggers/Swords, Greece 16th – 14th Century Bc, National Archaeological Museum, Athens, Greece
8, Lascaux Cave
Lascaux Cave in France’s Dordogne region is renowned for its stunning Palaeolithic wall paintings. These artworks, mostly depictions of animals, date to around 17,000 years ago—placing them in the Upper Paleolithic era, likely in the late Solutrean or early Magdalenian periods. Scholars have estimated their age using a combination of radiocarbon dating and associated finds, such as a carved reindeer antler, offering insight into the artistic traditions of early humans.
9, Trilobite Fossil Slab, Likely From Morocco
Trilobite fossil slab, likely from Morocco — these marine arthropods thrived during the Paleozoic Era, roughly 520 to 250 million years ago. The slab shown here preserves several individuals, possibly from the Devonian period, beautifully detailed with segmented exoskeletons and sweeping spines.
Trilobites lived on ancient sea floors, and their fossilized remains are often found in limestone and shale formed from compacted seabed sediments. The preservation quality seen here suggests rapid burial in an anoxic environment, halting decay and allowing mineralization to retain even delicate appendages.
10, Bust Of Maria Duglioli Barberini
Bust of Maria Duglioli Barberini, sculpted by the renowned Italian artist Giuliano Finelli in 1626. Finelli, celebrated for his skillful marble carvings, created a lifelike and dynamic representation of Maria Duglioli Barberini, a member of the influential Barberini family.
