November Gallery

Statue of Amenhotep III (Neb-Maat-Ra) and Sobek c.1390-1352

Statue of Amenhotep III (Neb-Maat-Ra) and Sobek c.1390-1352 BC. Carved from Calcite (Egyptian Alabaster). Found in the Sobek temple at Dahamsha. Sobek is seated in a human form with the crocodile head and his right hand holds the Ankh giving life to the youthful Amenhotep III. The King is wearing the Nemes headdress, with the uraeus and royal beard. 18th Dynasty. New Kingdom. Luxor Museum. Egypt

© Thaliastock / Mary Evans

Battle of Kadesh (1274 B.C.). Ramses II in his chariot. Rame

Relief depicting the battle of Kadesh (generally dated to 1274 b.C.) between the forces of the Egyptian Empire under Ramesses II and the Hittite Empire under Muwatalli II at the city of Kadesh on the Orontes River. Ramses II in his chariot. Ramesseum. 13th century. Nineteen dynasty. New Kingdom. Necropolis of Thebes. Valley of the kings. Egypt

© Thaliastock / Mary Evans

Drawing of human venous system (Leonardo da Vinci)

Venous system. Drawing of a "venous figure" by Leonardo da Vinci, taken from his Anatomical note- books. This standing figure with its expressive sad face shows the blood circulation (veins) and some body organs. Dated about 1494, it is an early drawing by da Vinci, before he had access to dissection. The anatomy is therefore in places incorrect such as the circulation around the heart and liver, oddly shaped kidneys, and ureters not entering the urinary bladder. Veins in the arms and legs are fairly accurate. Anatomical practice at this time was to portray the "tree of the vessels" against "spiritual parts" (the liver and heart). Da Vinci's "mirror" writing is seen

© MEHAU KULYK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY