Bronze ritual wine vessel at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

These ancient vessels, crafted in North China during the Eastern Han period, are constructed from relatively soft pottery that lacks density, and are covered with a toxic lead glaze. Due to their hazardous composition, they were deemed unsuitable for everyday use and were created specifically to furnish tombs. The iridescent sheen of some green glazes is a result of burial processes. The 6th century BC began on the first day of 600 BC and ended on the final day of 501 BC. This pivotal century represents the peak of an era in human history commonly referred to as the Axial Age, during which five influential thought streams emerged from the teachings of five visionary thinkers across different regions. These visionaries include Buddha and Mahavira in India, Zoroaster in Persia, Pythagoras in Greece, and Confucius in China. Pāṇini, a renowned scholar in India, developed a comprehensive grammar for Sanskrit during this century or shortly thereafter. This esteemed work remains the oldest known grammar of any language to date. In the Near East, the initial half of this century was dominated by the Neo-Babylonian or Chaldean empire, which rose to power late in the previous century after successfully rebelling against Assyrian rule. The Kingdom of Judah came to an end in 586 BC when Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem and forcibly relocated most of its population. However, Babylonian rule was eventually toppled by Cyrus in the 540s, who established the Persian Empire and went on to expand it into the greatest empire the world had known at that time. This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative, a non-profit project launched by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.