Terracotta Figure of a Woman with Long Hair at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

From the ancient city of Yotkan, capital of the kingdom of Khotan in modern-day Xinjiang province, a prosperous and powerful oasis kingdom flourished. Its capital, situated south of the Taklamakan desert, yielded many terracotta figures and ceramics with a Hellenistic style adopted from Iran, showcasing a distinct cultural identity separate from Central China's artefacts. The 2nd century AD, spanning from 101 to 200 according to the Julian calendar, was a pivotal time in human history. This period is considered part of the Classical era, marked by significant events that shaped the world. At its peak, the Roman Empire expanded under Trajan's leadership but later became primarily defensive after his death. A succession of just and able rulers, known as the Five Good Emperors, brought prosperity to the empire during this time. However, Hadrian's removal of the Jews from Jerusalem during Bar Kokhba's revolt marked a turning point in Roman history. The Pax Romana, a period of peace and prosperity, came to an end with Marcus Aurelius' death and Commodus' ineffective reign. Meanwhile, the Han Dynasty in China solidified its power and extended its influence into Central Asia but eventually declined due to corruption and rebellion by the second half of the century. This set the stage for its eventual overthrow in 220 AD. The 3rd century AD saw a crisis in the Roman Empire, marking the beginning of Late Antiquity. The Parthian Empire gave way to the Sassanid Empire in Persia, while the Kushan Empire was replaced by the Gupta Empire in India. China entered the Three Kingdoms period, and Korea was ruled by the Three Kingdoms of Korea. In Pre-Columbian America, the Adena culture declined in favor of the Hopewell culture, and the Maya civilization entered its Classic Era. The Roman Empire's civil war after Commodus' death led to the emergence of Septimius Severus as emperor, establishing the Severan dynasty. However, this regime was short-lived, giving way to a fifty-year period known as the Military Anarchy or Crisis of the Third Century. This chaotic era saw numerous emperors rise and fall, with most meeting violent ends. The empire teetered on the brink of collapse due to internal strife and external threats from Persia. Under its new Sassanid rulers, Persia grew into a rival superpower, forcing the Romans to reform and prepare for confrontation. It wasn't until late in the century that Diocletian implemented drastic reforms, including dividing the empire into an eastern and western half, each with its own ruler. This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative, a non-profit project aiming 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, inviting contributors to email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how they can help. Scanned using photogrammetry with Agisoft PhotoScan.