After my recent trip to Doha, and learning about Qatari pearl diving, I present The Pearl Carpet of Baroda, commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda in India around 1865. It is embroidered with c. 1.5 million pearls and originally intended to be a cover for the tomb of Mohammed in Medina.

Trying to decide what my first post should be, and figured that in the spirit of Gladiator 2 coming out, I'll post this gladiator statuette from Arles, along with a model of the Arles amphitheater, complete with bear fight. #gladiator #arles #ancientrome #romanhistory #romanart #archaeology #history