Language Collection (#52)

Rune stone. The runic inscriptions engraved on this stone are believed to date back to the early Middle Ages. Around 6000 rune stones have been discovered depicting references to Christianity

Dante Alighieri
Durante degli Alighieri, generally known as Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Italian poet born in Florence and author of the La Divina Commedia (Divine Comedy)

Circulatory system, 16th century
Circulatory system. 16th-century artwork showing the heart and the arteries supplying blood to the body, as drawn by the Belgian anatomist Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)

Cardiac treatise, 15th century
Cardiac treatise. Page on the heart, from a 15th-century French work titled Le Livre des Proprietes des Choses. This is a later edition of a work that was originally published as De proprietatibus

18th century engraving of a kangaroo
Kangaroo. 18th century engraving of a kangaroo, described as a new species found on the coast of New South Wales. The first European to see a kangaroo was James Cook in 1770

Natives of New Guinea, 1643
Natives of New Guinea. 17th century artwork of three men from the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, paddling an outrigger canoe

Braille reading
MODEL RELEASED. Braille reading. Hand of a blind person reading braille. The braille writing and reading system was devised by the French teacher Louis Braille (1809-1852)

Male mermaid, 19th century artwork. This fish figure can also represent creatures such as tritons. Here, it has a mans head, such as found in mermen, the male form of a mermaid

Salt, conceptual image

Plastic items. Selection of common plastic items, including a ruler and letter stencils

Herbal medicine, 15th century
Herbal medicine. 15th-century manuscript page showing women gathering plants for use in herbal medicine. The text across bottom is in Latin

Herbal medicine, 10th century
Herbal medicine. 10th-century manuscript page showing Greek text over an artwork of a healer preparing a herbal remedy. The healer is grinding plants in a mortar

Ramon Llull, Majorcan scholar
Ramon Llull (1232-1315), Majorcan scholar, alchemist and philosopher. Also known as Raymond Lull and the Enlightened Teacher (Illuminatus), Llull was the author of Ars magna (1305) among other works

Mandrake plant, historical artwork. Different parts of the plant are shown in this botanical artwork, including the roots, leaves, and flowers. The key at bottom is in both Latin and German

Herbal medicine, 8th century
Herbal medicine. 8th-century manuscript page showing artworks of plants and Arabic text describing herbal remedies. This manuscript was produced in Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain)

Pharmacology proverb, 16th century
Pharmacology proverb. 16th-century artwork of a man smelling his finger while preparing a herbal remedy using a pestle and mortar

Knights Hospitaller, 16th century
Knights Hospitaller. 16th-century artwork showing patients being cared for in a hospital founded by the Knights Hospitaller

German astronomy atlas, 1882 cover artwork and titles. The name of this atlas (Bilderatlas der Sternenwelt) is across top, with the name of the Austrian author Edmund Weiss (1837-1917)

Lunar map, 1822
The Moon was the main object observed by the early telescope research. And the main questions were - is ther life, and what created the ringed mountains

Athanasius Kircher, German scholar
Athanasius Kircher (circa 1601-1680), German Jesuit scholar. Kircher worked in numerous different areas, including oriental studies, geology and medicine

Lunar landscape observations, 1882
The Moon was the main object observed by the early telescope research. And the main questions were - is ther life, and what created the ringed mountains

Lunar crater observations, 1882
The Moon was the main object observed by the early telescope research. And the main questions were - is ther life, and what created the ringed mountains

Langleys sunspot observation, 1873
The surface of the Sun, a Sunspot, observed on December 24, 1973. When observing the Sun with appropiate filtration, the most immediatly visible features are usually its sunspots

Frontal lobe in the brain, artwork
Frontal lobe in the brain. Computer artwork of a persons head showing the left hemisphere of the brain inside. The highlighted area shows the left frontal lobe

Frontal lobes in the brain, artwork
Frontal lobes in the brain. Computer artwork of a persons head showing the brain inside. The highlighted area shows the frontal lobes

Chinese and Sinhalese, 18th century text
Chinese and Sinhalese text, 18th century manuscript. The Chinese characters and names (left) are for weights and measures, and the proper names of places and people

Dante Alighieri, Italian poet
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Italian poet. Dante was born at Florence, and most likely educated at home where he found his love of poetry

Egyptian scarabs and Cretan seal-stones. Coloured image of an illustration by the British archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941)

Linear script symbols arranged in groups of two or more. Whilst excavating Knossos, the British archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941) found three forms of writing which he defined as Minoan

Building the Tower of Babel, 14th century
Building the Tower of Babel. According to Genesis the people of the Earth built a tower to scale heaven. God intervened and punished them for their presumption by destroying the tower

Development of Arabic numerals. Table illustrating the development and spread of numerals from the 1st to 14th centuries AD

Cretan symbols, 5th to 6th centuries BC
Cretan symbols. Coloured illustration from a diagram by the British archaeologist Arthur Evans (1851-1941). This diagram was based on artefacts dating from the 6th to 5th centuries BC

Transcription factor-DNA, molecular model. Strand of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, yellow) being acted on by a transcription factor protein (red and green)

Alphabet written in chalk on an old rusty metal door. Photographed in Rajasthan, India

Large painted letters on ancient wall, with statue of the Virgin, and wood shutters, Old Aix, Aix en Provence, Provence, France, Europe

BUSN2A-00096
Fur traders and Native Americans conversing in pantomine. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Sign atop a taxicab in Paris, France

Hoi An Vietnam, Lanterns

Lily / Language of Flowers
Lily personified

Blush Rose / Language of Flowers
Blush Rose personified

Convolvulus / Language of Flowers
Convolvulus personified

Mossrose / Language of Flowers
Mossrose personified

Harebell / Language of Flowers
Harebell personified

Pansy / Language of Flowers
Pansy personified

Daisy / Language of Flowers
Daisy personified

Violet / Language of Flowers
Violet personified

Holly / Language of Flowers
Holly personified

The language of the legs
The Language of the legs! - charting the development of a relationship through body language - from Timid to Ecstacy !

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Language is a powerful tool that connects people across time and space, transcending borders and cultures, and is through language that we express our thoughts, emotions, and ideas. In the heart of London, England lies the British Museum, home to one of history's most iconic artifacts - The Rosetta Stone. This ancient relic unlocked the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphs, allowing us to understand an ancient civilization's language. As we wander through this museum adorned with flags of the Royal Navy, we are reminded of how language played a crucial role in shaping empires and forging alliances throughout Europe. A vibrant Southern Railway poster from 1939 catches our eye as it advertises Ramsgate in all its glory; a testament to how language was used to entice travelers to explore new destinations. Intriguing illustrations showcasing sign language hand signals representing letters remind us that communication takes various forms beyond spoken words. Esperanto at a glance introduces us to an invented universal language aimed at fostering understanding among diverse cultures. Moving away from linguistic symbols, a captivating Southern Railway advertising poster displays the picturesque Weald of Kent; reminding us that even landscapes can speak their own unique dialects. The Language of Flowers reveals yet another fascinating aspect where nature communicates with its delicate blooms symbolizing love or friendship. Meanwhile, exploring the development of the English alphabet illuminates how written languages evolve over time. A sepia photograph captures Sigmund Freud's intense gaze as he reminds us that body it also conveys meaning beyond verbal expression. In Birstall, West Yorkshire stands a statue honoring Joseph Priestly who made significant contributions to linguistics; his legacy forever etched into history. Delving deeper into European heritage brings forth Ramon Llull's Breviculum Codex miniature - an exquisite example illustrating medieval manuscripts' intricate beauty while preserving knowledge for future generations.