Bactrian bounty

[Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

A crown, a tiny but exquisite ibex figurine and a sheath carved with two dragons－all from the first century AD－are prominently displayed.

They are part of the Bactrian hoard (named after an ancient kingdom)－one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the world, according to Mohammad Fahim Rahimi, director of the National Museum of Afghanistan, from where the exhibits have come.

"Afghanistan, which was at the crossroads of the ancient routes (of the Silk Road),was a place where people from different cultures used to congregate and exchange goods," Rahimi says.

He says this exchange is responsible for the coexistence of artistic styles from different civilizations among the exhibits.

The winged Aphrodite is a good example of this.