Books published by British Museum Press

Composed of 17 syllables, haiku can convey the essence of an emotion, a fleeting moment in nature, or a throwaway comment. This is a selection of 60 classic haiku by masters such as Basho and features an explanatory introduction to the form and brief biographical notes of major authors.

The Portland Vase was probably made during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus (27 BC-AD 14). A work of outstanding technical skill, it is apparently decorated with scenes of love and marriage, the precise meaning of which has been the cause of much debate and interpretation.

The links between archaeology and the Bible have fascinated generations of archaeologists and biblical scholars who seek documentation of events narrated in the Bible. This work selects over 70 such documents, mainly from Western Asia, with some examples included from Greece, Egypt and Asia Minor.