Archaeolo-Rhi

Latin text

Innermost Gold Coffin of Tutankhamun

Now in the Grand Egyptian Museum. JE 60671

Cusped Ring, North European, 15th Century

Chalcedony intaglio, possibly the portrait of Queen Loadike, wife of Mithradates IV of Pontus, 2nd century BC

Carnelian ring, Egypt, New Kingdom, 1540-1075 BC

Crab effigy vessel, Moche culture, Peru, 100-800 AD

Egyptian sistrum of Tapenu (chantress of the god Sobek) with a Hathor handle, used in religious ceremonies

ca. 1186–600 BCE

Metropolitan Museum of Art 68.44

What do you ermine you’ve never heard of the ermine (Mustela erminea)?! Despite its fluffy appearance, this small carnivore can amass dozens of kills for eating later. Its long, lean, active body burns so many calories that it must stay fueled to survive. It prefers to hunt mammals but won’t turn down fish, eggs, birds, frogs, or insects, given the opportunity. During the winter, it turns white for camouflage.