Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum

Tillya Tepe: Pair of pendants depicting the Dragon Master in gold, turquoise, garnet, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and pearl. These elaborate hair ornaments depict a man wearing the tunic and flowing pants typical of nomadic dress. He holds two dragon-like creatures by their forelegs, a mythic scene known from ancient Persian and Siberian art that suggests power and invincibility Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Tillya Tepe: gold crown from 1st century BC-1st century AD. This crown was found in the tomb of a high-ranking nomadic woman. The base is formed by a diadem decorated with flowers, once inlaid with turquoise centres. Golden birds appear in the upper branches of four of the five trees, which represent the Tree of Life Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Ivory from Bagram. Statuette of a woman standing on a makara, possibly a furniture ornament, 1st-2nd centuries AD Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Pair of bracelets terminating in lion heads (Tillya Tepe, Tomb VI), 1st century BC-1st century AD. Gold and turquoise Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Pair of clasps made of gold and turquoise depicting Dionysos and Ariadne (Tillya Tepe, Tomb VI), 1st century BC-1st century AD Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Gold, turquoise, and carnelian boot buckles depicting a chariot drawn by dragons (Tillya Tepe, Tomb IV), 1st century BC-1st century AD Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Gold pair of clasps depicting warriors (Tillya Tepe, Tomb III), 1st century BC-1st century AD Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/ Musée Guimet

Glass and paint-enamelled glass beaker from Bagram. Goblet depicting figures harvesting dates, 1st-2nd centuries AD Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Limestone column capital from Ai Khanum. Corinthian style (Aï Khanum), before 145 BC Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Ceremonial plaque depicting Cybèle (Aï Khanum, Temple with niches), beginning of the 3rd century BC. Gilded Silver Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet

Gold fragment of a bowl depicting bearded bulls (Tepe Fullol), 2200-1900 BC Photograph: Thierry Ollivier/Musée Guimet