The lecture will unveil the whimsical world of ancient Eastern beings: clawed thrones, snake-legged goddesses, bird-tailed dogs, and winged camels will appear as keys to the myths, rituals, and imagery of the East. The ancient East left behind temples, palaces, texts, burials, and numerous artifacts with beings that seem to have escaped from a strange dream: thrones with clawed paws, plates with snake-legged goddesses, fabrics with bird-tailed dogs, paintings with winged carnivorous camels. Behind such images lie not decorative fantasies, but entire systems of representations about the world, power, protection, and danger. The lecture will discuss wonderful creatures from the art and material culture of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Persia, Syro-Phoenicia, Mesopotamia, and Small and Central Asia. The lecturer is Maria Nazarova, a specialist in archaeology and art of the ancient world. All entertainment in St. Petersburg is gathered on our website.