Ram’s-Head Earring, Nubian, 550–500 BC. Gold. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition. Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

While this piece predates the medieval period, it was valuable during this time for gold. Gold was highly prized in ancient Nubian society and was associated with wealth, status, and prestige. It was crafted from gold and would have been worn by individuals of high social standing, such as nobles or elites. Its elaborate design, featuring the head of a ram, a symbol often associated with divinity and power, further enhances its symbolic significance.