Grand Hairy One

Montefortino Helmet from Italy dated between the 3rd - 2nd Centuries BCE on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, Spain

Etruscan-Italian helmets like this were thought to be introduced to Spain through traders or mercenaries. The helmet dates to the Punic wars where mercenaries fighting for the Carthaginian Empire and Roman Republic were moving through Spain. Such helmets were especially popular amongst Celtic warriors and the style was adopted by the Roman legions.

Stone Monolith from Tepoztlán, Mexico dated between 700 - 800 on display at the Regional Museum of Querétaro in Querétaro, Mexico

This monolith has been damaged over the years but it still retains features that suggest it represents Tláloc goddess of rain, thunder and lightning. While a number of groups settled in Querétaro during the early Medieval period, they shared religious beliefs and Tláloc was a common diety worshiped in Mexico.

Stone Carving from Querétaro, Mexico dated between 800 - 1000 on display at the Regional Museum of Querétaro in Querétaro, Mexico

This stone is cut into a spiral shape that is often linked to depictions or places of worship for the god Quetzalcoatl. The name translated from Nahuatl is Feathered Serpent as the god is often depicted as parge winged snake. Medieval Querétaro has few established settlements due to population migration of differing groups. Examples such as this could indicate how many of the groups had similarities in culure and identit, especially when it came to religion and belief.

Fountain Jet from Córdoba, Spain dated to the Late 10th Century on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, Spain

The body of this metal statue is hollow to allow water to enter through a hole in the belly so it can be spurted out out of the mouth of the deer. It was probably accompanied by other bronze animals to be part of a larger water feature. The deer is decorated in floral and plant motifs.