Cylinder sheath of King Aspelta, 593–568 BCE, Nubian. Gold. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
Art Break: Golden Cylinders of Ancient Nubia – What Were They?
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The shining golden cylinders found in royal burial sites in ancient Nubia remain a mystery. They are beautifully formed of gold and gilded silver and lavishly decorated with unusual iconography, yet their function is unclear. Conservator Susanne Gänsicke and curator Denise Doxey of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston discuss these unique objects and introduce new approaches to solve the puzzle.