A popular Indian Jewelry design is the “squash blossom” (like the coral squash worn by the model on the previous page). The design originated with a “naja,” a crescent-shaped ornament worn by horses of the Moorish empire and North African pomegranate blossoms. The Spanish adopted the design and when they came to the Americas, brought it with them. The designs were then adapted by the Navajo and other groups here. Another design resource was German silver (an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc), often fashioned into religious symbols, such as a cross. The Navajo used these design elements, not because of their religious origin, but because of the shapes, styles and materials, which they found pleasing.