 Fibulae
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Fibulae are ancient Roman brooches.
Unlike modern brooches, fibulae were not only decorative, they originally served a practical function: to fasten clothes, including cloaks. Fibulae replaced straight pins that were used to fasten clothing in the Neolithic period and Bronze Age. In turn, fibulae were replaced as clothing fasteners in the Middle Ages by buttons. Their descendent, the modern safety-pin, remains in use today.
Here you can admire fibulae of different styles.
Pictures are taken from various sites, clicking on the image will take you to them.
The Straight Wire fibula, also known as the Soldier’s type or Legionnaire’s type, is a very plain design. It was common from 1st c. BC to 1st AD and a little later. |
These is a collection of fibulae of different styles, regions and ages. They date from the
4th century BC to the 3rd century AD |
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Wikipedia |
Wikipedia |
Gold pin with amethyst cameo of woman |
Gold pin with garnet intaglio of Victory |
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Museo Nazionale Romano |
Museo Nazionale Romano |
This fibula is in the so-called "peacock-tail" style, popular from Gaul to the Danube regions. This fibula is in siver and smalto and it is from the 1st c. AD. |
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Musée du Louvre |
This fibula, made of the finest ornamental filigree work, bears on the upper side of the bow the inscription "Utere felix" (Use her with fortune). It is a masterpiece of the Roman goldsmiths art from the late 3rd c. AD. |
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Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna |
