A surprising amount of Roman security hardware survives to this day, unveiling a highly sophisticated system of keeping valuables safe and doors locked. The most abundant items seem to be keys and lock bolts. Keys were used mainly for doors, chests, boxes, caskets, cupboards and padlocks. Less often they were used for ceremonial or decorative purposes, such as matron keys, jewellery items and votive offerings. Some keys featured loops for suspension, while others could be worn on a finger as a literal key ring.
To learn more about everyday bronze items in the Classical World, visit our relevant post: Everyday Items in the Classical World.
