Small fibulae, such as this piece, were worn by both Roman soldiers and subjects across the empire. They served both a decorative and practical function, being used to fasten articles of clothing, such as cloaks or togae. They often took on the form of stylised animals, with zoomorphic brooches being one of the most popular designs of plate brooches. Animals were a favoured decorative motif across Roman art, either in association with specific deities or myths, or as popular domestic animals. Birds were a common decorative theme across the Roman Empire and especially popular as a fibula design. Amongst this, birds-at-rest, such as this example are also common. In Roman religion, where the Greeks had oracles, birds could reveal the will of the gods, and their flight, number, and behaviours were observed by augeres as omens, called auspicia.
To discover more on Roman and Celtic brooches, please see our relevant blog post: Roman and Celtic Fibulae
