In antiquity, fibulae were originally used for fastening garments, particularly cloaks, and served both a decorative and practical purpose. The brooches came in a variety of shapes, but all were based on the safety pin principle. The crossbow design reached the height of its popularity both in Italy and in the Western European provinces at a later stage in the Empire’s history. Worn almost exclusively by men, the crossbow brooch came to represent civil and military authority, with famous Roman generals, such as Stilicho, having been depicted wearing crossbow fibulae. Simpler versions made with cheaper materials were then popularised by Roman soldiers, thus allowing for their spread into the provinces where they became a staple of Romano-Celtic fibula design.
To discover more on Roman and Celtic brooches, please see our relevant blog post: Roman and Celtic Fibulae