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. They were the basis for more complicated and highly decorated brooches, modelled in bronze, silver and gold and further enriched with precious and semi-precious gemstones. 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. They do not feature in the repertoire before the late 3rd century, but became popular especially within the 4th century. Fibulae are the most common artefact-type in burials and settlements throughout much of the continental Europe, though by the Middle Ages, the Roman safety pin type of fibula had fallen into disuse.
To discover more on Roman and Celtic brooches, please see our relevant blog post: Roman and Celtic Fibulae
