Εight-shaped fibula

The fibula is a kind of brooch. It was introduced in the Aegean at the end of the Bronze Age and became an indispensable dressing equipment, mostly for females. Fibulae were used for fastening the chiton or the himation, as well as other types of garments and ornaments. Although they were functional, their positioning on visible parts of the garment gave them an ornamental character. This is why fibulae are often elegant and present such variety of types.

The illustrated eight-shaped fibula is dated at the end of the Geometric or the beginning of the Archaic period. It has been made of a single solid wire of almost square section, which was turned around a central shaft so as to form a pin at one end and a loop at the other. The part of the wire between the loop and the pin was skillfully given double spiral form.

Eight-shaped fibulae has a wide distribution in mainland Greece (mostly the Peloponnese, Thessaly and Macedonia), the Western Balkans, Italy and central Europe (Austria, Hungary) and are though to indicate contacts with the Central European Hallstatt Culture.

PUBLICATION
– Andreiomenou Α. 2006. Catalogue no. 118, in Choremi-Spetsieri Α. – Zarkadas Α. (eds), The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum. Ancient Art, Athens, 194.