Ca. AD 175 - 300.
A Roman bronze brooch decorated with four heads of horses realised in naturalistic manner. It was used principally in the Northern and Eastern part of the Empire, inspired by Thracian art. Fibulae had a fundamental role in the Roman Empire, in fact, in addition to holding the cloak they also served as an object of social distinction. This one in particular, was widespread in the military sphere and inspired by the art of the Thracians, a population from or settled on the edge of the Steppes. In these populations, horses were undoubtedly fundamental for its speed of movement. This animal was useful for pulling chariots, cultivating but also, above all, for fighting. These warriors aroused so much admiration in Emperor Marcus Aurelius that he decided to annex the war cavalry of the Sarmatians (descendants from the Thracians) into the Roman army. This fibula was in fact made and became widespread after the end of the Marcomannic wars. For similar see: Nordeuropaische fibelformen, fig.132.
Size: 34mm x 32mm; Weight: 16g
Provenance: Private UK collection; From an old London collection formed in the 1990s.