62.20.5a, .5b, two bronze fibulae
Europe
Frank Hibben collection
Photograph by B. Bernard
A fibula was both an ornament and a tool. It functioned much like a
giant safety pin, in an age when clothing was often large pieces of
fabric and tailoring was almost unheard of. A typical use was to hold
a cloak in place. The larger fibula is 11 centimeters (4 1/2 inches)
long.
If you are familiar with "fibula" as a bone in the lower leg, there is a connection! Before metal pins (such as these ones) were devleoped, a large pin made from an animal fibula would have served the purpose. The Roman word fibula most likely derives from the use of that bone as a pin.
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Page last revised on July 24, 2009. Please report problems to toh@unm.edu