Inscribed Gold crossbow fibula (brooch), Roman, 286-309 CE at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

Inscribed Gold crossbow fibula (brooch), Roman, 286-309 CE at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
This type of fibula, used to fasten a cloak around the neck, became part of the standard insignia of military personnel during the third century C.E. This example is inscribed in Latin on the bow: HERCVLI AVGVSTE SEMPER VINCAS (May you always be victorious, Hercules Augustus!). The titles probably refer to the tetrarch Maximian, who styled himself as Hercules. The brooch would have been made at an imperial workshop and presented as a gift to a senior member of the imperial staff.


Image: Inscribed Gold crossbow fibula (brooch), Roman, 286-309 CE courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

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