Roman Brooches from Serbia as Cult Objects

Abstract

Among Roman Brooches originating from the territory of today's Serbia, in nearly every typo-logical group there are types or specimens with a cult function or symbolism. In the group of early Roman fibulae there is a type in the form of pincers related to metallurgy and Vulcanus. In the group of strongly-profiled arch brooches there are several types connected to cult issues: anchor-fibu-lae and some variants of a hybrid-type, like zoomorphic and anthropomorphic strongly-profiled arch fibu-lae. In the group of elbow-brooches there is a luxurious specimen made of silver, ornamented with gold foil and with a votive inscription. Nearly all types of plate brooches could have had a cultic meaning or function, especially the type in the form of a swastika. The types of the group of figural modelled fibulae are obviously associated with certain deities, as they appear in the form of different animals as well as in form of cult scenes. There is a type of brooches in the form of cult objects, like a jug, thyrsus, caduceus and horn of plenty (cornu copia) (Petkovie Types 27 A-D). In the group of arch fibulae some types could be referred to as cult objects, like crossbow brooches decorated with imperial portraits or Christian symbols, but also with a rep-resentation of an obscure deity.