The snake eating frog buckle. Fashion statement or cult symbol?

[gallienus1]

Interesting research recently published in the Journal of Archaeological Science points to belt buckles with a snake eating a frog motif being linked to a lost central European pagan cult.

Apparently belonging to Avars from around the 8th century, the authors conclude that the belt buckles could have had a religious meaning. My own inclination at first was that they could just as easily have been simply decorative, but as we know so little of Avar cultural beliefs the authors may well be on to something.                                                                         
                                                                     
See-                                                                                                                           
 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440323001759

[SC]

Interesting article.  Likely symbolic as the Avar "vegetation" buckle is apparently actually a Tree of Life.

SC

[Molinari]

I think probably a cult symbol too.