Antiquities Discussion Forums > Fibulae and Clothing Items
Would like to know/get more info about 'gladius' amulet
Kilian O:
Hello guys!
I purchased the lot from [REMOVED BY ADMIN]. I don't seem to find much information about such amulets/pendants and find it odd it only has a hole on one side ???
Was it equivalent to a modern day purple heart and was it not really worn? Maybe the half hole standed for being hit in battle I'm not really sure,anybody that can enlighten me a little more?
Thanks and happy holidays to you all :angel:
SC:
I have seen dealers refer to these as Gladius amulets before.
I don't believe that that is an accurate description.
Just because it bears a vague resemblance to a gladius does not mean it is one. It is roughly sword shaped and has a knob at the top. If it is meant to be a gladius it lacks a handle. If you are going to the trouble of putting the know for a pommel why leave out a handle?
The Romans did make fibula in the shape of genuine items but this is clearly not a fibula or fibula part.
Could well be a case of pareidolia - seeing a pattern or object that was not really intended. For example the well-known propeller belt plaques or stiffeners obviously do not represent propellers.
The second problem is the term amulet. What is an amulet? Romans had various small objects - fibula, belt plaques, furniture decorations, ear-rings, beads, hangers for belts/aprons/horse harness. There were some amulet-like objects that hung from necklaces - such as the bulla symbolizing childhood.
They didn't have medals. The Roman's didn't have any wearable military awards except the large round phalera and perhaps gilded fibula.
Not sure how your object fastened on to anything. The round spot on the back does not appear to be a hole going through. Is it the base of a lost post or rivet head? If so it was probably fastened to leather.
Until we see such an item in proper archaeological context we can't be sure what it is.
SC
Kilian O:
Yeah it's kinda odd that there are quite a few arround and we not having an idea for what it was used. My safe bet is that it was decoration/ornament for like you said on leather or any other material prob for a soldier of some kind cause I don't see civilians wearing a sword. As for the complaint about why there's no handle: I think it depends on the maker, the knob and shape of blade make it look like a gladius, it's symmetric and has the hole at the same position as many other of these bronze swords and also the cuts on the hilt that have been found. So I think the claim of pareidolia is a bit far stretched however it is possible but then all of those that have been found are. This is the one a fellow collecter has: https://imgur.com/a/pz0quDK It's good that you are critical about it and you should be. I guess we won't be really sure what it's purpose was.
SC:
You bought from a reputable dealer - though that doesn't mean that all the descriptions are correct.
But my skepticism comes from seeing other dealers where everything is either "legionary" or "gladiator" or, if medieval "viking". A lot of people out there are being overcharged or plain ripped off.
SC
Jay GT4:
Yes, like "voting sticks" :)
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