Soldier's Fibula (Legionary Fibula, Wire Fibula Almgren 15)

Almgren 15, from Almgren, Oscar. Studien über nordeuropäische Fibelformen. (Liepzig, 1923). PDF
Riha type 1.6; from Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF

Typology: fibula, bow fibula, one-piece construction, Roman fibula

References: Almgren 15, Riha type 1.6 (plate 3, 92 - 130), Boelicke type 6 (plates 2 - 10, 16 - 341), Böhme Type 14, Ettlinger Type 4, Jobst Type 9, Van Buchem Type 22

Comment: As the name of the legion or soldier's fibula suggests, this fibula is often found in military camps. For example, Riha 1.6.2 is the Fibula type most frequently found in the Roman castra at Saalburg and Zugmantel (approx. 17%). But the soldier's fibula is also found in civilian settlements and, according to Böhme, these fibula were also worn by women.

Description: Legionary fibula are made with one-piece construction using a bronze in the most simple way possible, with a four-spiral spring, a lower tendon, and a solid hammered out parallel pin catch, its shape trapezoidal to square. The narrow wire-shaped bow does not offer many options for decoration or shape variation. Only a few examples are known, the temples of which are decorated with hallmark or engraved patterns (Böhme 313 - 318). The size is between 4.4 - 5.6 cm long, which corresponds to the size of other Rhineland parallels. The main feature of this type is the square wire in the spring section (with some exceptions, including Riha 125). There are four variations distinguished by the different cross-sections of the bow as follows:
1.6.1 With a band-shaped bracket flattened on the underside with a right-angled bend (92-111);
1.6.2 With a wire-shaped bow with a round to oval cross-section and a flat arch (112-125);
1.6.3 As 1.6.2, but with foot button (126-127);
1.6.4 A more substantial rhomboid cross-section bow, sometimes a hallmarked temple (128-130).

Date: The earliest evidence of the type is from the reign of Claudius, 41 - 54 A.D. With the exception of variant 1.6.4, the fibula type occurs very frequently in the castra of the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes towards the end of the 1st century. The specimens from the Upper Germanic-Rhaetian Limes, which date from the Flavian period, are barely larger than 5.5 cm and have a narrow bow. The last of the early types are from the second half of the second century. The further development, Riha 1.6.4, tends to form larger forms with more substantial bow with a rhomboid cross-section.

Geographical Distribution: The type is found Rhineland, where he can be found at many sites, e.g. in Nijmegen. From the Rhine provinces it spreads east and south to the Alpine and Danube countries. In France and England, where it rarely occurs, it can be regarded as an import. In free Germania it is known from several places (Czechoslovakia, Poland). South of the Alps, in Ticino, a special variant developed (Fransioli 73). For Riha 1.6.4, the center of occurrence shifts to the Danube countries.

Riha 1.6.1, plate 3, 92 - 111; with a band-shaped bow flattened on the underside with a right-angled bend; from Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF

Riha 1.6.2, plate 3, 112 - 125; With a wire-shaped bow with a round to oval cross-section and a flatter arch; from Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF