Fibulae for reenactors

Fibulae were decorative needles

The term fibula (Latin for ‘needle’) was a metallic safety pin for the tunic. The earliest forms can already be found in the bronze age, and they were widely used up to the high middle ages. For Roman women and men, however, fibulae were adorned and perfect pieces of jewelry as our archaeological findings show. They indicated the social status of the person and were an integral part of personal clothings. Usually, the jewelry consist of a needle and a hanger. The oldest fibulae are made of two parts, while younger specimens had an additional hinge like a brooch. Today, they compare to a modern lavalier or safety pin, yet artistically formed and decorated.