Arheološki vestnik (Arh. vest.) 43, 1992, str. 105-110
105
Note on the diffusion of swastika fibulae with horse-head decorations
in the Late Roman Period
Maurizio BUORA
Izvleček
Avtor obravnava tipologijo in razprostranjenost fibul v obliki svastike s konjskimi glavicami. En primerek je bil najden med zaščitnimi izkopavanji na Gradu v Vidmu leta 1987. Razširjene so od Dacije, Mezije, Dardanije. Panonije in vzhodnega Norika do severovzhodnih meja Italije, največ primerkov pa poznamo iz antičnih Burgcn (Novi Banovci). Nekaj jih izvira iz rimskih taborov; datirane so v 3. in 4. st. n. š.
A swastika fibula with four horse-heads (pi. 1: 1) was found near a house dating from the late 3rd or early 4lh century A.D. and the end of the 6th or the early 7th century1 in 1987, during an emergency excavation on the Udine castle hill. The fibula was found in soil, which had frequently been disturbed in the past, as it was part of a burial ground, which was continuously used from the 7th century to the start of the 19lh century. The fibula was located in a discharge pit adjoining the house, containing material, which could be dated to the second half of the 6,h century.
On its back the bronze fibula, measuring 3,9 x 3,9 cm, still has an attachment for the clip and part of the clasp tip. The front of the fibula displays the four horse heads and punched concentric ring decoration of clear Roman origin.
The excavations showed that the site continued to be inhabited by local Roman people even after the Lombard invasion (568 A.D.). Although part of the material in the pit had been damaged by the construction of foundations in the middle of the Mediaeval Period, statistically, a high percentage of the material recovered from the site can be dated to the Late Roman Period up to the 6lh century.
OKIGIN ANI) DEVELOPMENT OF THE ICONOGRAPHIC MOTIF
The figures on the fibula combine two very common motifs, the swastika and the animal heads, which
Abstract
The author examines the morphology and area of diffusion of the swastika fibulae with four horse-heads: one of them was found in 1987, during an emergency excavation around the Udine castle (Italy). Their area of diffusion included Dacia. Moesia. Dardania. Pannonia, Eastern Noricum and the north-eastern border of Italy, with a concentration of examples in the city of ancient Burgenae (Novi Banovci). These fibulae arc also present in the remains of Roman military camps and have been given a 3rd and 4"' century date.
appeared in different times and places and blend here in a manner not dissimilar to Celtic and Germanic art motifs.
"Appliques'' with the same swastika arrangement and horse heads have been found in the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., that is belonging to the Negau horizon, e. g., in grave 33, barrow 5 in Dolenjske Toplice (pi. 2: 3)2 or in the first part of the 4th century B.C. in some princely tombs in the Balkan Peninsula, including the one in Peretu, in Rumania (pi. 2: l).3
In the high and middle imperial period, fibulae of Almgren 234 and 235 form were common among Germanic people. The curved arms end in groups of rosettes, which could be interpreted as stylized heads. The arms could be free, as in a specimen dating from the 3rd or 4lh century from the princely necropolis of Hiiven, in former East Germany,4 or connected by metal bars forming a round frame, as in a specimen found in Nestegogaard, in Zeeland, kept in the National Museum, in Copenhagen.5 It is not difficult to see in this motif the direct antecedent of the triquetra, or the decoration with three animal heads radiating from a single centre, which adorns some shield umbos from the Lombard period. About ten such specimens, exclusively Italian, and dating to the 7th century A.D. have been identified.''
A decorative motif similar to the triquetra, formed by three stylized animal heads with curved necks inside a circle, occurs on an ornamental bronze disk found among the objects in a girl's grave. No. 15, in the nobles' necropolis of Friedberg, used around the middle of the 7lh century by an Alemannic family (pi.
2: 5).7 Closely related to these ornaments, but at the same time similar to our fibulae, are some disks in the Budapest Museum belonging to the Avar culture (pi. 2: 6,7).8
The importance held by the horse in the ancient world is well known. The representation of this important animal has its own tradition in different fields. The head of Bucephalus, the war horse of Alexander the Great, is shown on Seleucid coins,9 and this motif was transmitted in the 3rd century B.C. to Roman-Campanian coinage.10 The same motif is found later in gem carving (four gems in the Aquileia museum are carved with a horse head turned to the right)." Turned in the same manner to the right, the horse head is also found on the disk of a few lamps, perhaps from Pollentia's workshops.12
TYPE AND DIFFUSION OF HORSE-HEAD SWASTIKA FIBULAE
The horse-head swastika fibulae have been considered together with the fibulae of the type with arms bent at right angels. The horse-head fibulae, in particular, belong to type Almgren 232 as is shown in a specimen from Rumania. The taste for these decorations is clearly evident in the Late Roman Period, when animal representations as well as fibulae of geometrical shape were appreciated.
The specimens, so far known, bear a certain resemblance to each other in both form and dimensions, which are nearly constant.
The authors who have studied these specimens have pointed out the Balkan origin of this type of fibulae. As can be seen in the catalogue of finds given in the appendix, their area of diffusion included Dacia, Moe-sia, Dardania, Pannonia, Eastern Noricum and, to a much lesser extent, Italy (close to its border with Pannonia and Noricum and very near to the Rhaetian border). Related forms and no examples from our group seem to have been prevalent in Germany. We refer to the fibula numbered 1058 from Saalburg (pi. 1: 9) which has a single nut eye at the centre and has substantially different heads.1"
A concentration of examples, so similar to each other as to justify the assumption of a local production centre, has been found in the area of Novi Banovci (the ancient Burgenae) which is at the centre of the area of diffusion of these fibulae (pi. 1: 2-7). Other finds were made in neighbouring areas, showing their gradual spread outward (fig. 1). Small variations in the motif can be seen in fibulae from other places. For example, in the shape of the ears or in the outline of the horse head.
Unfortunately, in most cases it appears that the fibulae of this type belong to old finds or lack a suitable context. The chronological terms have been listed above for the fibula from the Udine excavation.
Fig. I: Map of diffusion of swastika fibulae with horse-head decorations. SI. I: Razprostranjenost fibul v obliki svastikc s konjskimi glavicami.
Note on the diffusion of swastika fibulae with horse-head decorations in the Late Roman Period
107
The fibula from Tisens-St. Hyppolit comes from a site, from which much material of the Late Roman Period and the 6th century has been excavated, and which was inhabited by a Roman population, as was the hill on which the Udine castle now stands. The fibulae from Criste^ti in Transylvania and from Beograd-Ka-lemegdan, Gornji grad were found in the remains of Roman military camps.14 The fibula from Dragovita near Niš has been given a 4th century date.
We can also say that these fibulae are widely present in Dacia and along the middle and lower Danube, and
only exceptionally do they appear on the borders of Italian territory.
Perhaps it is possible to relate this fact to the presence of troops originating in Dacia, Moesia and Dardania and moving to Aquileia, attested by several inscriptions. Some funeral monuments in Aquileia of soldiers originating in these areas have been dated to the Tetrarchy.1;>
* * *
I am grateful to Mr. Dragan Božič for the assistance.
LIST OF FINDS
Rumania
1.	Cristejti. Transylvania. - Parvan 1982 , 205, fig. 255.
2.	Transylvania. Museum Cluj. - Almgren 1923. 104. pi. 10: 232.
3.	4. National Museum. Bucharest. Inv. No. 0972 and 0973. - D. Popescu, Dacia 9-10. 1941-1944. 500. fig. 9: 96,97.
Hungary
5. Szony (Brigelio). Hungarian National Museum. Budapest. Inv. No. 4.1933.53. - T Hampel. Arch. ert. 13, 1893, 451, fig. 5; Almgren 1923. 104.
Croatia
6. Osijek (Mursa). Muzej Slavonije, Osijck. - Vinski 1968. 132, pi. 8: 41.
Serbia
I.	Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Arheološki muzej, Zagreb. -Vinski 1968, 132. pl. 8: 42a.
8.	Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Arheološki muzej. Zagreb. -Vinski 1968, 132, pl. 8: 42b.
9.	Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Arheološki muzej, Zagreb. -Vinski 1968. 132. pl. 8: 42c.
K). Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Arheološki muzej, Zagreb. - Vinski 1968, 132. pl. 8: 42d.
II.	Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Narodni muzej, Beograd. Inv. No. 1138. - Vinski 1968. 132. pl. 8: 42c; Trbuhovič 1988. 155, No. 2, fig. 4.
12. Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Narodni muzej, Beograd. Inv. No. 1139. - Vinski 1968, 132, pl. 8: 42f; Trbuhovič 1988, 155, No. 1. fig. 1.
13.	Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Narodni muzej, Beograd. Inv. No. 1142. - Trbuhovič 1988. 155, No. 3, fig. 5.
14.	Novi Banovci (Burgenae). Narodni muzej, Beograd. Inv. No. 1143. - Trbuhovič 1988, 155, No. 4. fig. 2.
15.	Beograd-Kalcmegdan. Gornji grad (Singidunum). Muzej grada Beograda. Beograd. Dated 4 century. - Bojovič 1983. 139. pl. 30: 290.
16.	Beograd-Kalcmegdan. Donji grad (Singidunum). Muzej grada Beograda. Beograd. Dated 4 -5lh century. - M. Bajalo-vič-Hadži-Pešič, Srednjevekovnom Beogradu u pohode (1977) cat. No. 1.
17.	Kostolac (Viminacium). - Bojovič 1983, 67.
18.	Dragovita by Niš. Narodni muzej. Niš. Inv. No. 180/SV. Dated 4,h century. - Jovanovič 1978, 69, cat. No. 91, fig. 145.
Auslria
19.	Carnuntum. Private collection. - J. Matouschck. H. Nowak. Rom. Osterr. 9/10. 1981/1982. 168, fig. 53 on the p. 182, pl. 15: 53.
20.	Carnuntum. Private collection. - Matouschek, Nowak 1986. 201. fig. 29 on the p. 221.
21.	Leibnitz (Flaviu Solva). Landesmuseum Joanncum. Graz. - Matouschck, Nowak 1986, 201.
Italy
22.	Tiscns-St. Hyppolit. - V. Bierbrauer, in: Friihmittelalter-liclie Ethnogenese im Alpenraum, Nationes 5 (1985) 29. fig. 9: 7; id.. Arch. Korrbl. 15. 1985. 509, fig. 8: 1; id. 1986, 262, fig. 9: 1.
23.	Udine-Castle hill. Diggings 1987. - G. Bcrgamini, M. Buora, 11 Castello di Udine (1990) 23, fig. s. n.
ALMGREN, O. 1923, Studien liber nordeuropiiische Fibelfor-men der ersten nachchristlichen Jahrhunderte mil Berticksich-tigung der provinzialriimischen tind siidrussisclten Formen.
-	Mannusbibliothck 32. Leipzig.
BIERBRAUER, V. 1986. »Castra« altomcdievali nel tcrrito-rio alpino ccntralc c oricntalc: impianti difensivi germanici, o insediamenti romani? Un contributo alia storia dclla continuity. — In: Romani e Germani nell'arco alpino (secoli Vl-Vlll), 249-276. Bologna. BČHME, A. 1972, Die Fibcln der Kastcllc Saalburg und
Zugmantcl. - Saalb. Jb. 29, 5-112. BOJOVIČ. I). 1983. Rimske fibule Singidunuma. - Beograd. BUORA. M. 1987. Udine - Scavi sul colic del castello. -
Aquil. Nos. 58. 335-340. CHRISTLEIN, R. 1978, Fricdberg (Ldk. Aichach-Fricdbcrg).
-	'/.tschr. hist. Ver. Schwaben 72, 55-57. CRAWFORD. M. 1983. Roman Republican Coinage.
Cambridge.
EGGERS, H.J. 1965, I.'arte dci Germani nell'etž del ferro. — In: Arte barbarica, 9—97. Milano.
GUALAND1 GENI TO. M. C. 1986, Le lucerne antiche del Trentino. - Trento.
JOVANOVIČ, A. 1978, Nakit u rimskoj Dardaniji. - Diss, et Monogr. 21, Beograd.
KE1LING, H. 1989, Haven. - In: Archiiologie in der Deu-tsehen Demokratischen Republik, 526—527, Stuttgart.
KROMER. K. I960, ZierstUcke ostlichcr Herkunft aus drei Grabcrn in Slowcnicn. — Simla 1, 111 — 117.
KRUGER, B. 1989, Germanischc Kulturen und Stammc des 3.-6. Jh. und die Volkerwandcrung. — In: Archiiologie in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 209 — 219, Stuttgart.
MATOUSCHEK, J. and H. NOWAK 1986, Unpublizicrtc Tierfibeln und Fibcln mit thcriomorphcn Gcstaltungclcmen-ten aus osteiTcichischen Privatsammlungcn. — Rom. Osterr. 13/14, 101-222.
MENGHIN, W. 1977, II materiale gotico e longobardo del Museo nazionale germanico di Norimberga proveniente dali Italia. — Firenze.
MOSCALU, E. 1989, Das thrako-getische Fiirstengrab von Peretu in Rumanien. — Ber. Rom. Germ. Komm. 70, 129—190.
PARVAN, V. 1982, Getica o protoistorie a Daciei. — Bucu-rejti.
REBECCH1, F. 1976. Le stele di eta tetrarchica al Museo di Aquileia. Documenti tardo-antichi per la storia della citta. - Aquil. Nos. 47, 65-142.
SENA CHIESA, G. 1968, Gemme del Museo di Aquileia. -Aquileia.
TERŽAN. B. 1976. Certoška fibula. - Arh. vest. 27, 317-443.
TRBUHOV1Č, L. 1988, Neki nalazi iz Podunavlja u kasnoan-tičkoj zbirci Narodnog muzeja. — Zbor. Nar. muz. Beog. 13/1, 155-163.
VINSKI, Z. 1968, Krstoliki nakit epohe seobe naroda u Jugoslaviji. — Vjes. Arh. muz. Zag. 3, 103 — 166.
' Buora 1987, 335-340.
2 Kromer 1960, 113, fig. 1: 5; Teržan 1976, 402, pl. 38: 2,3.
1 Moscalu 1989. 172-173 with list of finds and previous bibliography.
4	Keiling 1989; Kriiger 1989, 216.
5	Eggers 1965, 48 and plate on p. 51.
6	Menghin 1977, 23 ff.
7	Christlein 1978, 55-57.
s Information courtesy of Dr. M. Nagy, with sincere thanks.
9 The horse head appears on coins of Scleucus I (a. 312-280
B.C.), Selcucus II (246-226 B.C.), Antiochus III (222-187
B.C.), Selcucus IV (176-175 B.C.) and Demetrius 1 (162-150
B.C.).
111 It is found, for example, on a didrachma struck in Metapontum between 280 and 276 B.C. (Crawford 1983. 13/1), on a litra struck in Rome shortly before 269 B.C. (Crawford 1983, 17/1), on a triens from the same mint dated between 275 and 270 B.C. (Crawford 1983. 18/3) and on a Roman litra struck between 241 and 235 B.C. (Crawford 1983, 25/3).
11	Sena Chiesa 1968. 352-353.
12	Gualandi Genito 1986. 130-131. Nos. 29, 30.
13	Bohme 1972, 108. No. 1058, pl. 27.
14	Parvan 1982, 205, fig. 255; Bojovič 1983, 139, pl. 30: 290.
15	Rcbecchi 1976, 65-142.
K razprostranjenosti poznorimskih fibul v obliki svastike s konjskimi glavicami
Povzetek
Odkritje fibule v obliki svastike s konjskimi glavicami med izkopavanji na Gradu v Vidmu (t. I: 1)' predstavlja priložnost za ponovno preučitev takih fibul.
Tovrstne fibule združujejo dva zelo običajna motiva, ki se pojavljata v različnih dobah in na različnih območjih. Motiv svastike z živalskimi glavicami je znan že v prazgodovini, npr. na aplikah iz groba 33 gomile 5 iz Dolenjskih Toplic (t. 2: 3)2 ali onih iz Peretu v Romuniji (t. 2: l),3 v poznorimskem obdobju pa npr. v nekdanji Vzhodni Nemčiji4 ali na Danskem.'' V 7. st. najdemo podoben motiv trojnega zavojka z živalskimi glavicami na langobardskodobnih predmetih v Italiji,6 pa tudi v alamanskem okolju (t. 2: 5).7 Pri Avarih (t. 2: 6,7)8 pa srečamo prav motiv svastike z živalskimi glavicami. Tudi upodobitve konjske glave so pogoste. Nahajajo se na helcni-stičnih'1 in rimsko-kampanijskih novcih, na rimskih gemah"
in na italskih oljenkah.12
Prostor razprostranjenosti obravnavanih fibul (tip Almgrcn 232) obsega Dacijo, Mezijo. Dardanijo, Panonijo. vzhodni Norik in severovzhodno obrobje Italije (si. I). Iz Saalburga je znan primerek, ki se od drugih delno razlikuje (t. 1: 9). V središču obširnega prostora razprostranjenosti sc nahajajo Burgcnc (Novi Banovci), od koder izvira največ primerkov (t. I: 2-7).
Ker je večina fibul brez ožjih najdiščnih podatkov, samo prisotnost nekaterih v rimskih taborih" omogoča domnevo, da sodijo v 3. in 4. st. n. š. Fibuli iz Vidma in Tisensa je mogoče povezati s prisotnostjo vojaških oddelkov iz Mezijc in Dardanijc v Ogleju, ki jo zlasti v obdobju tetrarhije izpričujejo napisi na nekaterih tamkajšnjih nagrobnikih.15
Dr. Maurizio Buora
Civici Musci c Gallerie di Storia c Arte
Castello
1-33 KM) Udinc
I'l. I: 1 Udinc-Castlc; 2-7 Novi Banovci (rc-dcsigncd from Vinski 1%8); 8 Osijek (rc-dcsigncd from Vinski 1%8); 9 Saalburg (rc-dcsigncd from BOhmc 1972); 10 Tisens-St. Hyppolit (rc-dcsigncd from Bicrbrauer 1986); II Carnuntum (rc-dcsigncd from Matouschck, Nowak 1986); 12 Bcograd-Kalcmcgdan. Gornji grad (rc-dcsigncd from Bojovič 1983); 13 Dragovila by NiS (rc-dcsigncd from Jovanovič 1978). Scalc 1-9.11-13 = 1:1; 10 without scalc.
T. I: I Udinc-Castcllo; 2-7 Novi Banovci; 8 Osijek; 9 Saalhurg; 10 Tisens-St. Hyppolit; 11 Carnuntum; 12 Bcograd-Kalcmcgdan. Gornji grad; 13 Dragovita pri NiSu. M. 1-9,11-13 = 1:1; 10 brez merila.
5
6
7
I'l. 2: 1,2 Appliques of the princely tomb in Perctu (rc-designcd from Moscalu 1989); 3 Applique in tomb 33 of burial mound No. 5 in Dolenjske Toplice (rc-dcsigncd from Tcržan 1976); 4 Applique in Niš Museum (rc-dcsigncd from Jovanovič 1978); 5 »Zierscheibc« in the Alcmannic tomb from Fricdbcrg (rc-designcd from Christlein 1978); 6.7 Elements of application from Avar necropolis (Magyar Ncmzcti Muzcum, Budapest, courtesy M. Nagy). Scalc 1,2 = 2:3; 3 = 1:1; 4 = 3:4; 5-7 without scale. T. 2: 1,2 apliki iz knežjega groba v I'erctu; 3 aplika iz groba 33 gomile 5 iz Dolenjskih Toplic; 4 aplika iz Narodnega muzeja v Nišu; 5 »okrasna plošča« iz alamanskega groba iz Fricdberga; 6,7 apliki z avarskega grobišča. M. 1,2 - 2:3; 3 1:1; 4 3:4; 5-7 brez merila.