Small Roman Omega brooch, bronze

Product description

The Roman omega brooch is typical of the post-Christian Iron Age omega brooches and was inspired by a find from a private collection. The brooch has been designed to closely resemble the original dimensions, measuring 3.2 x 3 cm, with a pin length of 3.8 cm. It is available for purchase in high-quality bronze.

The Roman omega brooch originated in Spain and was widely used amongst the Ibero-Gallic auxiliary troops of the Romans. It eventually spread to the Rhine region, where it was primarily employed in military units around the time of Christ's birth. These brooches typically ranged in size from 2 to 6 cm, with the smaller brooches likely functioning as buckles. Evidence from Germanic graves in the 2nd century shows that leather armour was fastened with omega brooches attached to the side.

The omega brooch features a pin that is pushed through the fabric and then secured by a movable round part, preventing the brooch from coming loose. Several variations of the omega brooch were produced, amongst them those with bent ends, button-shaped or snake-headed ends, and even brooches with curled or acorn-shaped ends.