Ancient Mediterranean

Digital Project

Single-levelled galley

Cat. No.

A72a-b

Date

Late 8th century

Findspot

Unknown

Dimensions

L: 24.3 cm; H (plate): 8.8 cm; W (plate): 8.8 cm

Medium

Bronze fibula with a decorated catch-plate. Fully preserved

Accession Number

Heidelberg Inv. 62/5

References

Hampe 1971: 92, no. 122, taf. 86

A72a (Side A): Single-levelled ship to the right with a low flat hull. Rectangular bow with a concave stempost integrating a massive ram rendered with the same thickness as the hull. The upper and lower lines of the ram do not meet at a tip although they do taper somewhat. The stempost terminates in a high incurving extremity. There are ten short horizontal timbers projecting from the stempost, seven of which are rendered as triangles while the uppermost three are simple lines. Rectangular non-integrated forecastle. Most of the sternpost is missing, preserving only a massive triangular device capping its extremity. Raised rectangular mast step system bisected by a horizontal and a vertical line that form a cross. The hull is decorated with 20 vertical lines and a horizontal line running mid-way on the hull, beginning from the mast and continuing to the end of the bow projection. A72b (Side B): Single-levelled ship to the right with a low flat hull. Rectangular bow with a concave stempost integrating a massive ram rendered with the same thickness as the hull and terminating in a flat tip. The stempost terminates in an incurving horn. Rectangular forecastle of which the upper left corner is missing. Sternpost no longer preserved. Rectangular aftercastle divided by 3 horizontal lines. Mast amidships with a rectangular crow's nest that hangs on the afterside of the masthead.

Part of nine similar fibulae purchased for the Heidelberg collection apparently from an art market. Hampe suggests that the fact that they come in pairs possibly indicates that they were originally found in tombs. This fibula came in a pair with Hampe 1971: no. 123. The style is Geometric-Subgeometric.

Side A: Ship to the right. Two warriors facing left armed with a spear, helmet and shield. Three water birds perch at the bow (facing left), stern (facing right) and on the mast step (facing right). Below the hull, a sea snake and three fish all facing right. Five more fish of varying sizes and three eight-pointed stars fill the field around the warriors

Side B: Large swastika. Two warriors above marching right with a fish between them facing right. Smaller fish in the upper right corner facing right. Parallel to the right edge of the fibula is a ship facing right.

Hampe, R. 1971. Neuerwerbungen 1957-1970. Mainz am Rhein: P. von Zabern.

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