Crossbow Fibula
Early Byzantine, ca. 480
Gold
Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1995 (1995.97)

A small group of refined gold works with openwork designs (opus interrasile) provides evidence of sumptuous gifts presented by the Romans to certain Germanic kings. This fibula was meant for a Christian, as is apparent from the long prominent Latin cross and the Christian monogram Chi-Rho in the center of the top panel. One of the hexagonal onion-shaped terminals screws on a left-hand thread into the arm of the fibula to secure the curled spring head of the pin.