Old Swastika Brooch

[Robin Lumsden]

Just picked this up ......................

It's a Romano-Celtic brooch, or fibula, c.1st Century AD.

So 2000 years old.

The heads depict a boar, not a horse as is commonly believed.

The boar's head was also used on the Celtic war trumpet, or Carnyx.

A comparative picture is attached, to show the similarities of the 'snout'.

Funnily enough, I was looking at an original Carnyx at The National Museum of Scotland earlier today. :)

[Wood]

Neat, Needs a good polish.

Pete

[Robin Lumsden]

Needs a good polish.

It'll get a gentle wash with soap and water ............... but not a polish !!!! ;)

[Wood]

Were the Romans here in 1 A.D.?

I can imagine Tony whatshisname (Time team) waxing over this. Ah, perhaps it needs a good wax after the linish.

Pete

Forgot, they were trading here to see the lie of the land before they veni, vidi etc.

Edited February 24, 2012 by Wood

[Robin Lumsden]

Were the Romans here in 1 A.D.?

Hello Pete.

Maybe you should look at this site ....................

Not too taxing.

http://www.brims.co.uk/romans/

:cheeky:

[Wood]

Well THANKS Robin.

and no they were not, so perhaps it should just be Celtic?

Ooops, perhaps another blunder, Celts were all over the continent as well, I believe.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Wood

[Robin Lumsden]

Well THANKS Robin.

and no they were not, so perhaps it should just be Celtic?

Ooops, perhaps another blunder, Celts were all over the continent as well, I believe.

Pete.

Just a joke on my part.

Remember .................. I said 1st Century AD.

Not 1 AD.

They were certainly here in the 1st Century.

Did you ever see 'I Claudius' in the good old days?

[Wood]

1st. Century. Ah yes my brain going faster than my eyes, and all suspect.

I do Remmmber that ssseries. Great wwwatching.

Great people those Roman emperors, so few died of old age!

Perhaps a wire brush would be better than a linish.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Wood

[Robin Lumsden]

My brain going faster than my eyes, and all suspect.

Ditto for me.

Old age!

The price we pay for having a pension and no work worries! :)

[Mervyn Mitton]

Robin - an early and interesting piece - and in exceptional condition. Did you source this in Britain ?

The Celts were active until about the 6th and 7th. Centuries. My lot - The Angles then invaded - folllowed by the

Saxons. The last remaing Celtic outposts are Wales, Cornwall and Brittany. I don't have to remind you with your

background, that many of these are now found with metal detectors. Which has created another layer of regs. and questions.

Thankyou for supporting this non-militaria site - I think it is beginning to gain more interest, as members' realise just how

wide the subject base is.

Mervyn

[Robin Lumsden]

Did you source this in Britain ?

Yes, Mervyn. In England.

I'm a descendant of the Picts, myself! :)

[Mervyn Mitton]

You have my deepest sympathy ! Mervyn

[Robin Lumsden]

:)

[Odulf]

This may be of interest to you Robin...

One of my collections comprises information about German culture, inclusive weihnachten. In one of the magazines of the DJ I found the swastika badge

[Robin Lumsden]

Danke sehr !!! :)

[Mervyn Mitton]

The origins of the brooch are clearly detailing Horses Heads - which I think was sacred to the Celtish tribes.

They were widespread over Europe for many hundreds of years. However, it made me think of the original

Hindu 'swastika' - were the turned over tops also representing an animal's head ? Mervyn

[peter monahan]

I believe - when I can remember to believe anything - that the Hindu swastika, and the same symbol used by North American Natives, represented the sun. Think very very simplified/stylized rays. But don't quote me!

[Mervyn Mitton]

OH ! But I will Peter - on any site I can find I shall quote you - the only problem is that it sounds to be very plausible. Mervyn

[Robin Lumsden]

Here it is again ................ on a book published in 1922. :)

[Robin Lumsden]

And ................. talking about the sun ..................

'God's blessings from Heaven (the sun) and Earth' (the wheat). :)

[Odulf]

Do I read? GOTTES SEGEN HUS HIMMEL UND ERDE

[Robin Lumsden]

Gottes segen aus himmel und erde ..................... God's blessings from heaven and earth.

The central spiral represents 'heaven' (the sun) and 'earth' (the wheat).

It is also a sunwheel.

So ................ Christian, but also a little bit pagan! ;)

[Odulf]

Thanks Robin, interesting to note that the wheel is composed of 9 wheat heads, as the number 9 in Nordic religion was considered holy (a little bit pagan...)