HISPANO-VISIGOTH BELT BUCKLE
Visigoth period
HISPANO-VISIGOTH BELT BUCKLE
Bronze.
Length: 10.3 cm. Width: 4.4 cm. Thickness: 0.2 cm.
Visigoth period. Late 6th century - 7th century A.D.
Origin
Haza de la Torre. Jerez de la Frontera. Cádiz.
Description
Hingeless buckle with rigid plate. It was made in a mould and is characteristic of a model commonly dated to the 7th century. It is rectangular with double perforation: the circular perforation to hook the needle or flap and the elongated one through which to pass the strap. The upper face has four soldered rings to fix it to the belt. It was finely chiselled on the outer side after the smelting process. It depicts two gryphons face to face drinking from the fountain of life, a symbol of resurrection. This theme, i.e. two animals (gryphons, horses, stags, peacocks…) framing a font from which water is poured, is very common throughout the Paleo-Christian and Late Medieval periods.
Bibliography
- Esteve Guerrero, M. (1956): Noticiario Arqueológico Hispánico, III and IV, books 1-3. 1954-55. Madrid, p.306, nº 1050.
