Fig. 143.—Fibula of the Mycenaean Period (No. 356). 1:4.
Fig. 144.—Greek Fibula with Geometric Decoration (No. 357). 1:2.
Fig. 145.—Early Greek Fibula (No. 358). 1:2.
The simplest form of fibula is represented here by examples excavated at Enkomi in Cyprus, which belong to the end of the Bronze Age, before 1000 B.C. (No. 356; fig. 143). Starting from this primitive form, the history of the fibula is one of progressive development and elaboration. It must be observed in the first place that the whole class of fibulae may be divided into two great groups—viz., an older group, in which the coiled spring is unilateral, that is, a plain spiral, between the bow and the pin; and a younger group, in which the spring is bilateral, that is a symmetrically disposed double coil, on each side of the pin. We deal first with the Unilateral group. In Greek regions the development of the form, fig. 143, was mainly a development of the catchplate in a vertical plane—that is in the plane of the bow of the fibula. This plate, often with incised patterns (Fig. 144; No. 357) was a characteristic of the period of geometric art in Greece. Two very large examples are shown above Case D in the Bronze Room. The plainly curved bows may have some further ornament, such as beads strung on them (No. 358; fig. 145) or imitation bead patterns, or a figure of a standing bird (No. 359; fig. 146). All these examples come from the island of Rhodes.
Fig. 146.—Early Greek Fibula (No. 359). 1:2.
Fig. 147.—Fibula from Cyprus (No. 360). 1:2.