Bronze Buckle

Parthian
1st-3rd century AD

2 1/8 x 2 1/2 x 7/8 in. (5.4 x 6.3 x 2.2 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• belt buckles - Clasps or catches used to fasten the ends of a belt, sometimes ornamented with designs.
• belts - Flexible straps or bands generally encircling the waist or hips or passing over the shoulder and usually having some type of fastener, such as a buckle; worn for decoration, support, or to carry such items as weapons, tools, or money.
• bronze - Refers to a broad range of alloys of copper, specifically any non-ferrous alloy of copper, tin, and zinc or other trace metals. Bronze was made before 3,000 BCE -- possibly as early as 10,000 BCE, although its common use in tools and decorative items is dated only in later artifacts. The proportions of copper and tin vary widely, from 70 to 95 percent copper in surviving ancient artifacts. Because of the copper base, bronze may be very malleable and easy to work. By the Middle Ages in Europe, it was recognized that using the metals in certain proportions could yield specific properties. Some modern bronzes contain no tin at all, substituting other metals such as aluminum, manganese, and even zinc. Historically, the term was used interchangeably with "latten." U.S. standard bronze is composed of 90% copper, 7% tin and 3% zinc. Ancient bronze alloys sometimes contained up to 14% tin.
• buckles - Devices used for fastening consisting of a usually open rectangular or rounded frame and a tongue or catch attached to one side or a vertical bar attached across the center. Sometimes used alone as an ornament.
• copper alloy - Alloy in which copper is the principle element.
• embracing - The action of clasping in one's arms, usually referring to one person holding another person as a sign of fondness or friendship.
• goddesses - Female superhuman persons or other beings who are worshipped and believed to have power over nature and the fortunes of mankind.
• gods - Masculine superhuman persons or other beings who are worshipped and believed to have power over nature and the fortunes of mankind.
• husbands - Male partners in a marriage relationship.
• marriage - Legal and social unions of a man and woman as husband and wife, or of the union of a gay couple. For the act or ceremony of instituting a marriage, use "weddings (ceremonies)."
• men - Refers to male human beings from young adulthood through old age.
• nomadism - Way of life characterized by cyclical or seasonal movement from place to place which is necessary for the subsistence of the group, resulting in lack of a continuous permanent abode.
• nomads - Members of a people or group who have no permanent residence or settlement but move about in regular seasonal or cyclical routes to obtain sustenance.
• Parthian - Refers to the period from about the mid 3rd century BCE to 220 CE when the Parthians ruled much of central and western Asia. The art of the period is characterized by a combination of styles deriving from Greek and Near Eastern sources.
• spouses - Partners in a marriage relationship.
• wives - Female partners in a marriage relationship.
• women - Refers to female human beings from young adulthood through old age.