Summary

Bronze fitting with a higa or phallic fist symbol, possibly part of an amulet, from the Roman site at Newstead, 80 - 180 AD

Accession Number

X.FRA 628

Other references

Original description

NEWSTEAD COLLECTION. Bronze amulet or button. "Rom. Fron. Post," Pl LXXVII, 2. RBKS notes: Amulet. HMcC note, 1998-99: Updated from SCRAN full data set. [MoS description] Gods of the frontier, God of the Book. Superstition. The phallus. (4) Fittings with phallus and clenched fist symbol, Newstead. 80 - 180 AD. [Scran caption] This bronze fitting was found during excavations at the Roman fort of Newstead in Roxburghshire. It may have formed part of an amulet. The fitting dates from between 80 and 180 AD. The fitting has a 'higa' (phallic fist) symbol. Date: Between 80 and 180 AD. Material: Bronze. Dimensions: Length: around 45 mm. Reference - Curle, J. A Roman frontier post and its people: the fort of Newstead. Glasgow: MacLehose, 1911, p 337, Pl. LXXVII, 2.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

Newstead Collection

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

1905

Method (e.g. excavation)

Excavated

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Newstead, Roxburghshire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Grid reference

Not recorded

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1915

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Unknown

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

Not recorded

Image