Sir John Evans's Collections of Artefacts
Byzantine Buckle with Greek monogram
Country of Origin: Crete
Description: Gold buckle of sinuous design with an incised anchor on the tang, vestigial leaves and a cruciform monogram within a circle on the plate, that may be read as Kassianou (of Cassianus), dating to the early seventh century.
Dimensions: 5.5cm length
Object Period: Byzantine
Provenance: Selinos, Crete
Museum Accession No.: AN1909.828
Aquisition History: Presented to the Ashmolean Museum by Sir Arthur Evans in 1909.
Other Information: Gold brooches and gold buckles, together with belts, were standardized insignia of civil servants and military officials, as described by John Lydus, Master of Offices, in the mid-sixth century. The phrase 'to lay aside the belt' signified retirement from office.
