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Source Description
Between the AD 200s and the 600s, the European West is characterized by the so-called "barbarian invasions," a term referring to the movement of various Germanic people into the Roman Empire. The period of the great migrations of these Germanic peoples was one of uncertainty and disorder. By the AD 300s, the collapse of Roman military power in the western provinces was increased by the westward movement of the Huns, an especially fierce enemy from the east. The Huns drove before them displaced Germanic tribes—the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and Lombards—as they advanced deep into the western provinces. These Germanic peoples were composed of many national groups with diverse customs and traditions. Long nomadic, they gradually settled and took to farming, though always preferring maritime commerce and fishing. They were not attracted to the monumental arts of architecture and sculpture until they had long settled an area. By contrast, the tombs of these migratory people were filled with weapons, tools, and jewelry, often magnificently decorated. The art of the Germanic peoples is almost exclusively one of personal adornment—a portable art that followed men and women to their graves.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
150537
label
Buckle with Animal-Shaped Thorn and Belt Plate
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
150537
contentType
object
title
Buckle with Animal-Shaped Thorn and Belt Plate
description
Between the AD 200s and the 600s, the European West is characterized by the so-called "barbarian invasions," a term referring to the movement of various Germanic people into the Roman Empire. The period of the great migrations of these Germanic peoples was one of uncertainty and disorder. By the AD 300s, the collapse of Roman military power in the western provinces was increased by the westward movement of the Huns, an especially fierce enemy from the east. The Huns drove before them displaced Germanic tribes—the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and Lombards—as they advanced deep into the western provinces. These Germanic peoples were composed of many national groups with diverse customs and traditions. Long nomadic, they gradually settled and took to farming, though always preferring maritime commerce and fishing. They were not attracted to the monumental arts of architecture and sculpture until they had long settled an area. By contrast, the tombs of these migratory people were filled with weapons, tools, and jewelry, often magnificently decorated. The art of the Germanic peoples is almost exclusively one of personal adornment—a portable art that followed men and women to their graves.
date
400s CE
citation
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60759302
genreSpecific
Jewelry
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 4.3 x 4.5 cm (1 11/16 x 1 3/4 in.)
cul
Sarmato-Gothic, Migration period, 5th century
accession
1981.9
Source extras
tec
bronze with traces of gilding and garnets
tombstone
Buckle with Animal-Shaped Thorn and Belt Plate, 400s CE. Sarmato-Gothic, Migration period, 5th century. Bronze with traces of gilding and garnets; overall: 4.3 x 4.5 cm (1 11/16 x 1 3/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, In memory of William M. Milliken, 1981.9
collection
MED - Migration Period
didYouKnow
During this time it was popular to wear gold inlaid with precious stones.
citations
citation
Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1981.” <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 69, no. 2 (February 1982): 39–82.
page_number
Reproduced: p. 43; Mentioned: p. 78, no. 6
creditline
In memory of William M. Milliken
updatedAt
2026-05-29 07:46:11.929000
sourceId
150537
dept
Medieval Art
coll
MED - Migration Period
med
bronze with traces of gilding and garnets
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
389f69a26b1264d8