---
node: garment_fibula
type: garment
slug: fibula
title: "Fibula"
lead: "The fibula is the brooch or dress-pin that fastened Greek garments before the button, working like a modern safety pin to hold the cloth at the shoulder. Both a fastening and a jewel, it clasped the chiton, peplos, and chlamys."
published: 2026-08-10
updated: 2026-08-10
image_file: fibula.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bronze_crossbow_fibula_(brooch)_MET_DP20424.jpg"
image_author: "The Metropolitan Museum of Art"
image_license: "CC0"
---

## Overview

A fibula is a metal pin with a bow and a catch that grips the point, made of bronze, silver, or gold and often richly worked. It pinned the open edges of a garment together at the shoulder or chest, doing the job that seams and buttons would later take over.

## How it is worn

It is pushed through the folds of cloth at the shoulder and snapped into its catch to hold the chiton or peplos closed, worn singly or in pairs and matched to the wearer's means. A grand fibula was a piece of jewellery displayed as much as used.

## History

Fibulae appear in Greece from the Geometric and Archaic periods, evolving through many shapes and reaching great elaboration in gold. As the draped, pinned garment gave way to sewn and fitted dress, the fibula slowly passed from necessity into pure ornament.