Phrygian type fibulae: Definition, typology, chronology

Fibulae, which were produced to be used in smilar functions with today's safety pins and thought to have emerged as of the last quarter of the 2nd millenium BC, were produced and used by many societies. Although it is tought that the usage area is mostly related to clothes, fibulae are encountered not only as material, but also as an object with religious purposes and abstract meanings. In this context, fibulae, which are thought to be of Near East or Balkan origin, were first produced by the Phrygians in Anatolia. The Fibula, which Blinkenberg, defined as Asia Minor type and evaluated under the title og Group XII, startedto be directly referred to as Phrygian type fibulae, as they were more intensely recovered, especially in Gordion and its surroundings, as a result of subsequent comprehensive typological evaluations. Within the scope of the study, the latest typological classifications on Phrygian fibulae and current studies were evaluated together. The last and most comprehensive study known, was created by E. Caner and examined by dividing it into many types and sub-variants. It is thought that a chronological problem has arisen between some interrelated types as a result of the evaluation types seperately in the classification in which fibulae are placed. Fort his reason, in addition of the fact that the last typological evaluation is quite old, considering the problems arising in the chronological data, a classification proposal suitable fort he present has been brought within the scope of the study in order to evaluate the currently known fibulae, othe examples uncovered until recently, and new examples that are thought to be found together with the ongoing excavations. Since Phrygian fibulae were generally evaluated typologically and chronologically in studies, some concepts in which ornamental elements on fibulae were defined were reviewed. As a result of the examinations, the symbolic and aniconic reflection created by the combination between the catch plates and ornamental elements, which are known as the characteristic feature, and that the Phrygian type fibulae and the ornamentation tradition cannot be limited by defining them with simple concepts, some new approaches have been evaluated in order to define the Phrygian type fibulae. Phrygian type fibulas, which are thought to have Matar-Cybele iconography in certain parts, have been concluded as a result of new evaluations made based on these thoughts, and it has been concluded that the fibula is an object that reflects the symbolism of the mother goddess belief competely, not only with certain parts. It is known that the most commonly used examples among all known fibula types belong to the Phrygian type fibulae, which were seen to have reached Western Anatolia, Aegean Islands and Greece by the end of 8th century BC and 7th century Bc, were examined depending on the centers and find points. Within the scope of the results of the examinations, the conditions under which the Phrygians relationship with the western world developed and what kind of interaction was achieved were evaluated on the axis of the fibula. KEYWORDS: Phrygian, Fibula, Typology, Terminology, Chronology.