Подражания римским фибулам с луковичными навершиями» в Балтии

The subject of the article is a detailed analysis of form and design of fibulae occurring in Barbaricum at the close of the Roman period and in the time of the migration of nations, aimed at the establishment of their origin and function in the then barbaric societies, and especially in the Baltic region. The prototypes of the fibulae were used as emblems of Roman legionaries; the ornamental ones indicated higher (but not the highest) military ranks. Adopted and imitated by Germanic tribes travelled also to the Baltic region. The author proposes a hypothesis that the occurrence in this region of a late type of fibulae with bulbous terminals (Zwiebelknopffibeln) can be linked with the group composed of the representatives of various Germanic tribes - mentioned by Jordanes (6th c.) - known as Vidivari (which in the Gothic language stands for people of Vidi).