Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • The Seuso treasure
    • The treasure
    • The artefacts
    • The Kőszárhegy silver stand
    • Data and facts about the treasure
    • Recent history of the treasure trove
    • Similar treasure finds
    • Undiscovered objects
  • The Research Project
    • The research project
    • The Seuso Working Committee
    • Partners
  • Exhibitions
    • Permanent exhibiton
    • Travelling exhibition
    • Exhibitions in the House of Parliament
  • Media
    • News, events
    • Press releases
    • Articles in the press
    • Seuso Archives
  • hu
  • en
  1. Seuso Research Project
  2. Silver augur staff, Brigetio
Silver augur staff with niello inlay, front (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Silver augur staff with niello inlay, front (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Silver augur staff with niello inlay, back (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Silver augur staff with niello inlay, back (Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)
Pannonia
Last third of 3rd c. A.D.

Silver augur staff, Brigetio

The silver staff that was discovered in a stone sarcophagus to the south of the military fortress  Brigetio (Komárom-Szőny) is considered a unique find from the Roman Empire. Similar staffs were used by the augurs, oracles studying the flight of birds when making predictions and appointing locations for temples. The priestal insignia must have been placed as a part of the grave goods in the sarcophagus, because the deceased was probably the last augur in the town. The 33-cm-long staff  with a spiral top is richly decorated with scrolls, leaves and geometric motifs inlayed with dark niello (silver sulphide) and gold on both sides. A gilded and niello-decorated crossbow fibula with onion-shaped finials ( a brooch for clasping garments), to which textile shreds were attached, was found by the right shoulder of the deceased. The augur staff and the fibula must have made up a set. Silver augur staff with niello inlay, front ((Photo: © Hungarian National Museum)

  • Reign of Emperor Augustus

    Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace)
    Statue of Augustus from Prima Porta
  • “Corinthian bronze”jug and bowl with handle, Egyed

  • Roman wall paintings

  • The Conquest of Pannonia

  • Colosseum

  • Reign of Emperor Trajan

    Trajan’s Column
  • Reign of Emperor Hadrian

    Pantheon
  • Reign of Marcus Aurelius

    Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
    Bronze portrait of Marcus Aurelius, Lugio
  • The Severan dynasty: the golden age of Pannonia

    Wall paintings from Brigetio
    Hercules mosaic, Aquincum
    Cult relief of Mithras, Sárkeszi
  • Ivory statue of Autumn (Autumnus), Savaria

  • The age of the soldier emperors

    Statue of Nemesis from the governor’s palace, Aquincum
  • Silver augur staff, Brigetio

  • Reign of Diocletian: the age of the First Tetrarchy

    Statue of the tetrarchs of Venice
    The Gold Coffin by Ferenc Móra
  • Reign of Emperor Constantine I (the Great)

    Mosaics of the Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina
    The triumphal arch of Constantine
    The Colossus of Constantine I
    Colossal bronze statue of Constantine I
  • Foundation of Constantinople

  • Reign of Emperor Constantius II.

    Heidentor, Carnuntum
    The Kaiseraugst treasure
  • Helmet of March 15 Square, Budapest Castellum contra Teutanum

  • Imperial fibula with onyx, Szilágysomlyó

  • Reign of Emperor Julian

  • Reign of Emperor Valentinian I

  • Battle of Hadrianopolis

  • Barbarian incursions into Pannonia

    The Kőszárhegy quadripus
  • I. (The Great) Theodosius and his co-emperors

    Obelisk of Theodosius
    Gilded bronze bust of Valentinian II, Sopianae (?)
  • Fragment of glass vessel with gold foil decoration, Intercisa

  • Painted Early Christian burial chambers, Sopianae

  • Ivory diptychs

  • Sack of Rome

  • Giving up the territory of Pannonia

    Late Roman luxury villa, Nagyharsány
    The Beremend bronze plaque
  • Dethronement of Romulus Augustulus

  • Mosaics of Ravenna

Footer

  • Contact
  • Credits
  • Sponsors

All rights reserved © 2025