Roman Swastika Plate Brooch 2nd-3rd century A.D. A plate brooch composed of a square body framing an openwork swastika motif; pin and catchplate to reverse. Cf. Hattatt, R., Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989, item 1625, for type. 16.1 grams, 35 mm (1 3/8 in.). German art market before 2000. With a European gentleman living in the UK. Property of a Surrey gentleman. In the ancient Roman world, the swastika could symbolise the lightning bolts of the thunder god Jupiter; it could also represent perpetual motion. These kinds of brooches feature Celtic traditional motifs and were produced in the Central European provinces of the Roman Empire, as well as in Germany, Pannonia, Britain and Gaul.