Roman Phalera, castle of Chateau-Thierry, Picardy, France
A Roman bronze phalera, from a horse's harness, 2nd century AD, with a carved design of dolphins, from the 2011 excavations led by Sebastien Ziegler, at the rotunda in the Vaucrises Vicus gallo-roman quarter of the medieval castle of Chateau-Thierry, Picardy, France. The first fortifications on this spur over the river Marne date from the 4th century and the first castle was built in the 9th century Merovingian period by the counts of Vermandois. Thibaud II enlarged the castle in the 12th century and built the Tour Thibaud, and Thibaud IV expanded it significantly in the 13th century to include 17 defensive towers in the walls and an East and South gate. The castle was largely destroyed in the French Revolution after having been a royal palace since 1285. In 1814 it was used as a citadel for Napoleonic troops. Picture by Manuel Cohen
