Romano-Celtic Mask Puzzle Padlocks by Jerry Slocum

The lock would have a hinge at the top that would allow the faceplate to flip up and a keyhole be revealed.

The puzzle padlocks were made by bronze, thicker rings and usually was shaped into the face of a god. They ensured that whatever they secured could only be opened by a person with the correct key. These ancient padlocks were designed as a burglar deterrent. In their book, Romano-Celtic Mask Puzzle Padlocks: A Study in their Design, Technology and Security, authors Jerry Slocum and Dic Sonneveld investigate and discuss these unique antiquities Possibly adapted from previous Celtic designs, historians have gone about studying their design, origins, and -of most interest to us- their security. When it came to the time of antiquity, the Romans had a creative solution for just that situation.

Ever heard of hoards? These massive buried piles of treasure are just brimming with ancient age wealth, and when you think of securing wealth in the olden days you think of chests buried by pirates. This time, we wanted to go even further back – to ancient Rome! That’s right, even those most ancient of civilizations from thousands of years back had their own versions of a burglar security system! Secure and fashionable, these are Roman puzzle rings!Įver since mankind has had valuables, they have sought to protect those valuables from would-be thieves! Whether it started as a sack, a hole dug in the earth, or a simple wooden box, people have hidden their valuables. Welcome back to another entry here on the Central Alarm blog! We started off 2018 by getting back to basics and addressing how to get your home security set up.

Romano-Celtic Mask Puzzle Padlocks by Jerry Slocum