Roman Military Belt

[Czear12]

Does anybody have info on the belts legionaries wore
1.How they worked
2.Type of leather and color

[Sextus Saturninus]

Crispvs (as well as other experts) should be able to help you on this.

What period are you talking about? Belts changed over time, so maybe a specific quarter century?

[Czear12]

Thanks for that note I was thinking late republic to early imperial

[Atellus]

Please, download the Andrew T. Magee's dissertation.

"Of Belts and Men: The Roman Military Belt of the 1st Century A.D."

https://etd.library.emory.edu/view/recor...ry%3A7ttg9

Here the abstract:

Military belts are a well known piece of gear in 1st Century A.D. Roman military equipment studies. Despite this, these belts have never been studied in depth as a piece of a soldier’s panoply. This thesis functions to produce a comprehensive introduction to the 1st Century A.D. Roman military belt and examine what such an item meant to the soldiers. Chapters one through three introduces the art historical material, archaeological remains, and examines the products used in constructing belts, their methods of production, and the process of belt assemblage. Chapter four looks into the history of embellished military belts in Italy prior to the 1st Century A.D. by looking at the Villanovan, Etruscan, Samnite, and Republican Roman uses of belts and how they influenced later styles. The last portion explores the relationship between men and their belts. It begins with chapter five looking at the practical applications in addition to the features of a belt which might be impractical. Chapter six explores the aspects of cost which would be involved with a belt. This includes both the thought required when investing in a belt and the subsequent use of the belt as source of stored income. Chapter seven explores the belt as a method of displaying social connotations from imperial power to personal wealth and status in the community. The final chapter explores the evidence for a Roman connection to belts by looking at texts and art historical material for the views of the soldiery and the populace at large. This study of belts serves to present a detailed study of belts and the evidence for them. In addition, examining belts leads to an understanding of larger issues in the field of classics involving the psyche of soldiers, the use of the military for displays of power, the public understanding of military, and more. Though this work is preliminary, it shows how useful a continued exploration into the world of military belts could be for the realm of classical studies.

[A_Volpe]

www.larp.com/legioxx/balteus.html

[Crispvs]

I would second Andy's suggestion, with the caveat that it might be a while since it was updated last. Disregard what it says about the distance between the pugio frog buttons. The correct distance should be four and a half to five inches, as the edges of the frog buttons should come close to touching the upper suspension rings of the pugio sheath.

For another useful link, here is Mike Bishop's article on the apron straps worn on the front of the belt.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20524593/The-e...ron#scribd

Crispvs

[Rick Krause]

I apologize for ressurecting an old thread, but after searching for information about the belt and this was the most relevent thread I found. It has a lot of good info that I found helpful (the distance between pugio frogs, etc) but questions remain. After a read through Bishop's article about straps I began to wonder which way the belt wrapped around the torso.

If the first aprons were split belt ends does that imply that the belt buckle began at the right and then wrapped around back so that the ends would display at the front? However some reconstruction have the belt starting at the right then wrapping around the back then the front so the belt end terminates as it wraps towards the back.

So my question is what are the experts opinions on this for those who like me are considering the attempt to rivet plates on leather (also important for placing an apron: near the buckle or nearer the end). 

Thanks for your help.

Rick Krause