Recontruction of Belt from Herculaneum and Pompeii in 79 AD.

[Tarbicus]

Indeed, I'm only posing the possibility. But imagine one of your own plate belts buckled tightly to an inflated plastic bag, and lay it down on the ground. Deflate the bag and the belt has to drop somewhere due to gravity. However, because of the nature of the plates being rigid in a chain-like assembly, they'd possibly fall sideways.

However, I'm certainly not averse to the pugio being at the back. It'd be interesting to try for a change :wink: In combat it might also be easier to get to, away from the scutum.

It'd be hilarious if all of the sculptural representations put them at the hip simply to actually show them from the front, and confirm the deceased's identity as a soldier to the illiterate