Roman Military belt question

[Rufus Ephibatus]

Ave Milities!
Question: Legionary Military Belt
Period: Republic to early/mid 1st Cent), a Roman Marine (Late Republic) and, a Cesarean Legionary.
I have read that the troops carried personal wealth on their belts.
I have cabochon cut and simple cut semi precious stones (a butt load) in hand.
So, what is the evidence for such on belts for the periods I present?
On the belts, on the belt plates, or on the apron straps?
Vale!
G. Navi Rufus Ephibatus
Signifier, Legio II AVG Cohors I
Red Millis
GySgt USMC (ret)
Off line e-mail: [email protected]

[Mithras]

Round the neck

Or in the baggage ... having done several marches and some woodland skirmishing, I can testify to the determination of the little money pouch to fall off or get caught on something.

Leave it with your baggage.

[Robert Vermaat]

Maybe cloacks had pouches which we can't see?

Btw, I deleted the other/copy question on the re-enactment section.

[Tarbicus]

Or an arm purse:

link from old RAT

[Peroni]

I think Red means the wealth of decoration on the belt itself rather than carrying your coinage on the belt.

The use of silver plates, mounted jewels etc on the actual fittings.

For example the mounted semi-precious stones on the Kalkriese scabbard fittings.

Regards,

[Mithras]

Opps! Sorry about that! :oops:

[aitor iriarte]

Notwithstanding, IIRW, the Hercualneum soldier was carrying some golden coins inside some purpose-made cavity inside his belt.
As for cingula adorned with stones, I have not seen anything earlier than Fourth century and limited to high-ranking officers.

Aitor

[Tarbicus]

I can't find any reference to jewelled studs or belt fittings from the 1stC CE, but that obviously doesn't mean they never occurred. Plenty of niello inlay and silver though.

JRMES Vol.3; The Early Imperial Apron, M. C. Bishop
JRMES Vol.9; Apron fittings from Flavian times found in Spain, Fernandez
(English texts only read, perhaps others can chip in?)

The Pre-Flavian Military Belt, Grew & Griffiths.

Sorry Red.

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Could it be that the coin purse was carried under the tunic, around the neck? I know during the middle ages it was common to tie your coin purse to your braies under your tunic so no one could see it and easily snag it.

[claudia crisis]

I think here you were more likely refering to beltplates made of precious metals rather than other portable wealth.
There is a reference to legionaries handing over their beltplates to be melted down to finance the kitting out of a new legion.
This suggests that their plates were made of more precious metals (perhaps silver) than the copper/brass ones usually found (bearing in mind we only usually find the rubbish ones - valuable ones are not chucked away too often).
Probably a major disappointment for anyone looting a man of his nice silver belt plates only to find it made of nicely silvered "tat" instead (picked the only skint legionary in the bunch).
It would make sense when living a lifestyle nomadic between postings to carry your savings around on your belt - cant nip down the road to the local bank & cash machine - disposable wealth converted into bullion/beltplates.
Not much in the way of evidence for precious/semi-precious stones tho.

Hilary

[Rufus Ephibatus]

I think Red means the wealth of decoration on the belt itself rather than carrying your coinage on the belt.

The use of silver plates, mounted jewels etc on the actual fittings.

For example the mounted semi-precious stones on the Kalkriese scabbard fittings.

Regards,

Exactly! "should" they be set on belt plates, in the leather, or on the apron.
Thanks.
Red

[Matthew Amt]

I haven't seen any evidence for stones used on the belt at all. Better to make them into jewelry for your girlfriend!

In the reference to soldiers turning over their belts to finance a campaign, the impression I got was that the belt were being pawned for money, not necessarily melted down. You can get a lot more cash for a complete belt than for the weight of silver or brass in it. Unless the ancient writer SAYS they were melted down! (But I don't remember that he does...)

Valete,

Matthew

[Quintius Clavus]

You don't have to melt silver or gold to apply it to belt fittings or other items. You don't need heat at all. For example, the Kalkriese face mask apparently had a thin silver foil applied over the face area. There is only the edge of it left. It is probable that some German peeled the silver off, then discarded the mask as rubbish.
The same could apply to the belts that were turned over to commanders to raise money for say a grab at the "purple". Thin silver foil applied to the brass plates and thus fairly easily removed, and as it is pure, ready to be reprocessed and made into coins or just used as is.
I have a friend in the SCA, a scribe, and she is noted in the East Kingdom for her gold-leaf work on award scrolls using very thin sheets of pure gold, which is mounted with adhesives onto the parchment. She tends to the more authentic end of the SCA so may very likey use "period" adhesive.

Quinton Marcus Johansen/Marcus Quintius Clavus
Legio III Cyrenaica

[Cornelius Quintus]

Ave omnes,

I remember a re-enactor of a first century auxiliary cohort who explained the main items of their kits to the audience. He told us everything was constructed very functional – except the cingulum. The decorated apron had no practical value – but had a kind of cash value or was a status symbol to the owner. So soldiers spent some of their saved money on individual cingulum decoration.

Was the cingulum the only non-uniform part of the uniform?

[Tarbicus]

The decorated apron had no practical value

The theories:

It hides your nads when you're sitting down.

It makes a great jingling sound when walking or on the march, which when multiplied by a few thousand must have been rather impressive and initimidated the enemy as well as boosted Roman confidence.

It acts as a sign, visually and audible to all and sundry that yes, you are a soldier, no doubt about it. A badge of office in a sense (hence punishment could include its confiscation for a period).

It's a valuable item that holds some of the soldier's wealth, conveniently carried with him at all times.

And I still haven't come across any references to belts with jewels on them.