Roman Millitary Belt

The is a Roman military belt with an apron, historically referred to as a cingulum (or sometimes balteus). This piece of equipment was a significant symbol of a soldier’s status and identity in the Roman army, distinguishing them from civilians. It is typically made from genuine leather with decorative brass plates and fittings.

The main belt wraps around the waist and features hanging leather strips, often called baltea, which form an apron or groin guard. While often considered a form of protection, the hanging strips with metal studs and pendants are now believed by re-enactors to have been primarily decorative or a status marker. The characteristic jingling sound they made as soldiers marched also served as a form of psychological warfare. The main belt was used to hold the soldier’s tunic in place and could secure their dagger (pugio).