Balteus
(in the plural,
baltea). A belt (in Gk.
τελαμών), and sometimes a woman's girdle.
1.
A shoulder-belt, and oftenest a sword-belt. Among the Greeks, as the sword usually hung by
the left hip, its belt was supported by the right shoulder,
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Balteus. (Florentine Museum.)
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passing obliquely over the breast, as shown in the cameo here given from the
Florentine Museum.
The Romans, on the other hand, usually wore the
balteus over the left
shoulder, though not always. (See Caes.
B. G. v. 44.) Shield-belts among the
Greeks were worn in the reverse order from the sword-belt, the two crossing over the breast.
Belts were generally made of leather, sometimes ornamented with silver and gold. They were
often employed also to support the quiver. The belts of the Roman emperors were so
magnificent that a special officer (
baltearius) had charge of
them. See
Cingulum;
Pharetra.
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Belt of Homeric Warrior.
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2.
A belt or collar passing round a horse's neck and breast, partly for protection, and partly
for ornament. It was often decorated with embossed work, and sometimes carried bells. See
Phalera;
Tintinnabulum.
3.
The belt on the celestial globe representing the sun's course and bearing the signs of the
zodiac (Manilius, i. 679).
4.
The
praecinctio (
διάζωμα) of the
theatre. See
Theatrum.
5.
In architecture (Ionic), an ornamental band which encircles the
pulvinus, or bolster of the capital (Vitruv. iii. 5, 7).
