Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Balteus

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

BAL'TEUS or BAL'TEUM (τελαμών). A baldric or shoulder belt, passed over one shoulder, and under the other, for the purpose of suspending the sword, in the same manner as our soldiers carry their sidearms. (Quint. xi. 3. 140.) It was fastened in front by a buckle (Virg. Aen. v. 314.), and frequently enriched with studs (bullae) of gold or precious stone (Virg. l. c.), both of which particulars are distinctly visible in the illustration (Balteus/1.1), from a trophy at Rome, commonly known as "the trophies of Marius," but in reality belonging to the age of Trajan.

2. The Greek soldiers of the Homeric age also used a similar belt to carry their shields by; and, consequently wore two of them at the same time. Hom. Il. xiv. 404.

3. A similar kind of belt, also designated by the same term, was used in like manner for suspending a quiver from the shoulders (Virg. Aen. v. 313. Nemes. Cyneg. 91.), and a musical instrument, like the lyre or guitar from the neck. (Apul. Flor. ii. 15. 2.) See the illustrations to PHARETRATUS, 3. and LYRISTRIA, which afford examples of a belt applied in both of these ways.

4. An ornamental belt or band, sometimes decorated with gold and silver studs, or with embroidery, which was placed round a horse's neck and breast, below the monile or throat-band, and from which bells were often suspended. (Apul. Met. x. p. 224.) The illustration (Balteus/4.1) is from a fictile vase: compare the example under TINTINNABULATUS, which is plain, and with a bell hanging from it.

5. Less accurately, and particularly by the poets, a girdle round the waist (Lucan. ii. 361. Sil. Ital. x. 181. CINGULUM), and a horse's girth round the body. Claud. Ep. xxi. and xx. See CINGULA.

6. The broad flat belt in the sphere, which contains the twelve signs of the Zodiac, and represents the sun's course through them (Manilius, iii. 334.), as shown by the engraving (Balteus/6.1), which is copied from a painting at Pompeii.

7. The band which encircles the bolster or cushion on the side of an Ionic capital; in technical language, the band or girdle of the bolsters. (Vitruv. xi. 5. 7.) It is often covered with sculpture, as in the example (Balteus/7.1), which represents a side view of a capital belonging to the temple of Minerva Polias.

8. In a theatre or amphitheatre, a wall or belt, which formed a line of demarcation between one tier of seats (Maenianum) and another. (Calpurn. Ecl. vi. 47.) The object of this was to prevent the different classes of spectators from passing over from the places assigned to their respective orders into other parts of the building where they were not entitled to sit; as for instance, from an upper circle into a lower one. The illustration (Balteus/8.1) presents a view in the larger theatre at Pompeii, and shows a portion of two maeniana, or tiers of seats, separated by the balteus between them. It will be understood that this belt, which here is only a fragment, ran uninterruptedly round the entire range of seats. The visitors, upon entering the theatre, walked round the covered gallery shown by the large dark arch on the right hand, until they came to either of the small doors (vomitoria), through which they passed into the interior, and descended the staircases in front of them until they came to the row or step (gradus) in which their respective places were situate. Another balteus is seen above, also with two of its doors, which separated the second maenianum from the seats above. It will also be observed that the covered passage which encircles the first maenianum has no communication with the one above, which was approached by a separate corridor of its own, connected with a distinct set of staircases in the external shell of the building.

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  Balteus/1.1
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  Balteus/4.1
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  Balteus/6.1
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  Balteus/7.1
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  Balteus/8.1