Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ventrale

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

VENTRA'LE (κοιλιόδεσμος). A belly-band, formed by an oblong-square piece of cloth tied round the loins, and over the abdomen, as exhibited by the annexed figure (Ventrale/1.1), from a bas-relief upon a marble candelabrum. In the present instance, it is worn over the tunic, but its usual place was next the skin, either underneath the tunic, or upon the body, when in other respects entirely naked, as seen upon the statue of a fisherman (Visconti, Mus. Pio-Clem. iii. tav. A, 6.); which also proves that it was not the same as the subligaculum, nor worn for the sake of decency, for it there leaves the person completely exposed, as indeed would be the case with our example if the tunic were removed. It was sometimes used for medicinal purposes (Plin. H. N. viii. 73. xxvii. 28.), and as a convenience for carrying money or other small articles about the person (Ulp. Dig. 48. 20. 6.), when otherwise divested of clothing, and in the water (Lucil. Sat. vi. 1. cum bulga lavat). Hence it is frequently seen on statues of fishermen, as in the one already quoted, and another of the Vatican (Mus. Pio.-Clem. iii. 32.), erroneously restored for Seneca, but having the central part of the ventrale filled in with plaster of Paris in a manner which entirely alters the genuine character of the object.

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  Ventrale/1.1