RomanArmyTalk

This topic is being discussed over on the Show Your Impressioin column, but I thought I would bringsy question back up here.

Do we know for certain that the belt/balteus went over the segmentata?

I know sculpture shows it worn on the outside over the girdle plates, but has anyone even tried to wear the balteus under the segmentata low on the waist? The pugio hilt might get in the way unless the bottom girdle plate rested behind it.

I am not sure of the feasibility of this, so my asking the question. I have heard that the DPK and DSC Segmentatas might have slightly differently shaped girdle plates than how the actual finds appear.

Does anyone have an example?

Quote:I know sculpture shows it worn on the outside over the girdle plates, but has anyone even tried to wear the balteus under the segmentata low on the waist?

Frequently, before I started using hoops
It is comfortable, yes. But the problem is with the sword. If you wear your belt over the frog, the sword rides very low, it is bloody inconvenient. If you wear your frog over the belt (which you sort of have to if the belt is below the seg) it jumps all over the place when you walk and it's very hard to pull out with one hand.

Quote:I know sculpture shows it worn on the outside over the girdle plates, but has anyone even tried to wear the balteus under the segmentata low on the waist?

I tried wearing the belt on my waist, I had to have the pugio dangling low so the hilt did not get caught up in the lorica hoops. Otherwise it was fine. All the sculpture says it was worn on the armour though.

But, I've just added leather cord to my segmentata, fitted the belt and .. amazingly it fits perfectly, looks great, does not slide at all and the leather thongs are totally invisible.

Brilliant suggestion! Solved my headache. Thank you all.

Brian, the plates I made are about 2 inches wide, but remain invisible behind the belt.
It is not an issue at all about looking bad.