05-06-2005, 01:44 AM
Okay, I dug out my "source", which is "Roman Military Equipment" by Mike Bishop and JCN Coulston, 1993.
On Page 96 in the section 'From Augustus to Hadrian', topic: belts, the authors remark that the term cingulum is hardly ever found before the third century (AD). They cite, according to Varro a cinctus was a belt worn by men and a cingulum was a belt worn by women. These terms presumably refer to civilian belts. Further they cite instances in papyri and literary sources where the terms balteus, baltei, baltea, etc., are used in specifically military contexts. From Tacitus, "Histories"-Soldiers handing over their belts to Vitellius so he can strip the silver from them to fund his claim to the imperial title (the word baltei is used). Also, the Greek word baltion is cited as used in a letter (papyrus document dated to AD 99).
I could go on from there. I agree with the earlier reply, which states that the term cingulum did come into regular use in the later Roman Empire to denote persons in the government, both civilian and military.
Marcus Quintius Clavus
aka: Quinton Johansen
On Page 96 in the section 'From Augustus to Hadrian', topic: belts, the authors remark that the term cingulum is hardly ever found before the third century (AD). They cite, according to Varro a cinctus was a belt worn by men and a cingulum was a belt worn by women. These terms presumably refer to civilian belts. Further they cite instances in papyri and literary sources where the terms balteus, baltei, baltea, etc., are used in specifically military contexts. From Tacitus, "Histories"-Soldiers handing over their belts to Vitellius so he can strip the silver from them to fund his claim to the imperial title (the word baltei is used). Also, the Greek word baltion is cited as used in a letter (papyrus document dated to AD 99).
I could go on from there. I agree with the earlier reply, which states that the term cingulum did come into regular use in the later Roman Empire to denote persons in the government, both civilian and military.
Marcus Quintius Clavus
aka: Quinton Johansen
Quinton Johansen
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
Marcus Quintius Clavus, Optio Secundae Pili Prioris Legionis III Cyrenaicae
