04-23-2007, 08:11 PM
Okay, I know it's strange to dredge this topic up after nearly 2 years, but I was just reading Caesar's Gallic War, the Loeb edition translated by Edwards, which also has the original Latin text, and I noticed that in the story about the centuriones Pullo and Vorenus (yes, our friends Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus from HBOs 'Rome' were real soldiers in Caesar's army, although Pullo was a centurio himself), the statement about how a Gaul's 'dart' pierced Pullo's shield and lodged in his belt and interfering with him drawing his sword, the Latin word used is 'balteo', so clearly balteus was a term used for a soldier's waist belt.
Just for those who are curious, the full statement is:
"Transfigitur scutum Pulloni et verutum in balteo defigitur. Avertit hic casus vaginam et gladium educere conanti dextram moratur manum, impeditumque hostes circumsistunt." translating to: "Pullo's shield was penetrated, and a dart was lodged in his belt. This accident threw his scabbard out of place, and delayed his right hand as he tried to draw his sword, and while he was in difficulty the enemy surrounded him."
Just for those who are curious, the full statement is:
"Transfigitur scutum Pulloni et verutum in balteo defigitur. Avertit hic casus vaginam et gladium educere conanti dextram moratur manum, impeditumque hostes circumsistunt." translating to: "Pullo's shield was penetrated, and a dart was lodged in his belt. This accident threw his scabbard out of place, and delayed his right hand as he tried to draw his sword, and while he was in difficulty the enemy surrounded him."
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