apron discs

[Servius Rustius Noricus]

Is there any proof that apron discs were attached with rivets punched through the disc. Pictorial evidence would be nice.

[Crispvs]

No evidence that I am aware of. Mike Bishop published an article on the Roman Military Apron a few years ago and did not mention any such thing then. Perhaps he might like to comment now?

Crispvs

[mcbishop]

Normal practice was to manufacture disc and shank in one, but they do not appear to have been cast into their final shape, as they nearly always show signs of having been worked (perhaps to enlarge the head and make the shank more pliable; greater technical minds than mine would need to comment on that one). Characteristically, they always have slightly raised concentric rings on the undersurface of the head, perhaps to help them grip the strap better, although it may just be a byproduct of the manner in which they were finished.

Mike Bishop

[DECIMvS MERCATIvS VARIANvS]

[size=150:3r1esmdj]M[/size]ike, is this article you did on belts online somewhere?
Best, Marsh

[mcbishop]

Mike, is this article you did on belts online somewhere?

It is now. Go to this page for a link:

http://www.jrmes.org.uk/vol03.htm

Mike Bishop

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

Ave,Dr. Mike.
Thanks for putting this here.I really enjoyed
reading it.
Seems that non-uniformity is the only thing
uniform about the Roman balteus.
I especially enjoyed the reference to the
plate at the top of the apron. Did this
show up very often?
Also, I find it fascinating that so many milites
wore two belts. I thought that was reserved for
Centurions and above.
Was this more common in the Republican period?
When did they move toward baldrics?
Thanks.

[mcbishop]

Seems that non-uniformity is the only thing uniform about the Roman balteus.

About the Roman army in general, actually ;-)

I especially enjoyed the reference to the plate at the top of the apron. Did this show up very often?

It's on a number of the finer Rhineland tombstones from the Tiberio-Claudian period. It seems to have formed part of the apron once it stopped being just an extension of the belt.

Also, I find it fascinating that so many milites wore two belts. I thought that was reserved for Centurions and above. Was this more common in the Republican period?

Little evidence for the Republican period, but you find it in the Imperial period up to Flavian times (the Herculaneum 'soldier' had two belts). Don't know where the centurions idea came from: plenty of ordinary milites are shown with two belts on tombstones. Take a look at the image gallery on romanarmy.com.

When did they move toward baldrics?

Baldrics are certainly around in the Flavian period but it is uncertain when they began to be introduced (my guess would be earlier).

Mike Bishop