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Balteus

By N.S. Gill, About.com

Definition: Balteus is the Latin for belt and refers to a sword belt. The plural of balteus is baltea. The balteus could be a shoulder belt supporting the sword or a second belt to hold the shield (used in Homeric times). A third type of balteus would hold the quiver. At the imperial palace, there was an officer known as baltearius who was in charge of the baltea of the Roman emperors.

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