Wayne Eastep

The belt in ancient times was the sign of a warrior, strictly designating rank. Over the centuries it took on additional meanings for shepherds and hunters and was soon worn by both men and women. Belts were similar to jewelry and textiles in that their ornamentation carried layers of meaning and symbolism. A contained circle represents the universe, for example, and holds sacred meaning. The belt could guard against the evil eye, or be given as an award in horse racing, silver was the preferred metal and design motifs ranged from the zoomorphic, such as ram's horns, to the botanical, such as tulip blossoms or rosette petals. East Kazakhstan regional historical museum, Oskemen.