Carmen Saliare

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The Carmen Saliare is a fragment of archaic Latin, which played a part in the rituals performed by the Salii (Salian priests, aka "jumping priests") of Ancient Rome.

The rituals revolved around Mars and Quirinus, and were performed in March and October. These involved processions in which they donned archaic armour and weapons, performed their sacred dance, and sang the Carmen Saliare. As a body they existed before the founding of the Roman republic, tracing their origin back to the reign of King Numa Pompilius. The Salian priests were chosen from the sons of patrician families whose parents were still living. They were appointed for life, though they were allowed to resign from the Salian priesthood if they achieved a more prestigious priesthood or a major magistracy.

Fragments of the hymn have been preserved by Marcus Terentius Varro in his De Lingua Latina, 7.26, 27. They say:

... divum empta cante, divum deo supplicate ...

... cume tonas, Leucesie, prae tet tremonti quot ibet etinei de is cum tonarem ...

... cozeulodorieso. omnia vero adpatula coemisse.

ian cusianes duonus ceruses dunus Ianusve vet pom melios eum recum ...

Linguists have been unable to translate most of the text; the Latin words that are recognizable in it appear to mention thunder, Janus, and Ceres. Even in the 1st century BC, Cicero was unable to interpret much of the chant.