Salii (priests)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Salii were Roman priests of Mars. They consisted of twelve aristocratic young men, dressed in ancient outfits worn by ancient warriors, outlandish even to people in the day of Cicero. These outfits consisted of an embroidered tunic, a breastplate, a short red cloak, a sword, and a very pointy helmet. They were charged with the 12 bronze ancilia shields. These shields resembled a figure-of-eight, like Mycenaean shields. One of the shields was said to have fallen from heaven in the reign of King Numa Pompilius, and eleven copies were made.

They played a pivotal role in the Festival of the Salii, during which they sang the Carmen Saliare. Their duty, and the song's function, was to keep Rome safe in battle. During the principate, Augustus' name was inserted into the song. Ovid already thought their rituals were outdated and not understandable. Since Caesar and Augustus, the emperor was sacred, and the Salii celebrated victories in war by celebrating the capabilities of the Holy Emperor (a title given by the Senate).

Agonales, in antiquity, is an epithet given to the Salii, consecrated by Numa Pompilius to the God Mars surnamed Gradivus.

They were also called Quirinales, and Palatini (Paladin). Rosinus called them Agonenses Salii.

[edit] Continuation of the Palatine Hill

In the later days of the Roman Empire, the Paladines (Palatine inhabitants, ie. palace attendants) included the mystical behavior of the previous temple at the same place, Palatine Hill, in order to gain more authority in the face of the community. See Paladin on the late Roman and mediaeval development.

This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.

Their exact relationship to the Salian Virgins, mentioned only by Festus, is unknown.