Dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SATLI. SALTNAE. 1003
SA'LII were priests of Mars Gradivus, and are its excellence. (Suet. C(laud. 33; Cic. cid Zitt. v.;
Paid to have been instituted by Naum. T'hes!3; Ilor. Carin7. i. 37.) The nimembers of the colwere twelve in number, chosen from the patriciars leoiun were elected by co-optation. We read of
even in the latest times, and formed an ecclesias- the dignities of praesul, vates, and magister in the
tical corporation. (Liv. i. 20; Dionys. ii. 70; Cic. collegimn. (Capitol. Ibid. 4.)
Rep. ii. 14; lecta juventuls patnricia, Lucal, ix. The shape of the ancile is exhibited in the an4718.) They had the care of the twelve Ancilia, nexed cut, taken from an ancient gem in the Florenwhich were kept in the temple of Mars on the tine cabinet, which illustrates the accounlts of the
Palatine hill, whence those priests were sometimes ancient writers that its form was oval, but with
called Salii Palatini to distinguish them from the the two sides receding inwards with an even curvother Salii mentioned below. The distinguishing ature, and so as to make it broader at the ends
dress of the Salii was an embroidered tunic bound thanl in the middle. The persons engaged in car.
with a brazen belt, the trabea, and the Ape., also rying these ancilia on their shoulders, suspended
worn by the Flamines. [Arax.] Each had a fromn a pole, are probably servants of the Salii
sword by his side, and in his right hand a spear and the representation agrees exactly with the
or staff. (Dionys. 1. c.) statement of Dionysius (ii. 70) lreA'ras v7rnpEraL
The festival of Mars was celebrated by the *rlqtseva furl,arvt,&w, tKo/ol[C'ocr. At the top of
Salii on the 1st of March and for several successive the cut is represented one of the rods with which
days; on which occasion they were accustomed to the Salii were accustomed to beat the shield in
go through the city in their official dress carrying their darce, as already described. (Gruter, Iiscr.
the ancilia in their left hands or suspended from p. cccclxiv. note 3.)
their shoulders, and at the same time singing and
dancing. In the dance they struck the shields
with rods so as to keep time with their voices and
with the movements of the dance. (Liv. 1. c.;
Dionys. 1. c.; Hor. ae7rm. i. 36. 1, iv. 1. 28). / j 7
From their dancing Ovid, apparently with cor- /
rectness, derives their nanle (Fast. iii. 387). The
songs or hymns, which they sang on this occasion
(Saicricc czarmina, Hoe. Ep. ii. 1. 86; Tac. Ann.
ii. 83), were called Asamenlta, Assamenta, or
Arxamen ta, of which the etymologo is uncertain.
Giittling (Clescl. der RTmns. S'taetsr. p. 192;) thinks
they were so called because they were sung with.-
out any musical accompaniment, actsa oce; but'/ -
tlhis etymology is opposed to the express statement
of Dionysius (iii. 32). Some idea of the subject
of these songs may be obtained from a passage in
Virgil (Aen. viii. 286), and a small fragment of
them is preserved by Varro (L. L. vii. 26, ed. Tullus Hostilius established another collegitlnl
Muiller). In later times they were scarcely un- of Salii in fillfilment of a vow which he made in a
derstood even by the priests themselves. (Varro, war with the Sabines. These Salii were also
L. L. vii. 2; Hor. Ep. ii. 1. 86; Quintil. i. 6. twelve in number, chosen from the patricians, and
p. 54, Bipont.) The praises of Manmurius Veturius appeared to have beeus dedicated to the service of
formed the principal subject of these songs, though Qairitus. They were called the Salii Collini,
who Manriurius Veturius was, the ancients them- Agonales or Agonenses. (Liv. i. 27; Dionys. ii.
selves were not agreed upon. (Varro, L. L. vi. 45.) 70 iii. 32; Varro, L. L. vi. 14.) Niebuhr (Hlu'it.:He is generally said to be the armourter, who made of'Rome, vol. iii. p. 3;51) supposes, that the oldest
eleven ancilia like the one that was sent fiom and most illustrious college, the Palatine Salii,
heaven in the reign of Numa. (Festus, s. v. 3lai. were chosen originally from the oldest tribe, the
Vet.; Diony-s. ii. 71; Ovid.'cast. iii. 384), but Ramnes, and the one instituted by Tullus Hostilius
some modern vriters suppose it to be merely or the Quirinalian from the Tities alone: a third
another name of Mars. Besides, however, the college for the Luceres was, never established.
praises of:Mamurius, the verses, which the Salii (Compare Ilatrtung, Die Rcligio7n der Rtner, vol. ii.
sang, appear to have contained a kind of theogony, p. 163.)
in which the praises of all the celestial deities SALI'NAE (&xal, &Xomrvy-Iov), a salt-work.
were celebrated, with the exception of AVenus. (Varro, de L. Lat. viii. 25, ed. Spengel.) Al(Macrob. Sat. i. 1.2.) The verses in honour of though the ancients were well acquainted with
each god were called by the respective names of rock-salt (Herod. iv. 181-185; axes opvKroi,
each, as Januli, Junonii, Minervii. (Festus, s. v. i. e. e" fossil salt," Arrian, LKxped. Alex. iii. 4. pp.
Axanenita.) Divine honour was paid to some of 161, 162, ed. Blan.), and although they obtained
the emperors by inserting their names in the songs salt likewise from certain inland lakes (Herod. vii.
of the Salii. This honour was first bestowed 30) and from natural springs or brine-pits (Cie
upon Augustus (Monum. Ancyr.), and afterwards Nat. Deor. ii. 53; Plin. I. N. xxxi. 7. s. 39upon Germanicus (Tac. Ann. ii. 83); and when 42), and fomnd no small quantity on certain shores
Verus died, his name was inserted in the song of where it was congealed by the heat of the sun
the Salii by command of M. Antoninus. (Capitol. without human labour (cAss aiuT6OlxaTom, Herod. iv..L Aznt. Phil. 21.) 53; Plin. 1. c.), yet they obtained by fiar the
At the conclusion of the festival the Salii were greatest quantity by the management of works
accustomed to partake of a splendid entertainment constructed on the sea-shore, where it was natuin the temple of Mars, which was proverbial for rally adapted for the purpose by being so low and