Salii

, a college of priests at Rome, instituted in honour of Mars, and appointed by Numa to take care of the sacred shields called Ancylia, B.C. 709. See: Ancyle . They were 12 in number, the three elders among them had the superintendence of all the rest; the first was called præsul , the second vates , and the third magister . Their number was afterwards doubled by Tullus Hostilius, after he had obtained a victory over the Fidenates, in consequence of a vow which he had made to Mars. The Salii were all of patrician families, and the office was very honourable. The 1st of March was the day on which the Salii observed their festivals in honour of Mars. They were generally dre ed in a short scarlet tunic, of which only the edges were seen; they wore a large purple-coloured belt about the waist, which was fastened with bra buckles. They had on their heads round bonnets with two corners standing up, and they wore in their right hand a small rod, and in their left a small buckler. In the observation of their solemnity they first offered sacrifices, and afterwards went through the streets dancing in measured motions, sometimes all together, or at other times separately, while musical instruments were playing before them. They placed their body in different attitudes, and struck with their rods the shields which they held in their hands. They also sung hymns in honour of the gods, particularly of Mars, Juno, Venus, and Minerva, and they were accompanied in the chorus by a certain number of virgins, habited like themselves, and called Saliæ . The Salii instituted by Numa were called Palatini , in contradistinction from the others, because they lived on mount Palatine, and offered their sacrifices there. Those that were added by Tullus were called Collini , Agonales , or Quirinales , from a mountain of the same name, where they had fixed their residence. Their name seems to have been derived a saliendo , or saltando , because during their festivals it was particularly requisite that they should leap and dance. Their feasts and entertainments were uncommonly rich and sumptuous, whence dapes saliares is proverbially applied to such repasts as are most splendid and costly. It was usual among the Romans when they declared war, for the Salii to shake their shields with great violence, as if to call upon the god Mars to come to their a istance. Livy , bk. 1 , ch. 20 .— Varro , de Lingua Latina , bk. 4 , ch. 15 .— Ovid , Fasti , bk. 3 , li. 387 .— Dionysius of Halicarna us , bk. 3 .— Florus , bk. 1 , ch. 2 , . — Virgil , Æneid , bk. 8 , li. 285 .――A nation of Germany who invaded Gaul, and were conquered by the emperor Julian. Ammianus Mar cell in us , bk. 17 .