Everything about The Salii totally explained
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 spiked headdress called an
apex. 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 Ovid already thought their rituals were outdated and not understandable.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).
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable explains:
Ovid relates the story of Numa and the heavenly ancile in his
Fasti (3.259-392).
Tullus Hostilius established another collegium of Salii in fulfilment of a vow which he made in a war with the
Sabines. These Salii were also twelve in number, chosen from the patricians, and appeared to have been dedicated to the service of
Quirinus. They were called the
Salii Collini,
Agonales, or
Agonenses.
Nomenclature
- Numa's Salii Palatini were dedicated to Mars surnamed Gradivus (meaning "he who walks into battle"), and were quartered on the Palatine Hill.
- Tullus' Salii Collini were dedicated to Quirinus, and were quartered on the Quirinal Hill. Rosinus called them Agonenses Salii.
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.
Further Information
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