Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Salii

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

SAL'II (Σαλίοι). The Salii; twelve priests of Mars Gradivus, who had the custody of the ancilia, or sacred shields. Their costume consisted of an embroidered tunic, girt round the waist with a broad military belt of bronze (CINGULUM, 4.); or possibly covered by a breastplate (PECTORALE), which seems more probable; and the trabea for an outward mantle. On their heads a pointed bonnet (APEX); a short sword suspended from the left side, a shield upon the left arm and in the right hand a spear or a wand with which they struck the shields as they were being carried through the city by their ministers suspended from a pole. (Liv. i. 20. Dionys. ii. 70.) Most of these particulars are illustrated by the annexed woodcuts; the first (Salii/1.1) of which, from a Roman bas-relief, exhibits the apex, trabea, and wand above mentioned; a branch of laurel is carried in the left hand, because the priest is engaged at a sacrifice of thanksgiving for some victory. The lower figures (Salii/1.2), from an engraved gem, which is inscribed with Etruscan characters, exhibit the embroidery on the drapery, the sacred shields, and the method of carrying them in procession.

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  Salii/1.1
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  Salii/1.2