Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Silentiarius

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. 

SILENTIA'RIUS. A domestic slave whose duty it was to preserve silence in the household, and keep the whole establishment from making the slightest noise in the presence of their master; even a cough or sneeze being immediately checked by the ready stroke of the rod. Salvian. Gub. D. iv. 3. Inscript. ap. Fabrett. p. 206. n. 54. Compare Senec. Ep. 47.

2. Silentiarius sacri palatii. At a late period of the Empire, one of thirty officers who were persons of some consequence at the Byzantine court, acting under the authority of three superiors (decuriones), and appointed for the purpose of preserving order, silence, and decorum within the precincts of the palace. Imp. Anastas. Cod. 15. 62. 25. Inscript. ap. Grut. 1053. 10.