Salier (religion)

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Salier

The Salians ( Latin Salii ) were Roman arms dance priests.

According to Varro, the Salians active in Lazio and Rome got their name from ab salitando ("from dancing"). The body consisted of two groups (sodalitates) of twelve members each, the Salii Palatini and the Salii Collini (also Agonenses or Agonales )

The Salii Palatini were supposedly founded by Numa Pompilius and were in the service of the god of war Mars . They had their own office (curia) on the Palatine Hill . The lituus of Romulus was supposedly kept here. The Salii Collini , allegedly founded by Tullus Hostilius , were in the service of Quirinus . Their office was on the Quirinal .

Both groups had their own ritual books. They were each directed by a magister . Their ranks were supplemented by co-optation . To be part of the priests quorum you had to be a patrician and both parents had to be alive. Membership was usually lifelong, but members who assumed higher office were usually eliminated.

Few names of members have survived from Republican times. The best-known member to this day was Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , who, which was unusual, still belonged to the college of priests after his time at the consulate . More members have survived from the Roman Empire .

The most important function of the college was a solemn procession through Rome at the beginning and at the end of the war season . The most important ritual act was the carrying around (movere) and cleaning (lustratio) of the sacred shields of Mars (ancilia). At some selected locations (such as the Comitium , Capitol (Rome) and Aventine ) , an artistic weapon and stamp dance was performed , led by a lead dancer (praesul) and a lead singer ( vates ) . They hit the shields with their lances (hastae) and sang an ancient song, the Carmen Saliare . This song was no longer understandable in historical times, so it must have been very old. In addition, several gods - in imperial times also the emperors and sometimes the heirs to the throne - were invoked. The dancers' equipment was also ancient and modeled on the archaic era. The dancers wore a colorful tunic , a cloak and a brazen chest protector. In terms of weapons they carried a short sword , a lance and a pointed helmet . The festivities were concluded by lavish, proverbial guest meals (cenae saliares) .

In earlier times the ritual also seems to have included an initiation rite . There was an enigmatic component, the saliae virgines , in which virgins held a role. In historical times, however, this function was fulfilled by hired actresses.

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