Salii

American  

[sal-ee-ahy] / ˈsæl iˌaɪ /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. (in ancient Rome) a college of priests of Mars and Quirinus who guarded the ancilia and led the festivities in their honor.

---

Example Sentences

“I don’t feel like I’m in a shelter,” said Polina Salii, 11, whose family fled the fighting in Pokrovsk, a town in the east.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2022

It was hung up in the temple, and was considered the especial property of the Salii, or Leapers, the young men who danced the war dance, for it was they who had found it.

From The Childhood of Rome by Lamprey, Louise

They perhaps paid tribute, and they certainly furnished Rome with 36 soldiers; Salii seniores and Salii juniores are mentioned in the Notitia dignitatum, and Salii appear among the auxilia palatina.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 1 "Franciscans" to "French Language" by Various

It is only one striking illustration of this widespread practice, that there was at Rome a very ancient order of priests especially named Salii, who struck their shields and sang assamenta as they danced.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9 "Dagupan" to "David" by Various

From hence the priests of the Sun were called Soli and Solimi in Cilicia, Selli in Epirus, Salii at Rome, all originally priests of fire.

From A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume I. by Bryant, Jacob