BULLÆ, in Roman antiquity, ornaments at first given only to the sons of noblemen; though afterwards they became of more common use. This ornament was first given by Tarquinius with the prætexta to his son, who had, with his own hand, at fourteen years of age, killed an enemy. Thus we find the bulla was a sign of triumph. Macrobius relates, that the children of freed men were allowed to wear the prætexta, and, instead of the golden bulla, a leathern one, about their necks: Those bullæ were made hollow within to inclose amulets against envy, &c. When the youth arrived at fifteen years of age, they hung up their bullæ about the necks of their gods lares. We are farther informed, that the bullæ were not only hung about the necks of young men, but of horses also.