SALII, in Roman antiquity, priests of Mars, where-
of there were 12, instituted by Numa, wearing painted,
particoloured garments, and high bonnets; with a
steel cuirass on the breast. They were called salii,
from salutare "to dance;" because, after assisting at sa-
crifices, they went dancing about the streets, with buck-
lers in their left-hand, and a rod in their right, strik-
ing musically with their rods on one another's bucklers,
and singing hymns in honour of the gods.