in Roman antiquity, priests of Mars, whereof 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 saltare, "to dance"; because, after afflicting at sacrifices, they went dancing about the streets, with bucklers in their left hand, and a rod in their right, striking musically with their rods on one another's bucklers, and singing hymns in honour of the gods.