Bronze

Praesul

Bronze 1/8 completed September 2017

£2,600

The Salii (Ancient Roman Priests of Mars) were known as the “leaping priests”. They were patrician youths dressed as archaic warriors. They were charged with bronze shields one of which was said to have fallen from heaven. Copies of the shields were made to protect the identity of the heavenly shield on the advice of the nymph Egeria who prophesised that possession of the heavenly shield assured Roman dominance on earth.

Each year (in March) the Salii came down from the Palatine Hill and moved through the streets of Rome in celebration and they danced (leaped) and sang.

The Praesul was the leader of the Salii. He twists and bows slightly in preparation for movement (the leap).