Salus

For other uses, see Salus (disambiguation).
3rd-century statue of Salus in the Getty Villa

Salus (Latin: salus, "safety", "salvation", "welfare")[1] was the Roman goddess of safety and well-being (welfare, health and prosperity) of both the individual and the state. She is sometimes equated with the Greek goddess Hygieia, though their functions differ considerably.

Salus is one of the oldest Roman goddesses: she has also been referred to as Salus Semonia,[2] a fact that might hint at her belonging to the category of the Semones (gods such as Semo Sancus Dius Fidius). The two gods had temples in Rome on the Collis Salutaris and Mucialis respectively,[3] two adjacent hilltops of the Quirinal located in the regio Alta Semita. The temple of Salus, as Salus Publica Populi Romani, was voted in 304 BC, during the Samnite Wars, by dictator Gaius Junius Bubulcus Brutus,[4] dedicated on 5 August 302, and adorned with frescos at the order of Gaius Fabius Pictor.[5]

The high antiquity and importance of the cult of Salus is testified by the little-known ceremony of the Augurium Salutis, held every year on August 5 for the preservation of the Roman state.[6] Her cult was spread over all Italy.[7] Literary sources record relationships with Fortuna[8] and Spes.[9] She started to be increasingly associated with Valetudo, the Goddess of Personal Health and the romanized name of Hygieia.

Later Salus also become a protector of personal health. Around 180 BCE sacrificial rites in honor of Apollo, Aesculapius, and Salus took place (Livius XL, 37). There was a statue to Salus in the temple of Concordia. She is first known to be associated with the snake of Aesculapius from a coin of 55 BC minted by M. Acilius.[10] Her festival was celebrated on March 30.

  1. ^ M. De Vaan Etymological Dictionary of Latin Leyden 2010 s.v.; The Oxford Classical Dictionary 4th ed. London & New York 2012 s.v.
  2. ^ Köhler 1965, citing CIL VI 30975.
  3. ^ Varro De Lingua latina V 53.
  4. ^ Köhler 1965, citing Livy Ab Urbe Condita IX 43.
  5. ^ Köhler 1965, citing Valerius Maximum VIII 14, 6.
  6. ^ Köhler 1965, citing Tacit Annales XII 23.
  7. ^ Köhler 1965 citing inscriptions from Orte (salutes pocolom Diehl Alt lat. Inschrit. 3, 192) and Pompei (salutei sacrum Dessau 3822).
  8. ^ Köhler 1965, who cites Plautus Asin. 712.
  9. ^ Köhler 1965, who cites Plautus Merc. 867.
  10. ^ Köhler 1965.