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The Salii were a college of priests at ancient Rome associated with the worship of Mars. They were twelve in number, and were always patricians. At the festival of Mars, which was held on March the first and following days, they went dancing through the city, carrying the sacred shields. There was a second college of Salii, devoted to Quirinus.
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In Greek mythology, Salmoneus was the arrogant son of Aeolus and Enarete. He was driven out of Thessaly by his brother, Sisyphus, and went to Elis where he founded the city he called Salmone. Salmoneus was so arrogant he considered himself the equal of Zeus, and was eventually struck down by Zeus with a thunderbolt, and his city similarly destroyed and removed from the landscape.
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In Greek mythology, Sarpedon was a son of Zeus and Europa. He went to Asia Minor and became the king of the Lycians after helping Cilix of Cilicia to defeat them. He helped Troy in the Trojan wars before being killed by Patroclus.
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Saturnalia was the ancient Roman festival of the god Saturnus. It was held in the middle of December from the 17th to the 19th and later until the 24th, and was originally a rustic harvest-home. It was a time of general holiday and merry-making and of the interchange of presents between friends, and the streets were full of joyous crowds, dressed not in formal toga, but in a loose robe called a synthesis.
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Saturnus was the Roman god of learning and agriculture. He appeared to king Janus and gave lessons on agriculture to his subjects.
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The satyrs were attendants to the god Dionysus.
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In Greek mythology, Sceiron (Sciron) was a robber who haunted the frontier between Attica and Megaris. He robbed travellers and kicked them into the sea where they were eaten by a tortoise that lived there. He was killed by Theseus.
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In Greek mythology, according to Homer, Scylla was a monster, a daughter of Triton or Poseidon, who lived on a rock in the strait of Messina. She had necks twelve and a half feet long and heads armed with three rows of teeth with which she snatched sailors from passing ships which came too close. In later stories Scylla was a beautiful maiden beloved by the sea-god Glaucus who asked Circe for charms to help him win her love. Circe, however, in her jealousy threw magic herbs into the pool where Scylla used to bathe so that while above the water she remained human, below she was changed into a fish- like shape encircled by dogs.
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Selene was a Greek goddess of the moon.
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In Greek mythology, Semele was a daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. She was beloved by Zeus and bore him Dionysus by an immaculate conception. Hera, the wife of Zeus, was so consumed by jealousy that she persuaded Semele to ask Zeus to show himself to her in all his majesty. Zeus thereupon appeared as the god of thunder, and Semele was consumed by lightning, but Zeus saved her unborn child, Dionysus. Dionysus then later retrieved Semele from Hades and she became the goddess Thyone.
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Silenius was the oldest satyr.
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Silvanus was a Roman god of the forest. He had care of fields and cattle, and presided over boundaries. Silvanus was often represented as an old man, carrying a cypress tree which had been pulled up by the roots.
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The Sirens (Acheloides) were daughters of the river-god Achelous and the Muse Melpomene. They had been nymphs and playmates of Persephone, but for not protecting her when she was carried off by Pluto, they were transformed into beings half-woman and half-bird by Demeter. Later they were transformed into half-woman and half-fish. By other accounts they were birds with women's heads and lions' claws. The Sirens lived on a barren island, one of the entrances to the underworld, and whenever ships passed they sang, hoping to entice Persephone. Their singing was so beautiful that no human could resist it, and the ships sailed ever closer to the lips of hell. Each time the Sirens realized that Persephone was not on board, they swooped on the ship and tore its sailor's limb from limb sending their souls unburied to the underworld.
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In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was an evil King of Corinth. After he died he was condemned in the underworld to roll a huge stone uphill, which always fell back before he could reach the top.
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Sol was the Roman name for the Greek god Helios.
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Somnus was an alternative name for the Greek and Roman god Hypnos.
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In Greek mythology, Stentor was the herald of the Greeks in the Trojan War. He was famous for the volume of his voice which was said to be equal to that of thirty men.
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Stheino was one of the gorgons.
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In Greek mythology, Strophius was King of Phocis.
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In Greek and Roman mythology, the Styx was the principal river in the underworld. Styx was the name of a nymph who was the daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. She dwelt at the entrance to Hades in a lofty grotto which was supported by silver columns. Styx took her children to help Zeus in the fight against the Titans.
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Suada is an alternative name for Pitho.
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In Greek mythology, Syrinx was a nymph of Arcadia. Pan was enamoured with Syrinx, but was violent towards her. To escape Pan's violence Syrinx prayed to be changed into a reed. The gods granted her prayer, and she was turned into a reed. Pan then made himself a pipe of the reed into which Syrinx had been changed.
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Abbreviations
Mythology
