Festival of Salus, Goddess of Health, ancient Rome

In Roman mythology, Salus ('salvation'<WBR>), Goddess of Health, Healing, and Well-Being, was worshipped extensively by the Romans. The name Salus is the origin of our word salubrious, which means healthful.

Under the name Salus Publica Populi Romani ('goddess of the public welfare of the Roman people'), there was a temple (the Aedes Salus, built by C Junius Bubulcus in 302 BCE �?Livy ix, x) devoted to her on the Quirinal Hill. In later periods, public prayers were offered to Salus on behalf of the emperor and the Roman people at the beginning of the year, in time of sickness, and on the emperor's birthday. In 180 BCE, when Romans were in the grip of a plague, vows were made to Apollo, Aesculapius (Asclepius) and Salus (Livy xl. 37).

In art, the goddess was often depicted with snakes and a bowl. In later times, Salus became identified with a goddess from Greek mythology, Hygieia, a daughter of Asclepius ...