Satīcŭla and Saticulus, a town near Capua. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 729.—Livy, bk. 9, ch. 21; bk. 23, ch. 39.
Sātis, a town of Macedonia.
Satræ, a people of Thrace. Herodotus, bk. 7, ch. 111.
Satrapēni, a people of Media, under Tigranes. Plutarch.
Satricum, a town of Italy, taken by Camillus. Livy, bk. 6, ch. 8.
Satropaces, an officer in the army of Darius, &c. Curtius, bk. 4, ch. 9.
Satŭra, a lake of Latium, forming part of the Pontine lakes. Silius Italicus, bk. 8, li. 382.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 801.
Satureium, or Satureum, a town of Calabria, near Tarentum, with famous pastures and horses, whence the epithet of satureianus in Horace, bk. 1, satire 6.
Satureius, one of Domitian’s murderers.
Saturnālia, festivals in honour of Saturn, celebrated the 16th or the 17th, or, according to others, the 18th of December. They were instituted long before the foundation of Rome, in commemoration of the freedom and equality which prevailed on earth in the golden reign of Saturn. Some, however, suppose that the Saturnalia were first observed at Rome in the reign of Tullus Hostilius, after a victory obtained over the Sabines; while others support that Janus first instituted them in gratitude to Saturn, from whom he had learnt agriculture. Others suppose that they were first celebrated in the year of Rome 257, after a victory obtained over the Latins by the dictator Posthumius. The Saturnalia were originally celebrated only for one day, but afterwards the solemnity continued for three, four, five, and at last for seven days. The celebration was remarkable for the liberty which universally prevailed. The slaves were permitted to ridicule their masters, and to speak with freedom upon every subject. It was usual for friends to make presents one to another; all animosity ceased, no criminals were executed, schools were shut, war was never declared, but all was mirth, riot, and debauchery. In the sacrifices the priests made their offerings with their heads uncovered, a custom which was never observed at other festivals. Seneca, ltr. 18.—Cato, de Re Rustica, bk. 57.—Suetonius, Vespasian, ch. 19.—Cicero, Letters to Atticus, bk. 5, ltr. 20.