SATRIE. Satrienus, the Roman nomen
gentile of a family known only by the denarii on
which it is inscribed. Yet of these silver coins
(which are common) Morell enumerates twenty-
two varieties, none of them, however, offering
any other legend and type than the following :--
A juvenile head, helmeted.-- Rev. P.SATRIENVS.
A she wolf: above, ROMA.
Some take the head on the obverse of this
denarius for that of Mars, others think it is that
of Minerva. But supposing it to be Mars, it
will easily accord with the wolf on the reverse.
Albricus (Deorum Imag., p. 3) affirms that " the
wolf is depictured bringing a sheep before Mars,
because that animal was by the ancients specially
consecrated to that deity." -- On this point, still
more properly belongs what is related in Origo
Gentis Romanæ, ascribed to Aurelius Victor, that
the wolf was under the protection of Mars, Mars
bestowing on her this signal favour, because she
suckled his twin children (Romulus and Remus) by
Rhea. "I think (adds Eckhel) this was the reason
why the wolf is called Martius by Virgil, and also
why Livy (l. x. c. 27) thus expresses himself --
hinc victor Martius lupus gentis nos Martiæ,
et conditoris nostri admonuit.-- Therefore,
Laurentius Lydus (De Mensibus) rightly says --
"the eagle is the symbol of Jupiter, Lions of
the Sun, the wolf of Mars, serpents of Mercury."
-- Doct. Num. Vet. vol. v. p. 300.
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