Thala'ssius, Tala'ssius
(
Τάλασσιος), or TALA'SSIO, a Roman senator of the time of Romulus.
At the time of the rape of the Sabine women, when a maiden of surpassing beauty was led away for Thalassius, the persons conducting her, in order to protect her against any assaults from others, exclaimed " for Thalassius." Hence, it is said, arose the wedding shout with which a bride at Rome was conducted to the house of her bridegroom. (
Liv. 1.9;
Serv. ad Aen. 1.651 ; Catull. 61, 134.) Others connect the name with the Greek
ταλασία (spinning of wool), expressing the chief occupation of a newly married woman (Fest. p. 351, ed. Müller; Plut.
Quaest. Rom. 31, Romul. 15); or regard it as the name of the god presiding over marriage. (
Dionys. A. R. 2.31; Martial,
12.42. 4,
3.93. 23.)
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L.S]