CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C./A.D.

The Roman officials, lictors, carried ceremonial axes as a staff of office while accompanying magistrates on public and ceremonial occasions. The axe was incorporated into the fasces which was a bundle of birch rods tied together as a cylinder around the axe. This symbolised the magistrates' power to impose either corporal punishment (rods) or capital punishment (axe). For a bronze statuette of a lictor carrying the fasces, see The British Museum (GR 1983.12-29.1). Also see the marble reliefs from the Cancelleria, Rome, 80-90 A.D., now in the Vatican Museum. The panels showing Domitian setting out on a military expedition and the arrival of Vespasian in Rome being greeted by Domitian, each show lictors carrying axes.