Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Lictor

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

LICTOR (ῥαβδοῦχος). A lictor; a public officer attached to the service of certain Roman magistrates, whom he preceded whenever they went abroad; viz. twenty-four for a dictator, twelve for a consul, decemvir, or tribune with military power; six for a praetor, and one for a Vestal virgin. He carried the fasces elevated on his left shoulder, and a rod (virga) in the right hand, with which he removed any persons obstructing the way, and knocked the doors of those whom the magistrate visited. In the city he wore the toga, and carried the fasces without the axe (securis), as exhibited by the annexed figure (Lictor/1.1) from a bas-relief of the Vatican; but out of Rome he wore the military cloak (sagum or paludamentum), and had the axe attached to his fasces; as shown by the figure, p. 278.; which also exhibits the rod in the right hand. Morell. Dissert. de' Littori. Milan, 1828.

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