Lictor

37.03a roman lictor

Consul et lictores

Relief of a lictor - Garden of Museo archeologico a Verona - Verona 2016

Junia31

Lictor (Latin: lictōrēs) were a class of civil servants in Ancient Rome who were attendants and bodyguards to Roman magistrates who held imperium, a level of authority granted by the state. The origin of the lictors is thought to be Etruscan and was adopted by the Romans. Each magistrate was entitled to a specific number of lictors, which varied according to the magistrate's office. For example, Dictators were entitled to 24 lictors, Consuls to 12, Praetors to 6, and lesser magistrates fewer still.

Function and Duties

The primary role of the lictors was to protect the magistrate and enforce his commands. They were a symbol of the magistrate's authority and a visible manifestation of the state's power in everyday life. Lictors carried the fasces, a bundle of rods with an axe protruding, symbolizing the magistrate's power to both scourge and execute. When inside the city of Rome, the axes were removed from the fasces to signify that the power of life and death rested with the Roman people, not the magistrate alone.

Lictors also served a ceremonial function, walking in single file in front of or behind the magistrate, depending on the situation. Their position in relation to the magistrate was a clear indicator of the magistrate's current level of authority and the formality of the occasion. They were responsible for clearing the way for the magistrate, announcing his arrival, and acting as a personal bodyguard.

Selection and Appearance

Lictors were chosen from the ranks of the Roman citizens, often those who had served in the military. Their appointment was a significant honor and provided an opportunity for social advancement. In terms of appearance, lictors wore a special tunic and were distinguished by their carrying of the fasces.

Historical Significance

The presence of lictors in Roman society was a constant reminder of the civic order and the hierarchy of power. They were integral to the functioning of the Roman state, not only in terms of security and protocol but also as symbols of the state's authority and governance. The practice of accompanying magistrates with lictors lasted throughout the history of the Roman Republic and into the Roman Empire, although their roles and the symbolism of the fasces underwent changes over time.

In Popular Culture

In modern times, the imagery of the fasces, and by extension the lictors, has been adopted by various movements and governments, often with a focus on strength, authority, and unity. However, this has also led to associations with totalitarian regimes, which have co-opted the symbolism for their own purposes.

See Also

• Roman Republic
• Roman Empire
• Fasces
• Imperium