Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Baculus

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

BAC'ULUS and BAC'ULUM (βάκτρον). A long stick or staff, such as was commonly carried by travellers, rustics, shepherds, and goatherds (whence termed agreste. Ov. Met. xv. 654.); by infirm or aged persons of both sexes (Ov. Met. vi. 27.); and also, out of affectation, by the Greek philosophers. (Mart. Ep. iv. 53.) The illustration (Baculus/1.1), from a MS. of Virgil in the Vatican library, represents one of the shepherds of the Eclogues leaning on his staff, precisely as described by Ovid, incumbens or innitens baculo (Met. xiv. 655. Fast. i. 177.); an attitude also of daily occurrence amongst the peasants of the Roman Campagna.

2. (σκῆπτρον). A long staff, which, in early times, was carried by kings and persons in authority, both as a mark of distinction and a defensive weapon. In works of art it is always represented of greater length than the rustic staff, as may be seen by the annexed figure (Baculus/2.1) of Agamemnon, from a marble vase of Greek sculpture, and it is sometimes described as being ornamented with gold and silver (Florus, iv. 11. 3. Id. iii. 19. 10.) It was the original of the regal sceptre; and in consequence was used on the tragic stage by actors who personated kingly characters. (Suet. Nero, 24.) But the word, when used in this sense by the Latin writers, is mostly adopted in order to characterise, and to ridicule, foreign, and especially Asiatic, manners. Florus. ll. cc.

• 
  Baculus/1.1
• 
  Baculus/2.1