scepter

A scepter, also spelled sceptre in British English, is a ceremonial staff or wand that signifies sovereign authority and governance. It is traditionally carried by a monarch or other high-ranking official during state ceremonies and coronations. Scepters are typically long, ornate objects, frequently made of gold or silver and inlaid with precious stones. The top of a scepter may feature symbols such as a cross, a globe, or a dove, each carrying its own symbolic meaning.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin sceptrum or scepter, via Old French sceptre, ultimately from Greek skeptron meaning staff or rod.

Historical use: In ancient civilizations, rulers used scepters as signs of authority: in Mesopotamia and Egypt, they appeared as staffs; in classical Greece and Rome, ceremonial staffs accompanied rulers and magistrates. In medieval and early modern Europe, the scepter became a standard element of royal regalia, usually paired with the crown and the orb. In many modern monarchies, scepters are mainly ceremonial, used in coronations and other formal rites. The British regalia include the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Dove as part of the Crown Jewels, reflecting the enduring symbolic role of the object.

Design and symbolism: The top of a scepter often bears a cross, a stylized dove, or an orb, with materials ranging from gold to enamel and precious gems. The scepter represents authority granted by the sovereign, justice, and governance. In heraldry, scepters may appear as charges or symbols of office; in legislative contexts, a mace serves a related but distinct ceremonial function to signify parliamentary authority.