The Greek word skêptron came to Latin as sceptrum , which in our language became scepter . A scepter is an element made of precious or valuable materials that is used as an insignia and constitutes a symbol of power or authority .
Scepters are command staffs , generally used by kings or emperors. It is an attribute of rulers that has been used for thousands of years, according to archeology findings.
A scepter usually consists of a staff or rod with various ornamentations, which at its upper end presents a symbolic figure. There are gold scepters , silver scepters and others made with different materials.
One of the most famous scepters in history is the scepter used by the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. It should be noted that it also responds to the name of flail or flagellum as well as nejej and that it has these interesting peculiarities:
-It had the appearance of a kind of fly-scare.
-It has three rows of cones from which cylinder-shaped pendants or balls hang.
-It is considered that this scepter was an attribute of the gods and that they chose to give it to the pharaohs.
-It is also identified as a symbol of birth.
-The pharaohs carried it in their right hand.
However, in Ancient Egypt there were other types of scepters for kings such as these:
-Scepter Sejem, which was identified with values such as power, authority and even strength. It was also used by kings and, in addition, it was associated with the energy of the divine spirit.
-Heka Scepter, which resembles a shepherd's crook and is associated with the first dynasties of the pharaonic civilization. The king used to carry it along with the aforementioned nejej scepter and it was identified with protection. It was also considered a kind of amulet, which is why scepters of this type have been found in the tombs of some pharaohs.
Based on the symbolism of this object, the idea of a scepter is used with reference to the dignity of a ruler or the supremacy that is exercised in a certain area. For example: “The Serbian tennis player managed to regain the scepter by winning the final” , “The Filipino boxer will defend his scepter again next month” , “The national league scepter will be disputed between Club Atlético Piedras Rojas and Deportivo Saint Regina.”
The scepter, in this framework, can refer to a domain or a hegemony . Take the case of the coffee market. The main world producer is Brazil , which concentrates just over 30% of global production according to 2015 data. Behind is Vietnam with 19% and Colombia , with 9% . Taking these figures into account, it can be said that Brazil has the scepter of coffee production : it dominates the market in terms of production.
Currently, goldsmithing and imagery companies also make scepters for the virgins, especially when it comes to making them look radiant in their different processional outings.