Vitis
Vitis (Latin: vitis - grapevine) is a status staff of a centurion made from grapevine. It served as a symbol of a centurion's authority and was used for corporal punishment of legionnaires.
Tacitus mentions a centurion nicknamed "Cedo Alteram" ("Bring Another"), which he earned because he frequently broke vitises over the backs of offending legionaries. He was eventually killed by legionaries during a military mutiny.
The vitis is a mandatory attribute of a centurion in all surviving depictions. Even if the centurion lacked other regalia in reliefs (phalerae, helmet with a crest), he invariably held a vitis. Often, it is precisely by the presence of a vitis that the rank of depicted soldiers can be identified.
Fragment of a relief depicting a centurion with a vitis. Kept in the "Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn." 1st century AD.
Tombstone of centurion Marcus Favonius Facilis from the 20th (Valeria Victrix) legion. Colchester. Colchester and Essex Museum. 1st century AD (43-50 AD).
Primus Pilus with a vitis, reconstruction
