Lictor, in ancient Rome, an attendant of high magistrates and religious officials. Each magistrate had a number of such attendants. Lictors marched in single file before the magistrate, each bearing on his left shoulder the fasces, an ax bound in a bundle of birch rods. Lictors cleared the way for the magistrate, stood beside him when he took his seat, saw that his authority was respected, carried out his orders, and punished offenders. Lictors were chosen nominally for a year but actually for life.