LITUUS, among the Romans, was the staff made use of by the augurs in quartering the heavens. It bore a great resemblance to the crozier of a bishop, but was shorter. It was crooked at one end, and thickest in
in the curved part, according to A. Gellius. We frequently meet with a representation of it upon medals, amongst other pontifical instruments. It was called Lituus Quirinalis, from Quirinus, a name of Romulus, who was skilled in all the mysteries of augury.