Serpent crosiers were commonly carried by bishops and high Catholic Church officials during the Middle Ages. Although it is claimed that the crosier represents the shepherd's crook, it actually can be traced to the divining staff or augur of Pontifex Maximus of ancient Rome who inherited it from the priests of Babylon. Webmaster's Remark It is unrealistic to assume that shepherds in old times of nomadic existence would have been using wooden rods with handles like the one shown above or anything like it. Common sense would have been that they find something straight and not something to entangle themselves with when having to fight off wild animals. And thinking about plays representing Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, it is absolutely disgusting to see shepherds hold staffs other than straight wooden rods. [previous document] [back to Index] [next document] [Approaching the End] .