Scepters such as this one, from the Kingdom of Dahomey in the Republic of Benin, were created from war axes and symbolized the authority of their owners. The messenger of the king would carry a concealed staff on his shoulder and uncover it only in the presence of the recipient of the message in order to complete the dispatch. A horse head—a symbol of political power—is mounted to the top of this staff, while a small animal silhouette climbs up the neck.