Fasces

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The fasces is a bundle of sticks, tied off with a red ribbon, and usually having an axe in the center. It is a symbol that appears to have started with the Etruscans, and was widley popular amoung the classical Romans. As such, it has been used throughout history as a reference to the classical era. It can be found on modern French passports, the flags of Swiss Cantons, within the US Capitol, and many other places.

It is thought that in the classical era that the Fasces had a number of meanings contained within it. Firstly, the Axe, as an instrument of decapitation and capital punishment, represented the supreme authority of the state over the life of an individual. The Bundle of sticks surrounding the axe are often said to represent the disparate elements and factions that make up the state, the popular tribes, the senate, the clans, the consitution, religion, etc. By being bound together with the red ribbon, the peices of the state are said to be bound together and unified. A single stick can be easily broken, but a bundle cannot. Sometimes the fasces is represented without any axe within the bundle, this is thought to represent a more amicable and peaceful state authority. Fasces, along with being symbols depicted in art and archetecture, were orginally actual objects. They were carried by a special type of state officer, the Lictor. A high ranking government official would be assigned a number of fasces weilding Lictors as his escort and bodyguard. Lictors, along with other state officers, were considered sacrosanct, that is, to even touch them was illegal.

Mussolini's Fascist Party

Benito Mussolini the charismatic nationalist leader of Italy during the World War II era. "Il Duce", 'the duke', as he was known, headed a political organization known as the Fascist Party, with the Fasces as its symbol. This party promoted ideals of the far right (such as nationalism and patriotism), in addition to concepts from the far left (such as welfare and work systems). The word choice has a double meaning. The Fasces itself was thought to represent the power and authority of the state. Additionally, the word 'fasces' is supposed to sound similar to an italian word for 'worker'; the working class being the group that the party greatly appealed to. Because of its association with Mussolini's Fascist Party, and the alliance between Mussolini and Hitler, the Fasces has come to be a rather reviled symbol, not unlike the Swastika. Prior to Mussonini, the Fasces symbol was generally considered a neutral symbol.

Relevant discussion threads

• Does the $ symbol stand for the Serpent-Lord?

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