fasces
Sign in to savethumb|upright=0.4|A fasces image, with the axe in the middle of the bundle of rods A fasces ( ; ; a , from the Latin word , meaning 'bundle'; ) is a bound bundle of wooden rods, often, but not always, including an axe (occasionally two axes) with its blade emerging. The fasces is an Italian symbol that had its origin in the Etruscan civilization and was passed on to ancient Rome, where it symbolized a Roman king's power to punish his subjects, and later, a magistrate's power and jurisdiction. The axe has its own separate and older origin. Initially associated with the labrys (; ), the double-b
Article
24 sectionsContents
- Symbolism
- In the ancient world
- Origin
- Rome
- Regal period
- Republican period
- Imperial period
- Post-classical reception
- Renaissance
- Revolution
- Modern usage
- Italy
- France
- United States
- Federal fasces iconography
- State, local and other fasces iconography
- Examples of US fasces iconography
- Modern authorities and movements
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Citations
- Sources
- External links
thumb|upright=0.4|A fasces image, with the axe in the middle of the bundle of rods A fasces ( ; ; a , from the Latin word , meaning 'bundle'; ) is a bound bundle of wooden rods, often, but not always, including an axe (occasionally two axes) with its blade emerging. The fasces is an Italian symbol that had its origin in the Etruscan civilization and was passed on to ancient Rome, where it symbolized a Roman king's power to punish his subjects, and later, a magistrate's power and jurisdiction. The axe has its own separate and older origin. Initially associated with the labrys (; ), the double-bitted axe originally from Crete, is one of the oldest symbols of Greek civilization.
The image of fasces has survived in the modern world as a representation of magisterial power, law, and governance. The fasces frequently occurs as a charge in heraldry: it is present on the reverse of the U.S. Mercury dime coin and it was the origin of the name of the National Fascist Party in Italy (from which the term fascism is derived).