Fasces Symbol – History And Meaning

The fasces was a bundle of wooden rods or sticks bound together by leather thongs or a red strap. The sticks were usually birch or elmwood and contained an ax with its blade projecting. 

If you want to learn more about the Fasces symbol, read on to find out the meaning, history, and significance of this Roman symbol.

Fasces Symbol – History And Meaning

In ancient times, the fasces was borne before Roman magistrates to symbolize official power and authority. And although it was simply meant to represent corporal punishment, the fasces was used to actually beat people on occasions. 

Fasces History

The fasces’ origin can be traced back to the little-known Etruscan civilization from the eastern Mediterranean. This is evidenced by a miniature iron version that was excavated from an Etruscan tomb back in the 7th century. The fasces was then passed on to ancient Rome, where it came to symbolize a magistrate’s power, jurisdiction, and authority.

The fasces symbolism with the inclusion of just a single-headed ax, with the blade exposed from the twigs or rods, was also developed in Republican Rome. The ax signified that the magistrate’s executive authority included capital punishment. 

This fasces symbol has survived the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire to become the representation of governmental power that we see today.

A less-known variation of the old fasces symbol had an added laurel wreath which symbolized triumph. This symbolism started from a victory parade through Rome to celebrate the victorious return of a Roman military commander. 

In the United States, the fasces symbol was featured on the ‘Mercury’ dime. This symbol has also been used by the House of Representatives, government agencies, and military units.

The fasces became identified with right-wing extremism when Benito Mussolini used the symbol for his fascist movement. Some American white supremacists have also used the fasces as their group’s emblem a lot of times. 

The Fasces Symbol

The fasces symbol is a bundle of wooden rods or sticks tied together with an ax. 

The ax in the fasces was originally associated with the Greek symbol Labrys. Labryes are double-bitted axes originating from Crete. The Labrys is one of the oldest symbols of Greek civilization. 

Since the end of the Roman Empire, the fasces symbol has been used by a number of government agencies, military units, and other authorities to represent power. It’s even on the cover of French passports.

The fasces has also been used by groups of people who view themselves as modern-day successors to the  Roman Republic and/or its ideologies.

Fasces Symbol Meaning

‘Fasces’ is derived from the plural form of fascis, which is Latin for ‘bundle.’ The fasces symbol is the emblem of official authority in ancient Rome. 

The word ‘fascism’ originated from ‘fasces.’ Benito Mussolini’s fascist government in Italy used the fasces symbol as its emblem, identifying with power and brutality which the symbol stood for from the ancient Roman times. 

This is notably different from how this ancient Roman symbol is interpreted in America, where fasces represents “strength through unity.” The symbolism of fasces points to strength through unity because a single rod is easily broken, but it’s a feat to break the bundle. 

The symbol denotes the power and authority the state has over its citizens. The ancient Romans saw the power that the fasces symbol represented in a couple of ways: the bundled sticks or rods signified birching or corporal punishment, while the ax was associated with beheading.

Meanings and interpretations of this symbol have changed over time based on every new generation’s values, ideas, tastes, and styles.