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Fasces (a plurale tantum, from the Latin word fascis, meaning "bundle"^[1]) symbolise summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity."^[2] Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Fasces. ... A plurale tantum (plural pluralia tantum) is a noun that appears only in the plural and does not have a singular. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Much of the recent sociological debate on power revolves around the issue of the constraining and/or enabling nature of power. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The traditional Roman fasces consisted of a bundle of birch rods tied together with a red ribbon as a cylinder. One interpretation of the symbolism suggests that despite the fragility of each independent single rod, as a bundle they exhibit strength. Wartime symbolism added an axe amongst the rods. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... Species Many species; see text and classification Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. ... Axe For other uses, see Axe (disambiguation). ...

Numerous governments and other authorities have used the image of the fasces as a symbol of power since the end of the Roman Empire. Italian fascism, which derives its name from the fasces, arguably used this symbolism the most in the 20th century. The British Union of Fascists also used it in the 1930s. However, unlike for example the swastika, the fasces have avoided the stigma associated with fascist symbolism, and many authorities continue to display them. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Italian fascism (in Italian, fascismo) was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... The flag of the British Union of Fascists showing the Flash and Circle symbolic of action within unity The British Union of Fascists (BUF) was a political party of the 1930s in the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the symbol. ... Social stigma is severe social disapproval of personal characteristics or beliefs that are against cultural norms. ... As there were many different manifestations of fascism, especially during the interwar years, there were also many different symbols of Fascist movements. ...

Antiquity

"With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. His other hand holds the plow, as he resumes the life of a citizen and farmer." — A statue of Cincinnatus in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The fasces lictoriae ("bundles of the lictors") (in Italian, fascio littorio) symbolised power and authority (imperium) in ancient Rome. A corps of apparitores (subordinate officials) called lictors each carried fasces as a sort of staff of office before a magistrate, in a number corresponding to his rank, in public ceremonies and inspections, and bearers of fasces preceded praetors, propraetors, consuls, proconsuls, Masters of the Horse, dictators, and Caesars. During triumphs (public celebrations held in Rome after a military conquest) heroic soldiers — those who had suffered injury in battle — carried fasces in procession. Download high resolution version (457x640, 63 KB)Statue of Cincinnatus, Cincinnati, OH, 2004, by Rick Dikeman With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. ... Download high resolution version (457x640, 63 KB)Statue of Cincinnatus, Cincinnati, OH, 2004, by Rick Dikeman With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. ... A dictator is an absolutist or autocratic ruler who assumes sole power over the state, though the term is normally not applied to an absolute monarch. ... With one hand he returns the fasces, symbol of power as appointed dictator of Rome. ... “Cincinnati” redirects here. ... The lictor, derived from the Latin ligare (to bind), was a member of a special class of Roman civil servant, with special tasks of attending magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium. ... This article presents the essential definitions. ... Imperium can, in a broad sense, be translated as power. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... The lictor, derived from the Latin ligare (to bind), was a member of a special class of Roman civil servant, with special tasks of attending magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium. ... A staff of office is a staff and carrying it often denotes social rank or prestige. ... A magistrate is a judicial officer. ... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, either before it was mustered or more typically in the field, or an elected... A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. ... This article is about the Roman rank. ... For the Miocene ape, see Proconsul (genus) Under the Roman Empire a proconsul was a promagistrate filling the office of a consul. ... The Master of the Horse was (and in some cases, is) a historical position of varying importance in several European nations. ... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law Dictator was a political office of the Roman Republic. ... Caesar (plural Caesars), Latin: Cæsar (plural Cæsares), is a title of imperial character. ... A Roman Triumph was a civil ceremony and religious rite of ancient Rome, held to publicly honour the military commander (dux) of a notably successful foreign war or campaign and to display the glories of Roman victory. ...

Roman historians recalled that twelve lictors had ceremoniously accompanied the Etruscan kings of Rome in the distant past, and sought to account for the number and to provide etymologies for the name lictor. The area covered by the Etruscan civilzation. ...

Believed to date from Etruscan times, the symbolism of the fasces at one level suggested strength through unity. The bundle of rods bound together symbolizes the strength which a single rod lacks. The axe symbolized the state's power and authority. The rods symbolized the state's obligation to exercise restraint in the exercising of that power. The highest magistrates would have their lictors unbind the fasces they carried as a warning if approaching the limits of restraint. Extent of Etruscan civilization and the twelve Etruscan League cities. ...

The Romans adopted the symbol of the fasces from the Etruscans. It may have an earlier link to the eastern Mediterranean — such as to the labrys, the Anatolian and Minoan double-headed axe, later incorporated into the praetorial fasces. Minoan symbolic labrys of gold, 2nd millennium BC: many have been found in the sacred cave of Arkalochori on Crete) Labrys is the term for a doubleheaded axe, known to the Classical Greeks as pelekus πέλεκυς or sagaris (the term for a single-bladed axe being hÄ“mipelekus half-pelekus, e. ... Anatolia and Europe Anatolia (Turkish: from Greek: Ανατολία - Anatolia) is a peninsula of Western Asia which forms the greater part of the Asian portion of Turkey, as opposed to the European portion (Thrace, or traditionally Rumelia). ... The Minoan civilization was a bronze age civilization which arose on Crete, an island in the Aegean Sea. ... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, either before it was mustered or more typically in the field, or an elected...

Traditionally, fasces carried within the Pomerium — the limits of the sacred inner City of Rome — had their axe blades removed. This signified that under normal political circumstances, the imperium-bearing magistrates did not have the judicial power of life and death; that power rested, within the city, with the people through the assemblies. However, during times of emergencies when the Roman Republic declared a dictatorship (dictatura), lictors attending to the dictator kept the axe-blades even inside the Pomerium — a sign that the dictator had the ultimate power in his own hands. But in 48 BC, guards holding bladed fasces guided Vatia Isauricus to the tribunal of Marcus Caelius, and Vatia Isauricus used one to destroy Caelius's magisterial chair (sella curulis). The pomerium (or pomoerium) was the sacred boundary of the city of Rome. ... Imperium can, in a broad sense, be translated as power. ... The lictor, derived from the Latin ligare (to bind), was a member of a special class of Roman civil servant, with special tasks of attending magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium. ... Consuls: Gaius Julius Caesar, Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Marcus Caelius Rufus (82 BCE - 48 BCE) was a Roman orator and politician. ... In the Roman Republic, and later the empire, the Curule chair (in Latin the sellis curulis) was the chair upon which senior magistrates or promagistrates owning imperium were entitled to sit including dictators, masters of the horse, consuls, praetors, and curule aediles. ...

The fasces in the United States of America

The following cases all involve the adoption of the fasces as a visual image or icon; no actual physical re-introduction has occurred.

• In the Oval Office, above the door leading to the exterior walkway, and above the corresponding door on the opposite wall, which leads to the White House Chief of Staff's office. (Note: the fasces depicted have no axes, possibly because in Ancient Rome only the Lictors who guarded Dictators (the title didn't have the negative connotation then that it does today) were allowed to carry fasces with the axe attached within the Pomerium (see above).
• The reverse of the United States "Mercury" dime (minted from 1916 to 1945) bears the design of a fasces and an olive branch.
• Two fasces appear on either side of the flag of the United States in the United States House of Representatives, representing the power of the House and the country.
• The Mace of the United States House of Representatives, designed to resemble fasces, consists of thirteen ebony rods bound together in the same fashion as the fasces, topped by a silver eagle on a globe.
• The official seal of the United States Senate has as one component a pair of crossed fasces.
• Fasces ring the base of the Statue of Freedom atop the United States Capitol building.
• A frieze on the facade of the Supreme Court building depicts the figure of a Roman Centurion holding a fasces, to represent "order". [1]
• At the Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln's seat of state bears the fasces on the fronts of its arms. (Fasces also appear on the pylons flanking the main staircase leading into the memorial.)
• Four fasces flank the two bronze plaques on either side of the bust of Lincoln memorializing his Gettysburg Address at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
• The fasces appears on the state seal of Colorado, USA, beneath the "All-seeing eye" (or Eye of Providence) and above the mountains and mines.
• On the seal of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, a figure carries a fasces; the seal appears on the borough flag.
• Used as part of the Knights of Columbus emblem (designed in 1883).
• The top border of the Los Angeles Police Department badge features a fasces. (1940)
• The regimental crest of the U.S. 71st Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard consisted of a gold fasces set on a blue background.

US "Mercury" dime reverse. The Oval Office from above in 2003, during the administration of George W. Bush. ... Joshua B. Bolten, the current White House Chief of Staff. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... The lictor, derived from the Latin ligare (to bind), was a member of a special class of Roman civil servant, with special tasks of attending magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium. ... The pomerium (or pomoerium) was the sacred boundary of the city of Rome. ... A dime is a coin issued by the United States Mint with a denomination of one-tenth of a United States dollar, or ten cents. ... Fasces (I would imagine that the Mercury dime is in the public domain. ... Union Jack. ... The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... The Mace of the US House of Representatives The Mace of the United States House of Representatives is one of the oldest symbols of the United States government. ... The Seal of the Senate, based on the Great Seal of the United States, includes a scroll inscribed with E Pluribus Unum floating across a shield with thirteen stars on top and thirteen vertical stripes on the bottom. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... For other freedom monuments, see Monument of Liberty. ... The United States Capitol is the capitol building that serves as the location for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The Supreme Court of the United States (sometimes colloquially referred to by the... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential memorial built to honor 16th President Abraham Lincoln. ... The only known photo of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg (seated, center), taken about noon, just after Lincoln arrived and some three hours before he spoke. ... The circular Seal of the State of Colorado is an adaptation of the Territorial Seal which was adopted by the First Territorial Assembly on November 6, 1861. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... This article is about the borough of New York City. ... Knights of Columbus emblem The Order of the Knights of Columbus is the worlds largest Catholic fraternal service organization. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Mercury_dime_reverse. ... A dime is a coin issued by the United States Mint with a denomination of one-tenth of a United States dollar, or ten cents. ...	A fasces appears on either side of the American Flag behind the rostrum in the United States House of Representatives. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x626, 126 KB) empty chamber of the US House of Representatives. ... Flag ratio: 7:12; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars... Rostrum can mean one of several different things: A rostrum (Latin beak) is an anatomical structure resembling a birds beak, such as the snout of crocodiles or dolphins or the part of the carapace of a crustacean. ... The United States House of Representatives (or simply the House) is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. ...	The Mace of the United States House of Representatives, designed to resemble fasces. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Mace of the US House of Representatives The Mace of the United States House of Representatives is one of the oldest symbols of the United States government. ...	The seal of the Senate. Note the crossed fasces at the bottom. Image File history File links Senate_cap. ...
The Lincoln Memorial with the fronts of the chair's arms shaped to resemble fasces Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2816x2112, 1864 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lincoln Memorial Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... The Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential memorial built to honor 16th President Abraham Lincoln. ...	The emblem of the Knights of Columbus Image File history File links Download high resolution version (737x737, 89 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Knights of Columbus emblem The Order of the Knights of Columbus is the worlds largest Catholic fraternal service organization. ...

Various modern authorities and movements

The coat of arms of the Swiss canton of St. Gallen has displayed the fasces since 1803

The following cases all involve the adoption of the fasces as a symbol or icon; no actual physical re-introduction has occurred. Image File history File links St. ... Image File history File links St. ... The Canton of St. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

• Napoleon and the French Revolution; this emblem remains on the front cover of French passports and as part of the French coat of arms
• The Spanish gendarmerie Guardia Civil
• In the 1920s, Italian Fascism, adapting aesthetic elements of ancient Rome, attempted to portray itself as a revival of its Roman imperial past by adopting the fasces for its symbol, as an emblem of the increased strength of the individual fascis when bound into the entire bundle.
• Both the Norwegian and Swedish Police Service have double fasces in their logos.
• The Miners Flag (also known as the "Diggers' Banner"), the standard of 19th-century gold-miners in the colony of Victoria, in Australia, included the fasces as a symbol of unity and strength of common purpose. This flag symbolized the movement prior to the rebellion at the Eureka Stockade (1854).
• The coats of arms of Norte de Santander, a department of Colombia, and of its capital Cúcuta, both feature a fasces.

Napoléon I, Emperor of the French (born Napoleone di Buonaparte, changed his name to Napoléon Bonaparte)[1] (15 August 1769; Ajaccio, Corsica – 5 May 1821; Saint Helena) was a general during the French Revolution, the ruler of France as First Consul (Premier Consul) of the French Republic from... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... Cover of French biometric Passport Cover of French non-biometric Passport Personal data of holders appears on page 2 First page of a non-biometric passport French passports are issued to nationals of the French Republic for the purpose of international travel. ... Coat of Arms The olive tree symbolises peace; the oak symbolises perennity. ... Patrol boat, Nervion river, Bilbao. ... The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and other societal interests subordinate to the needs of the state, and seeks to forge a type of national unity, usually based on, but not limited to, ethnic, cultural, or racial attributes. ... The Swedish Police Service (in Swedish: Polisen) is a Government agency concerned with police matters in Sweden. ... The Anti-Gold Licence Association was formed in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia on 6 June 1853. ... The Eureka Stockade was a gold miners revolt in 1854 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, against the officials supervising the mining of gold in the region of Ballarat. ... Norte de Santander is a department of Colombia. ... Nickname: City without borders Motto: More progress! Location of Cúcuta in North Santander Department Country Colombia Department North Santander* Foundation June 17, 1733 Mayor Ramiro Suarez Corzo Area    - City 2150 km² Elevation 360 m Population    - City (2005census) 742,689 [1]  - Metro 721,794 [2] Website: www. ...

The fasces in France

A review of the images (see images below) included in Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau ^[3][4] reveals that French architects used the fasces as a decorative device as early as the reign of Louis XIII (1610-1643) and continued to employ it through the periods of Napoleon I's Empire (1804-1815). The fasces typically appeared in a context reminiscent of the Roman Republic and/or of the Roman Empire, frequently in conjunction with other Roman symbols such as Roman armor and SPQR standards. Louis XIII (September 27, 1601 - May 14, 1643), called the Just (French: le Juste), was King of France from 1610 to 1643. ... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... This article refers to the state which existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC. For alternate meanings, see Roman Republic (18th century) and Roman Republic (19th century). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 581 pixelsFull resolution (1158 × 841 pixel, file size: 249 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) images scanned from the following sources Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau , I re Série, Styles Louis XV... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 578 pixelsFull resolution (1158 × 837 pixel, file size: 195 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau , I re Série, Styles Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire, Labrairie Centrale D... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 202 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (539 × 1600 pixel, file size: 114 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau , I re Série, Styles Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire, Labrairie Centrale D... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 786 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1103 × 841 pixel, file size: 234 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau , I re Série, Styles Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire, Labrairie Centrale D... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 564 pixelsFull resolution (1120 × 790 pixel, file size: 333 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau Les Grands Palais de France Fontainebleau , I re Série, Styles Louis XV, Louis XVI, Empire, Labrairie Centrale D...

Conspiracy theories

The state seal of Colorado

The fasces symbol as used all over the world (and particularly in the United States) has served as evidence for claims made by conspiracy theorists. These theorists generally speak of a New World Order in which secret organizations (mainly the Illuminati) elusively manipulate or control the events of humanity in an attempt to ultimately control the world through fascism. Image File history File links The seal of the State of Colorado. ... Image File history File links The seal of the State of Colorado. ... The circular Seal of the State of Colorado is an adaptation of the Territorial Seal which was adopted by the First Territorial Assembly on November 6, 1861. ... A conspiracy theory is a theory that defies common historical or current understanding of events, under the claim that those events are the result of manipulations by two or more individuals or various secretive powers or conspiracies. ... “One World Government” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Illuminati (disambiguation). ... Fascism is an authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers individual and other societal interests subordinate to the needs of the state, and seeks to forge a type of national unity, usually based on, but not limited to, ethnic, cultural, or racial attributes. ...

Through symbology, the fasces and the Eye of Providence provide two of the primary symbols used to support the assertions of such conspiracy theories. In this context, the use of the fasces allegedly demonstrates that the conspirators secretly support fascism, along with concealed intentions regarding it. The primary group in question, the Illuminati, purportedly appear identified and represented by the Eye of Providence, which (like the fasces) appears in public places (such as U.S. government buildings or churches) throughout the world. The word “symbology” appears in several English dictionaries. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

See also

• fascio (usage 1890s to World War I)
• ferula
• Labrys
• staff of office
• fascine
• francisca

Fascio (plural: fasci) is an Italian language word which was used in the late 19th century to refer to radical political groups of many different (and sometimes opposing) orientations. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Species See text Ferula is the Ferula or Giant fennel genus of plants of the Apiaceae family, including: - Asafoetida - Giant fennel - Galbanum - Musk root - Ferula Categories: Apiaceae ... Minoan symbolic labrys of gold, 2nd millennium BC: many have been found in the sacred cave of Arkalochori on Crete) Labrys is the term for a doubleheaded axe, known to the Classical Greeks as pelekus πέλεκυς or sagaris (the term for a single-bladed axe being hēmipelekus half-pelekus, e. ... A staff of office is a staff and carrying it often denotes social rank or prestige. ... A Churchill VIII AVRE carrying a fascine on its front. ... Different types of the Francisca The francisca or francesca is a throwing axe that was used as a weapon by early Franks before the 6th century. ...

Notes

Fascio (plural: fasci) is an Italian language word which was used in the late 19th century to refer to radical political groups of many different (and sometimes opposing) orientations. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Fasces

• A definition
• Fasces on flags
• The fasces as Ancient Roman icon