Facism comes from the ‘fasces’, which was a bundle of stick around an ax, which symbolized a Roman Magistrate’s authority to deliver corporal and capital punishment, carried by his Lictors (bodyguards and heralds, essentially)
The Fasces Were The Sticks, And Usually Only Sticks. They Represented The Power Of The Consul / Praetor In The City Of Rome. When They Left The City, Then The Lictors Added An Axe, To Represent The Expanded Powers Of The Person.
The Fasces Were Probably Seen In The Same Way As The 'Seal Of The President Of The United States', Or The 'Coat Of Arms Of The United Kingdom' Is Today. It Represents Legal Power And Authority.
When A Consul Was 'In Charge' For The Month (It Alternated Between The Two Consuls Every Month, As Custom), it Was Refered To As "Holding Fasces".
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u/Drunkguy767 May 25 '25
Yeah I can't remember where I read that. But I don't want that term in my search history. That sounds equally plausible.