this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2025
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chapotraphouse

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[–] FedPosterman5000@hexbear.net 7 points 6 days ago (2 children)

So, legit question, is the fasces completely separate from fascism? I understood from Plutarch that historically lictors would utilize the rods from the fasces for corporals punishment, and the axe of the fasces for capital punishment of those who defied the republic (ie ruling class). I’m not a historian by any means, so I’m sure there’s a ton of nuance I’m missing, but I thought the etymology was indicative of the roots

[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The fasces existed as a symbol of magisterial power for nearly 3000 years before Mussolini came along and named his ideology after it.

[–] FedPosterman5000@hexbear.net 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

That makes sense - I just assumed there was a consistent usage of it during the in-between, and had never heard otherwise. Thanks!

[–] ProfessorOwl_PhD@hexbear.net 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Fun fact: fasces is also the etymological origin of the slur for a gay man that also means a type of odds-and-ends meatball and a bundle of sticks.

[–] FedPosterman5000@hexbear.net 3 points 6 days ago

In that case, as long as we separate it from the “fascist” connotation, I think anyone who doesn’t identify as cishet should be encouraged to carry/use sticks and axes during pride month. Only seems fair

[–] XxFemboy_Stalin_420_69xX@hexbear.net 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

good question. i'm no historian either but my understanding is that italian fascists in the 20th century used the fasces (among other roman symbols) to harken back to an imagined glorious past for the italian people and associate themselves with a golden age. i.e., fascism is inspired by rome and by the fasces in particular, but the roman empire itself was not fascist because fascism didn't exist and could not exist in the ancient world

[–] FedPosterman5000@hexbear.net 6 points 6 days ago

A good day to be questioning my education of “everything with sticks and axe is fascism” lol. Thanks