The plural form of 'fascis,' referring to the bundle of rods with an axe that was a symbol of authority in ancient Rome.
From Latin 'fascis' meaning bundle. The fasces represented power and punishment in Roman government and later became a controversial symbol adopted by fascist movements.
The fasces appears on the US dime and the Lincoln Memorial—it's meant to represent justice and strength—but the symbol became so tainted by fascism that it's rarely used in new contexts today. It's a powerful reminder of how symbols can be corrupted by their association with evil.
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