Fasces

Like Webster says, "a bundle of rods, having among them an ax with the blade projecting, borne before the Roman magistrates as a badge of their authority." This is the word that Benito Mussolini used as the root when he coined the word "fascism", because an important part of that philosophy is reverence for the idea of "The Leader".

The origin of this symbol was in a traditional tale that goes like this:

A sick father, on his death bed, calls his sons to him (there are several versions as to how many sons were there). He gives each of his sons a stick and tells them to break it. Naturally each of the sons breaks the stick with hardly any effort. Then the father gives each of his sons a second stick and tells them: "This time, make a bundle out of the sticks, and then try to break it!" Try as they may the sons could not break the bundle, even when they tried to do it together. "These sticks," said the father, "Are you, my sons, when each of you stands apart he can be easily broken and eliminated, but when brothers cooperate they're unstoppable and unbreakable!"

And so the Fasces stood for the unity of the Roman people, and the loyalty of all position holders to the Republic and its values.

Each of the high ranking officials with Imperium (the power of government invested in elected officials) of the Republic had his Lictor (sort of aide) carry a bundle of sticks wrapped around an axe (the Fasces themselves) before him wherever he went. The number of the sticks marked the position of the official:< p> A Praetor had 6 Fasces.
A Consul had 12 Fasces.
A Dictator had 24 Fasces.

Fas"ces (?), n. pl. [L., pl. of fascis bundle; cf. fascia a band, and Gr. a bundle.], Rom. Antiq. A bundle of rods, having among them an ax with the blade projecting, borne before the Roman magistrates as a badge of their authority.

© Webster 1913.