The Fasces as a symbol of authority
This 16 page exhibit intends to use primarily philatelic material to show the usage of the Fasces (Allegory) as a symbol of authority from its beginnings in the Etruscan culture, through the Roman Empire, to modern day usage such as on coinage (the Mercury dime), in insignia (Los Angeles police department) on buildings (e.g. entrance and exit of the Oval Office).
The rise and fall of Fascism in Italy in the 20th century will be covered only briefly, followed by an equally brief comparison with other ideologies of the times. I leave the detailed coverage of that topic to those with a more philosophical bent.
Interesting usages and designs will be noted throughout the exhibit.
To see the answer to the quiz question; just hold down the right mouse button while sliding the cursor over the empty area. Lo and behold - the correct answer will reveal itself.
Contents
- 1 p1. Purpose of Fasces
- 2 p2. Physical appearance and construction
- 3 p3-4. Stylized versions (from different countries)
- 4 p5. Historical usage:
- 4.1 p5. Etruscan civilization
- 4.2 p6. Roman Empire
- 4.3 p7. Middle Ages (Medieval Period)
- 4.4 p7. Renaissance and Revolutionary Periods
- 4.5 p8. The uses of the Fasces on Italian Folded Letters of the 19th Century
- 4.6 p9. Modern Period up to end World War I
- 4.7 p10. 1920s-1930s Rise of Fascism
- 4.8 p11. 1940s Fall of Fascism
- 4.9 p12. Related Ideologies and symbols of authority
- 4.10 quiz Question: Which country has issued the most stamps depicting a fasces?
- 5 p13 Contemporary usage
- 6 p15 Usage in Heraldry
- 7 p16 When is a fasces not a fasces?
- 8 p16 What replaced the Fasces as a symbol of Authority?
Exhibit Plan
p1. Purpose of Fasces
p2. Physical appearance and construction
p3-4. Stylized versions (from different countries)
p5. Historical usage:
p5. Etruscan civilization
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority fufluns a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
p6. Roman Empire
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority roman a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority merc a.jpg Mercury with fasces |
Large fasces
Many fasces portrayed to represent this era are huge.
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority boy huge a.jpg Child with huge fasces |
p7. Middle Ages (Medieval Period)
p7. Renaissance and Revolutionary Periods
Machinery with fasces as ghosted image
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority revolution a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
p8. The uses of the Fasces on Italian Folded Letters of the 19th Century
Various town and local government departments had their own handstamp.
Ravenna
The use of fasces at Ravenna
3 April, 1849
Used as pictorial part of postmark by military officers at the Presidio.
Postmark reads: Presidio di Ravenna
Shows an eagle with fasces.
Lettering on fasces for Power (FORZA)and Law (LEGGE).
1901
Used as pictorial part of postmark by the mayor.
Postmark reads: Municipio di Ravenna .
Shows an eagle but no fasces.
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority municipio a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
p9. Modern Period up to end World War I
p10. 1920s-1930s Rise of Fascism
Romulus and Remus, issued 1929 (fasces is at bottom right)
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority rom rem a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
p11. 1940s Fall of Fascism
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority fall a.jpg Fasces were obliterated |
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority fall b.jpg Bulgaria celebrating 30th anniversary of victory over Fascism |
p12. Related Ideologies and symbols of authority
p12 Nazism
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority germans a.jpg Instead of fasces the Germans used the swastika. |
Nazism (or National Socialism; German: Nationalsozialismus) is a set of political beliefs associated with the Nazi Party of Germany. It started in the 1920s. Party gained power in 1933, starting the Third Reich. They lasted in Germany until 1945, at the end of World War II. Many scholars think Nazism was a form of far-right politics.[1] Nazism is a form of fascism and uses biological racism and antisemitism. Much of the philosophy of this movement was based on an idea that the 'Aryan race', the term they used for what we today call Germanic people, was better than all other races, and had the greatest ability to survive. According to the racist and ableist ideas of Nazism, the Germanic peoples were the Herrenvolk (master race).[2] The 'inferior' races and people - the Jews, Roma people, Slavs, disabled and others - were classified as Untermenschen (sub-humans).
To implement the racist ideas, in 1935 the Nuremberg Race Laws banned non-Aryans and political opponents of the Nazis from the civil-service. They also forbid any sexual contact between 'Aryan' and 'non-Aryan' persons.
The Nazis sent millions of Jews, Roma and other people to concentration camps and death camps, where they were killed. These killings are now called the Holocaust.
The word Nazi is short for Nationalsozialist (supporter of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei) in the German language. This means "National Socialist German Workers' Party".
Instead of fasces the _________ used_____________.
p12 Patriotism/Freedom
Instead of fasces the Americans used a bundle of arrows with one arrow prominently visible in the center.
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority americans a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority americans b.jpg Torch of Enlightenment |
Misc Fasces Facts
Largest number of fasces on a stamp
So far this is what I have found...
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority many a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
11 (4 + 4 +3)
File:The Fasces as a symbol of authority many 11a.jpg ENTER DESCRIPTIVE TEXT HERE |
quiz Question: Which country has issued the most stamps depicting a fasces?
Have a guess and I'd wager you'd be wrong...
OK, when you give up and want to know the answer, hold the right mouse key down and run your cursor over the blank space after "It is... " and you will be surprised! it is.... the New Hebrides! Why is that, do you know?
p13 Contemporary usage
Where can fasces be found today?
p13 On buildings
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 president's private office
Note: the fasces depicted have no axes, possibly because in the Roman Republic, the blade was always removed from the bundle whenever the fasces were carried inside the city, in order to symbolize the rights of citizens against arbitrary state power. The axeheads were also removed when the Magistrate wanted to ask the townfolk for assistance. l appearance and construction
p14 On coins
Mercury dime
p15 In insignia
p15 Usage in Heraldry
Few inanimate objects in heraldry carry a special significance distinct from that of the object itself, but among such objects are the escarbuncle, the fasces, and the key. The escarbuncle developed from the radiating iron bands used to strengthen a round shield, eventually becoming a heraldic charge.
The fasces (not to be confused with the French term for a bar or fess) is emblematic of the Roman magisterial office and has often been granted to mayors. Keys (taking a form similar to a "skeleton key") are emblematic of Saint Peter and, by extension, the papacy, and thus frequently appear in ecclesiastical heraldry.
p16 When is a fasces not a fasces?
When it is a ... column tower scaffolding message canister banner scroll branch spear sceptre staff quarterstaff shillelagh stick sword quiver of arrows band, group, orchestra space satellite
