this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2025
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Chapotraphouse
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Cuba, noooo!
That's so weird to me because I've only heard of fasces as a fascist symbol
It's a Roman symbol for state power basically. Was really popular in the 19th century (but not only in the 19th) in the west.
I wouldn't even really say Mussolini misappropriated it, it's a pretty good fit. If anything it's weird how people keep saying that it primarily symbolizes strength through unity, when that's a modern interpretation.
People loose their mind about the 👁️ of providence but the fasces are everywhere too.
Where are you getting that this is a modern interpretation? As I understand that's why the Roman's adopted it as a symbol for state power because they operated on those principals and it strongly differentiated them from other city states.
That said, its all over DC because DC is The New Rome. So in that context you're correct.
Fasces predate fascism by more than two millennia, both as weapons and as symbols.
A Roman lictor's bundle of sticks is not realistically a weapon. It is a facsimile of a weapon, but you're better off with an actual stick. The axe heads were removed within the boundaries of Rome (Well, until Sulla), and weren't placed in a position where they were realistically used as a weapon. Etruscan fasces may have been weapons, but Roman ones were not.
I literally learned this same thing earlier this year via this website! I think it’s a common historical misconception
Leftists need to remember to not put too much stock into symbolism. One could say the principles of democratic centralism could be represented with a fasces. That doesn't make them red-fash even if they started using it.
I'd say just leave away the fasces but that was the coat of arms used by the guy who wanted bring Cuba under US occupation (from Spanish occupation) to ensure the preservation of slavery.
In case it's unclear, my goal wasn't to callout Cuba as redfash, i just wanted to show the most surprising contemporary use of the fashes. The fashes also look more brotherly without the axe and with the sleepy hat, which I'm sure also has some symbolism.
The Phrygian cap was worn primarily by freed slaves in Rome, and became a symbol of the French Revolution
Nice
Nah I knew you weren't hating on Cuba. My point is the fasces predate fascism and represents a principal independent of fascism. We don't need to jump every time we see it.
It's curious though that the eye gets more attention than the fasces. Both are related to freemasonry too.
Its less explicit and political so its gets the most traction.
Maybe it's Thornley's (et al) fault? I'm not sure how much of an impact operation mindfuck actually had.