FASCES

(Lat.) In Ancient History, some of the insignia of authority of the chief magistrates of It me. They consisted of bundles of wooden rods, each enclosing an iron axe so that its head appeared above; and were used as instruments of punishment, the rods being applied for minor offences, and the axe for capital crimes. They were carried before the magistrates on public occasions by officers called lictors, and the number appointed to each varied for the different magistracies. Thus the civic praetors had two, proconsuls and provincial praetors six, the consuls twelve, and dictators twenty-four. The municipal decein- * virs also had the privilege of having two fasces carried before them in their own towns. [s. 458]