Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;chip, post: 918313, member: 19122&quot;]This is apropos to the thread, the fasces was used in Republican Rome, the fasces was a bundle of rods, the rods were a symbol that the judicial authority had the power to punish (beating with rods), the axe bundled in with the rods was a symbol that the state had the power to take life, Roman capital punishment was being beheaded with an axe, slaves and barbarians were crucified. And all the official safeguards of a proper trial that were accorded to Roman citizens were not considered necessary when dealing with a slave or a subjected people.</p><p><br /></p><p>I believe these symbols were used in official proceedings in the roman state even unto the imperial times, a court that was trying a regular case would have the bundle of rods displayed, a court that was trying a capital case would have the bundle of rods with an axe in the bundle. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am relying on memory here for this, I think I picked this up either from Plutarchs &quot;Lives of the Noble Romans&quot; or from Gibbons opus.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in