The Italian term fascismo is derived from fascio, meaning 'bundle of sticks', ultimately from the Latin word fasces.[17] This was the name given to political organizations in Italy known as fasci, groups similar to guilds or syndicates. According to Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini's own account, the Fasces of Revolutionary Action were founded in Italy in 1915.[18] In 1919, Mussolini founded the Italian Fasces of Combat in Milan, which became the National Fascist Party two years later. The Fascists came to associate the term with the ancient Roman fasces or fascio littorio,[19] a bundle of rods tied around an axe,[20] an ancient Roman symbol of the authority of the civic magistrate[21] carried by his lictors, which could be used for corporal and capital punishment at his command.[22][23]The fasces symbol below is similar to a sickle.The symbolism of the fasces suggested strength through unity: a single rod is easily broken, while the bundle is difficult to break.[24] Similar symbols were developed by different fascist movements: for example, the Falange symbol is five arrows joined together by a yoke.[25]
