fasces

...They led the officials with command authority and facilitated the execution of their duties. There were a fixed number of 12 consuls and 6 praetors, and each carried a fasces (an axe handle with a stick attached) on his left shoulder (which he lowered in assemblies), demonstrating the strictness of their command authority and actually carrying out orders to arrest, flogging, and behead. Later, they accompanied provincial governors and priestesses of the goddess Vesta, and during the imperial period, they also accompanied those who performed ceremonies for the patron spirit of the head of state. ...

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "fasces" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…命令権をもつ公職者を先導し，職務執行の便宜を図る。コンスル(執政官)に12名，プラエトルに6名が定数で，斧の柄に棒を束ねたファスケスfascesを各自左肩に担い(民会では下ろす)，命令権の峻厳を明示し，現実に逮捕，杖罰，斬首の命令を執行した。後に属州総督，ウェスタ女神の女祭司に，帝政期には元首の守護霊の祭祀役にも同行した。…

※「fasces」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報