On the Shortness of Life

The term “fasces” refers to a bundle of rods bound together around an ax with a projecting blade. In ancient Rome, the fasces served as a symbol of authority and power, and were often carried by lictors, the attendants or bodyguards of magistrates and officials.

Seneca’s inclusion of the term “fasces” in his essay is symbolic of political authority and the trappings of power. Read within the essential Stoic context of the essay, the fasces symbolize one of the external markers of success and prestige that individuals often pursue, but which Stoicism encourages us to view with a critical eye. Seneca presents the fasces as a burden rather than a privilege, as in Chapter 7: “he wants to drop them and asks ʽwhen will this year go by?ʼ” (10). His solution is that individuals should focus on cultivating inner wisdom and virtue rather than the external symbols of authority or success.

In the context of Seneca’s essay, the word “forum” is used metaphorically to refer to the public sphere or the busy, bustling aspects of life where people are often preoccupied with external concerns and distractions. It does not simply refer to a physical place like an ancient Roman forum but rather symbolizes the societal and worldly activities that divert individuals from a more meaningful existence filled with introspection.