The Roman salute, also known in many contexts as the Fascist salute, is a gesture in which the right arm is fully extended, facing forward, with palm down and fingers touching. In some versions, the arm is raised upward at an angle; in others, it is held out parallel to the ground.

May 24, 2024 · The gestures involving a raised right arm or hand found in Roman and other ancient cultures, as depicted in surviving art and literature, served different purposes and were never identical to the modern straight-arm salute.

Chironomia is the art of using gesticulations or hand gestures to good effect in traditional rhetoric or oratory. Effective use of the hands, with or without the use of the voice, is a practice of great antiquity, which was developed and systematized by the Greeks and the Romans.

Mar 15, 2025 · The Roman salute is a gesture often associated with ancient Rome, consisting of a raised right arm with an open hand. While commonly depicted in movies and popular culture, its historical origins, meanings, and later associations have been widely debated by historians. This article explores the origins of the Roman salute, its use in antiquity ...

Mar 8, 2000 · Chapter One (3-43) surveys the prescriptions regarding gesture in Roman rhetorical treatises and, to the extent they can be reconstructed, their application in extant oratory.

Jan 21, 2025 · The Roman Salute, a gesture historically associated with ancient Rome, is commonly recognized as the act of raising one arm, usually at shoulder height, and extending the hand outward, palm facing forward.

Aug 12, 2024 · It refers to a thumb gesture used by Roman crowds to express their judgment on the fate of a defeated gladiator. The exact gesture and its meaning conveyed by pollice verso have been the subject of ongoing scholarly debate till this day.

Jan 27, 2025 · The Roman salute explained began in Rome before it was adopted by fascists - first Benito Mussolini, later Adolf Hitler, and finally neo-Nazis. The Roman salute has a long and dark history, beginning in Rome and evolving into the …

The Roman salute is a prime example of how symbols can evolve—and not always for the better. What started as a made-up gesture with no real ties to Rome became a powerful tool for propaganda and oppression. Today, it’s a reminder of how easily history can …

For many, it’s a gesture tied to the darker chapters of 20th-century history. But here’s the thing: its roots go way deeper than that. The Roman salute, as we know it today, is a fascinating blend of ancient tradition, artistic interpretation, and modern controversy.