Roman salute

Relief from the Trajan’ column showing viewers raising their hands in a gesture of greeting in honour of the chosen emperor.

Another example from Trajan's column. There hundred of similar examples not just on Trajan's column, but in statues, frescos, base-reliefs and other art in ancient Roman archeology throughout the Mediterranean area.

The Roman salute is derived from ancient Rome. (Often considered the well-spring of fascism, although fascism is actually older)

Origins

This gesture is probably associated with the solar cult. By extending the hand up, homage was paid to the sun god. In Rome, the right hand (called dexteraor dextra) was usually used as a symbol of trust, friendship and loyalty, or as a mere greeting (an empty hand was supposed to be proof that you don’t have a weapon). For example, Cicero mentions that Octavian was swearing allegiance to his adopted father Julius Caesar with his right hand outstretched.

We do not know whether Octavian’s specific gesture already had its roots in tradition or whether it was Octavian’s private invention during his contio. Certain, however, is the unflattering assessment of the person of Gaius Octavian by Cicero.

Political Correctness

Statue of Octavian from Prima Porta.

The judeo-Marxists and others have made very broad attempts to seperate fascism from this ancient salute by claiming something, anything really, else was happening. For example, attempting to claim that Mussolini based the Salute on a painting in spite of him very specifically stating otherwise, that he hoped to literally re-create ancient Rome.

Buildings and other ancient Roman structures (e.g., Arch of Titus, Arch of Constantine I, Trajan’s Column, and others) commemorating the Roman military victories are the best-known examples showing the Roman salute. Three such images were analyzed in Trajan’s Column. On “Table 99” six spectators raise their right hands up saluting in honour of Trajan. On “Table 167” three Dacians stretch their hands towards the emperor in salute. On “Tables 122-123” the emperor on horseback is greeted by a squad of legionaires. There are many other examples of the salute very clearly being used, in Roman art, created by Romans.

Forms of the Gesture

Nowadays, both movement leaders and listeners perform salutes. In Rome (based on preserved images), usually, rulers or important personalities make the gesture. This sign was a symbol of power, although it sometimes also meant greeting and kindness. Four forms of gesture or behavior were used in Rome:

adlocutio – greeting the leader (usually the emperor) to his army and soldiers to the leader;

acclamatio – a public sign of approval or disapproval, contentment or dissatisfaction etc., in the form of shouts. Depending on the event, various slogans were shouted: during the wedding Io Hymen, Hymenaee or Talassio; on triumphs Io triumphe, Io triumphe; in turn speakers were awarded the terms Bene et praeclare, Belle et festive, Non potest melius;

adventus – the ceremony of welcoming the emperor to the city (usually Rome) either during the ongoing conflict or after its end;

profectio – a farewell ceremony when leaving the city of consul (republic) or emperor (imperial times).

An example of Roman salute as a symbol of imperial power is the statue “Augustus of Prima Porta”.