The Roman Salute: A Gesture with a Story

The Roman Salute: A Gesture with a Story The Roman salute has been a topic of fascination for history buffs and even those who accidentally stumble upon it during late-night Wikipedia binges. It’s that iconic gesture where the arm extends forward, palm facing downward, as if you’re saying, “Here, take my imaginary loaf of bread!” A Salute to History Despite its name, the Roman salute wasn’t as popular in ancient Rome as movies like Gladiator might have you believe. Sure, it’s a great dramatic pose, but historical evidence of its use in Roman times is, well, slim pickings. Ancient Romans were more into handshakes, waves, and, let’s be honest, probably a lot of awkward head nods. So where does the salute come from? Turns out, it became famous thanks to art and theater in the 18th and 19th centuries. Painters and playwrights liked to depict Romans dramatically saluting their leaders or gods, and audiences ate it up like it was the Netflix of their time.