Fact check: Is a Roman Salute a thing?

1. Summary of the results

The evidence overwhelmingly shows that the "Roman Salute" as we know it today was not actually used in ancient Rome. Multiple sources confirm there is no historical evidence of this gesture in ancient Roman or Greek texts and artworks ^{[1] [2] [1]}. The gesture actually originated in 18th-century French neoclassical art, specifically in Jacques-Louis David's painting "The Oath of the Horatii" from 1784 ^{[1] [3]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• The actual Roman greeting was different from what we associate with the "Roman salute" today. Romans used the "adlocutio," which involved raising the right hand to the chest with the palm facing outward ^[4].
• The gesture gained significant prominence during the French Revolution through Jacques-Louis David's paintings, which used arm-raising gestures to represent revolutionary ideals ^[3].
• The salute was later deliberately adopted and transformed by 20th-century fascist movements, particularly in Italy under Mussolini and Nazi Germany, where it became a compulsory symbol of state loyalty ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

There are two competing narratives about the salute's origins:

1. One source suggests it was a legitimate historical Roman military and civic greeting that was later repurposed by fascist movements ^[5]. However, this claim is contradicted by multiple other sources.

2. The majority of sources present clear evidence that it was a modern invention with no historical basis in ancient Rome ^{[1] [2] [1] [2]}.

This misattribution of the salute to ancient Rome has been perpetuated by popular culture and political movements. Fascist regimes, particularly in Italy and Germany, benefited from this historical misappropriation as it helped legitimize their authority by creating a false connection to the Roman Empire ^[1]. The continued belief in its Roman origins serves to potentially normalize or historicize what is actually a relatively modern symbol of totalitarian ideologies.