So I think this is a fascinating odd corner of history.
The “Roman” salute is definitely not Roman, and it’s not of fascist invention either. It’s an urban legend among the classical studies people: a made-up non-fact that circulated around the fringes of classical scholarship for a couple hundred years.
It really is sad how many things that little fuck nugget has ruined. In this particular instance I mean Hitler.
Swastika? Neat, simple little geometric shape. Independently created by a few different cultures. Ruined.
“Roman salute”? Kinda neat looking, again simple. And again probably independently invented in a few places, but definitely Roman. Ruined
The charlie Chaplin mustache? More widely adopted after WWI as a style that would fit under a gas mask. Ruined
I’m not trying to campaign to rehab any of these things or apologize for musk. Just kinda sad how all this cool shit got tainted.
So I think this is a fascinating odd corner of history.
The “Roman” salute is definitely not Roman, and it’s not of fascist invention either. It’s an urban legend among the classical studies people: a made-up non-fact that circulated around the fringes of classical scholarship for a couple hundred years.