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Elon Musk's gesture during his speech: was it a 'Roman salute'?

Elon Musk's gesture after Donald Trump's inauguration has sparked heated debate in the media. Some interpreted it as a 'Roman salute', but whether this gesture was actually used by the Romans, we will analyse in today's article.
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After Donald Trump’s inauguration, Elon Musk’s gesture during his speech sparked widespread public discussion. Few media outlets have ignored the controversy, with interpretations ranging from accusations of the billionaire supporting fascism to dismissals of the action as merely a “Roman salute.” But was this gesture actually used by the Romans? Let’s take a closer look.

Where does the term “Roman salute” come from? 

The term “Roman salute” or “Roman greeting” refers to a gesture allegedly practiced by the inhabitants of ancient Rome. This idea, however, gained prominence much later, with Benito Mussolini popularizing it following the creation of the National Fascist Party. Aiming to root his ideology in the grandeur of ancient Rome, Mussolini promoted the gesture as a symbolic connection to Roman history. Fascist movements frequently turned to Roman imagery to lend their ideologies credibility and historical weight

Perhaps the Romans did use a similar gesture and raised their right hand to show respect and honour. However, this cannot be stated unequivocally due to lack of evidence.  

The idea likely stems from the 1784 painting The Oath of the Horatii by French artist Jacques-Louis David. The painting depicts individuals — the Horatii brothers — from an ancient Roman legend dating back to the 7th century B.C. taking an oath before their father with arms outstretched. It is quite probable that David did not rely on reliable historical sources but rather on his imagination and artistic interpretation. In fact, historians claim that before 1784, not a single image of Romans using the “Roman salute” was actually found. 

Therefore, the gesture made by Elon Musk is unlikely to have any connection to the “Roman salute,particularly because the concept itself has been layered with numerous interpretations and fabrications over centuries. 

The Roman salute is also not the only possible explanation — or justification, if you wish — for Musk’s actions. Another version points to the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, or the “Bellamy salute.” When reciting the pledge, individuals were originally instructed to raise their hand toward the flag, palm up. This gesture was introduced in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, who authored the pledge of allegiance to the American flag. However, a similar gesture was later adopted by the Nazis, leading the United States to abandon the Bellamy salute in 1942 in favour of the modern hand-over-heart motion.

Immediately following his gesture, Musk reportedly said, “My heart goes out to you,” which has led some to believe that he impulsively raised his hand to express devotion and affection for the American people. While Musk may have intended to show that his heart was with the American people, expressing such emotions through a historically charged gesture could suggest a lack of historical awareness and political caution small logo

Prepared by Mariana Penska.

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