Roman Hand movements

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paulusnb
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Roman Hand movements

Post by paulusnb »

I was wondering, besides the thumbs thing for gladiatorial combat, do we know anything about Roman body language? I remember right hands being shaken in Lingua Latina II, but I cannot think of anything else. Someone asked me the other day and I am stumped. Did the Romans raise the fig like the Italians? Did they ward off the evil eye with the Satan Horns (pinky and pointer extended)?
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quendidil
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Re: Roman Hand movements

Post by quendidil »

According to Wikipedia, the Greeks and Romans used "the finger".

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paulusnb
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Re: Roman Hand movements

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Interesting. I have never heard this. I had heard of using the thumb between the middle finger and the ring finger. Anyone know anything about salutes? Would it be Hitler-like or Patton-like?
When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him. ~Swift

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Scribo
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Re: Roman Hand movements

Post by Scribo »

Romans shook hands by grasping the forearms. Likewise the Hitler/Nazi salute is from the legions.
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paulusnb
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Re: Roman Hand movements

Post by paulusnb »

Scribo. Thanks. Do you know the sources for this?
When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him. ~Swift

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