There’s no evidence that there was ever such a thing as a ‘Roman salute’ in antiquity. [Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images (Musk)] From airing his views on the fall of the Roman empire ...

Some commentators called it a “Roman salute.” Others described it as a “heartfelt” expression of joy, or dismissed it as merely clumsy.

This was not a fascist gesture, they insisted, but a “Roman salute.” Several posted scenes from the 2005-07 TV series Rome, which depicts Roman salutes, as evidence in support of their claim.

Shortly after Musk made the gesture, the term "Roman salute" started trending online. While it appears similar to the Nazi salute associated with Adolf Hitler, the gesture has ancient roots.

While the gesture is also known as the "Roman salute," there is no known Roman art or text that depicts or describes it, and the association was likely just a figment of fascist propaganda.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or ...

They generally agree that Musk’s gesture is strikingly similar to the Nazi salute and even more specifically, the Roman salute. This salute was used commonly in Italy by the Fascist Party ...

This was not a fascist gesture, they insisted, but a “Roman salute”. Several posted scenes from the 2005-07 TV series Rome, which depicts Roman salutes, as evidence in support of their claim. But what ...