still, it has been associated with rome for hundred of years. plus there are roman period mentions of "outstretching the right hand" and contemporaneous sculpture showing similar, if not exactly a bolt straight arm out. it was also adopted by americans as the "bellamy salute" - it's almost as if it's very human gesture, done slightly differently throughout many generations, to symbolise some kind of loyalty or honesty or respect. i wonder, is there some kind of "jewish salute"?
Ireland