Origins of the \'Hollywood\' Roman salute?

[A_Volpe]

Hmmmm.

It looks like in the pictures Uwe and Theodosius provided from Trajan's column - To me it looks like the soldiers are extending hands out as if to recieve something handed to them.
In Theodosius' detail, look at the figure 2nd in from the Right side, who's head is inbetween 2 Signa, he's holding out his hand, with finger pointing. The one infront of him holding fingers up, as if just about to "push" at something. He also holds it lower. The figure infront of him (in the middle of the picture) holds hand out, with palm facing towards us.

With that in mind and thinking of the "Cavalry Salute" (straigh-armed salute) I'm starting to see this now as if the [cavalry officer] is holding his hand outwards and over the heads of his soldiers...Where as the soliders "meet" his hand by outstretching thiers.

Is it possible that this straight arm salute is both for cavalry/officers, (and since they are on horseback and therefore "above" lower ranking soldiers in terms both of rank and litteraly in seat?) as well as for the Adlocutio? (thinking that the officer/general/Emperor would be standing up on a stage or platform or even horse to address over the soldiers?)

What about the Auxiliaries in the background, holding onto the cows. Are they holding onto some sort of strap or bag over shoulder with thier bent arms? Or are they doing some sort of posture/salute themselves? However, It does look like the furthest one, all the way on the Left, is holding part of the cow's reigns in both hands, the middle figure's details have probably worn away.

The earlier picture of the Republican soldier who seems to be "tipping" his helmet, could this be an "older" form of salute, perhaps originally to be you would tip to, or even take off your helmet when saluting an officer?

The picture with Germanicus, with the woman's hand holding the back of his helmet; his hand looks like it's on top of his helmet, as if he'd just finished putting it back on his head, OR that he was gesturing to do so, symbolically?

I've always found it rather odd to have the "chest pump" and then straight arm salute. If you're a soldier in the field and you have a pilum in hand and your scutum in the other...Trying to do a chest pump with a pilum is not only going to look silly, but you'll clonk yourself in the head. Not fitting for a soldier!
So, I can see a straight-arm being used, essp. with a Pilum...But then, most of the sculptures do show soldiers without pila in hand....So perhaps that's not supportable?

I've been using the bent-arm-touch-brow salute (like the "fiddling with helmet" Republican guy), but I keep my elbow pointing forwards, rather than sideways, as is the modern (U.S.?) salute. I keep my fingers "loose" too. I have also tried "tipping" my helmet, and outside of looking as if I'm fiddling with my helmet, I guess that works too. But when you have the helmet tied on...It's kinda silly to be tipping your helmet like that, and to me, a complete waste of time to put down the shield, untie the helmet, take off/tip off the helmet, then clomping it back on your head and re-tying it.

just some thoughts.