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Roman Gestures
#1
Ave,<br>
<br>
Just to let you know there is a new theory on the " thumbs up" sign in the arena. Anthony Corbell wrote a book: Nature embodied, Gesture in ancient Rome ISBN 0-691-07494-1.<br>
In it he explores all kinds of gestures. I was interested in signs used at offerings and funerals. Chapter 3 is called the hostile thumb. Here Corbell suggests and devends the idea that " thumbs up" was the sign for killing a defeaded gladiator. A thumb pressed upon a fist should have signified a missio. He is quoting lots of sources, including some mosaics and a cameo.<br>
<br>
The book is not an easy reader. But the ideas are interesting.<br>
Comments anyone?<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
<br>
Gaivs Civilis<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
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#2
Hi Gaius,<br>
I'm not so sure the thumbs up as a sign to kill is such a new theory. I know that in an old school Latin book I've still got (must be knocking on for thirty years!) it has the thumbs up as an unfavourable verdict in an explanatory bit about gladiators.<br>
I wonder where the thumbs down idea came from, if sources show it was the other way round?!<br>
<br>
But the subject of gestures is a fascinating one. Did you come across any other interesting ones?<br>
I wonder if the Romans were a demonstrative lot, or were more reserved about displaying emotions publicly? <p></p><i></i>
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#3
Hi, I've been told that the adverse gesture in gladiatorial games, the 'pollice verso' (adverse thumb) was made with the hand open, the thumb aligned with the rest of the fingers and pointing forwards, like the blade of a sword.<br>
Another curious thing is that romans expressed 'yes' with the head like we do but to express 'no' they simply moved the head backwards, like looking at the sky (no simbolism intended, i was just trying to make for my English language deficit! )<br>
Things heard here and there, with no concrete and reliable source to refer to, anyway!<br>
<br>
Aitor <p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.

Rolf Steiner
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#4
Hello all<br>
<br>
We've had a bit of a chat about this on the Roman Combat Sports forum ... you can follow the thread [url=http://b39.ezboard.com/fromancombatsportsfrm7.showMessage?topicID=75.topic" target="top]here[/url].<br>
<br>
All the best <p>Graham Ashford
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</p><i></i>
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#5
The History Channel had one of their forensic archaeology shows examine skeletons found in a gladiator burial ground. Several of them had slice marks on their ribs going back across their spine like they had been stabbed through the heart. This suggests that the "thumbs down" was actually held more out to the side and thrust back towards the heart, simulating the death blow. They found evidence that the loosing gladiator was held up by one arm of his opponent and stabbed with the other through the heart.<br>
<br>
On a side note, their other program called something like "A Gladiator's Story" was really good. It followed the story of one of the gladiators that fought in the final match at colluseum's inagural games where both were declared victorious and given their freedom. Unfortunately, they do the classic, "thumbs down" gesture, but I think the people speaking in the background are doing it in Latin. Some sneak in Italian pronounciation tho' but you have to listen closely.<br>
<br>
Deb <p></p><i></i>
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Deb
Sulpicia Lepdinia
Legio XX
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