Winkler, Martin. "The Roman Salute on Film". 2003 APA Annual Meeting (January 8, 2003). The American Philological Association (APA). Archived from the original on May 20, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2005.
Probably as an acclamatio; note palm is perpendicular to the ground and thumb is sticking up cf. Graham Sumner, Roman military clothing: 100 BC – AD 200, Oxford 2002, p. 47, pl. G3 (Diogmitoi [sic! correct plural: diogmitai]).
It is unknown if Octavian's specific oath salute was a pre-existing Roman custom or if he modified a similar pledging gesture for his contio, but Cicero clearly disapproved of Octavian's performance, exclaiming: "I don't want to be saved by such a man"; cf. Cic. Att.16.15.3.6: Quamquam enim †postea† in praesentia belle iste puer retundit Antonium, tamen exitum exspectare debemus. at quae contio! nam est missa mihi. iurat "ita sibi parentis honores consequi liceat" et simul dextram intendit ad statuam. μηδὲ σωθείην ὐπό γε τοιούτου! [Nec servatoribus istis!]
Winkler, Martin. "The Roman Salute on Film". 2003 APA Annual Meeting (January 8, 2003). The American Philological Association (APA). Archived from the original on May 20, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2005.
