The finger

:This article is about the vulgar gesture. For information on mammalian prehensile digits, see finger.

Origin

The origins of this gesture are highly speculative. It is identified as the digitus impudicus ("impudent finger") in Ancient Roman writings and in the Greek Philosophical writings of Sophocles, The Clouds, reference is made to using the finger. It was defined there as a gesture intended to insult another. It has been noted that the gesture resembles an erect penis. Ancient Romans considered an image of an erect phallus as a talisman against evil spells. As a consequence, displaying this gesture to another may not have been a pseudo-sexual insult but rather an insulting statement along the lines of – "I'm going to protect myself against your witchcraft, before you even start;" but an even earlier reference is made to ancient farmers using this finger to test hens for coming eggs.

Related Topics:
Ancient Roman - Sophocles - Penis - Witchcraft

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~