---
title: Three Ethiopian men raise the arm before a banner portrait of Mussolini in a steel helmet, Mekelle, November 1935
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/mussolini-portrait-mekelle-1935/
description: Three men in cloaks, seen from behind, stand with right arms raised before a large cloth banner showing Mussolini in profile in a steel helmet, between…
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

**Content note:** Photograph of Ethiopian men raising the arm in the Roman salute before a portrait banner of Mussolini during the Italian occupation of Tigray, 1935. This object is shown as it was published. [Why](https://propagandaarchive.org/about/#as-it-was)

[![Three Ethiopian men raise the arm before a banner portrait of Mussolini in a steel helmet, Mekelle, November 1935](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/mussolini-portrait-mekelle-1935.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/mussolini-portrait-mekelle-1935.jpg)

# Three Ethiopian men raise the arm before a banner portrait of Mussolini in a steel helmet, Mekelle, November 1935

Three men in cloaks, seen from behind, stand with right arms raised before a large cloth banner showing Mussolini in profile in a steel helmet, between two fasces. The Roman salute is performed to a portrait hung in the bush; the helmet and fasces carry military and Roman authority onto the leader's image. The photograph does not show whether the salute was spontaneous, requested or staged.

## Text on the object

Original (Unknown) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
[illegible]
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
[illegible]
```

A few small lines of lettering run down the banner beside the left-hand fasces and are not legible at this resolution. The credit strip along the bottom edge ('Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, sygn. 1-E-209') belongs to the archive's scan, not to the photograph.

[← Proclamation Suppressing Slavery in Tigray (Adwa, 1935)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/de-bono-tigray-slavery-proclamation-1935/) [Oro alla Patria: handing in gold wedding rings in Milan, 1935 →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/oro-alla-patria-milan-1935/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Gold coin of Kanishka: King of Kings legend, king at the altar, deity Oesho](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gold-dinar-kanishka-king-of-kings-0130/) (Kushan Empire · 0130 · Transfer)
- [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (Byzantine Empire · 0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Bayeux Tapestry, scene 23: UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTVM FECIT VVILLELMO DVCI](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bayeux-tapestry-harold-oath-to-william-1070/) (Kingdom of England · 1070 · Transfer, Card stacking)
- [Mughal gold coin of Jahangir, dated 1028 AH, with a bull inside a ring of sun rays](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jahangir-gold-zodiac-coin-sun-rays-1619/) (Mughal Empire · 1619 · Transfer)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Consult of the doctors on the grave illness of the Grand Sultan (Consult vande medicijnen inde swaere siekte vanden grooten Sultaen)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/consult-of-the-doctors-sick-sultan-antwerp-1683/) (Spanish Netherlands · 1683 · Transfer, Bandwagon)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)