The rude middle finger gesture often called "flipping the bird" in the USA has been around for a long time. It was also used in ancient Greece. Aristophanes mentions it. Coincidental I am sure, but the word he used was ἐσκιμάλισεν or eskimalisen which means pushing your finger up a bird's anus.

Birds have anuses? All the birds I know about have cloacas. Maybe ancient Greek birds were different.

Good find anyway, Bob!

quote:

means pushing your finger up a bird's anus.

Really, Bob? Because that could not be coincidental, could it? I mean, it is exactly what the gesture means.

Pretty sure it’s just coincidence. There appears to be no traceable link