It is one of the most recognizable hand gestures in college football.

The index and middle fingers, extended together, rocking back and forth on the pivot of the wrist and with a swing of the elbow..

Today, that two-fingered salute is offered to the strains of the No. 1 tradition on this list every time something good happens for the Trojans.

But did you know that this simple hand gesture goes back to ancient times and features the Trojans of Homer's Iliad?

You see, whenever the Trojans would conquer an opponent, they would cut the first two fingers off of their enemies right hand to prevent them from returning to the battlefield because they could no longer hold a sword.

Then the soldiers of Troy would take it one step further.

To mock their fallen opponents, Trojan soldiers would show them their still intact digits as if to say, "We have just beaten you and to prove it, look at our two fingers that you are now missing."

So the legend goes.

Today, that simple gesture does not carry the gruesome message of ancient times, but it still causes their opponents chagrin, much to Trojan fans' delight.