The handshake is one of the most common gestures used by humanity when meeting. It has become a universally accepted form of greeting in many cultures, including between people of different cultures, although there are also culturally specific forms practiced locally. Many of us consider the handshake a modern custom, something we do in our professional and personal lives, greeting or saying goodbye to someone, congratulating, thanking, or after reaching an agreement. However, the origins of the handshake reach deep into human history, although its purpose has not differed much from its modern meaning.
One of the earliest recorded handshakes dates back to the 9th century BC, when the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III formed an alliance with the Babylonian ruler. Another reference is found in ancient Greek engravings and texts from the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
In the 9th century, when the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III (859-827 BC) directly intervened in Babylonian politics to ensure the accession of an heir to the throne in Babylon, a meeting between the kings of Assyria and Babylon, ending in a peace treaty and a handshake recognizing Babylonia's equality, is depicted on a relief found on the pedestal of the throne of the Assyrian king.
Handshake, also known as dexiosis , is found on many Greek steles and reliefs. Reliefs depicting dexiosis , meaning "joining of the right hands," often depict rulers shaking hands with gods. Some reliefs with dexiosis — is funerary art carved on tombstones, depicting the deceased shaking hands with their spouses or family members. This motif also appears on ancient coins, demonstrating the connection between the two cities.
It's also believed that this custom originated as a way to express peaceful intentions between meeting parties. By openly extending their right hands and shaking them, strangers could assure each other that neither of them carried a weapon.
There are several theories about why and how the custom of shaking hands originated. A popular theory suggests it began as a way to show that no harm was intended, extending empty hands to indicate that the person was not holding any weapons. Some also suggest that shaking hands could loosen weapons concealed under the sleeves. Another theory posits that the gesture is tantamount to an oath and a commitment to keep it.
The handshake is believed to have been popularized by 17th-century Quakers, who adopted it as a more equal gesture than bowing and tipping their hats. By the 1800s, it was often included in etiquette manuals.
According to some historians, in the 17th century, Quakers favored the handshake because it placed both parties on an equal footing, unlike bowing, removing a hat, or kissing a hand, and was less pompous. Since then, this gesture has become increasingly common and has begun to replace older greetings. In the Victorian era, there were several rules that precisely described how a handshake should be performed: firm but not forceful, with a sharp shake, which was considered offensive. Today, the handshake has become a ubiquitous custom, likely familiar to everyone in the world.
[Sources: Wikipedia, history]