The Handshake of Mithras

**Theodotos I** · 03-31-2008, 15:29

Quick question: in the building description for the temple to Mithras, it mentions a handshake being used as a symbol of friendship between followers of the cult. I was curious, is this the handshake the one commonly used today, or is it something different, more of a secret-society handshake? Thanks for any answers.

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 03-31-2008, 16:09

Something funny, probably the Mason's handshake if you ask me.

Masons are pagan bull-killers. Honest.

**The Persian Cataphract** · 03-31-2008, 16:45

The hand-shake was primarily a sign of good will; For instance we read about the last Achaemenid King of Kings, Darius III Codomannus, and his encounter with a Macedonian soldier during his dying moments. The Macedonian soldier had found him mortally wounded, and offered water and aid. Darius shook his hand and requested that it should be passed to Alexander. This was not some cult-restrictive thing, even though in the case of the Mêhr cult, the hand-shake could have been a form of professionalism before covenants were made.

The gesture itself is very efficient in its simplicity; What does it tell about it? It basically says "I am extending my arm" (...Retranslate into "I am extending my offer"), "I gave you my hand first" (...Retranslate into "I initiate and close the deal"), and the moment the two hands join, we see a symbolized embodiment of a mutual contract, and the shake "seals it". The hand-shake also says "I am coming in peace" and nothing would illustrate it better than an unarmed hand ready to receive a physical reply.

Hope this helped.

**Theodotos I** · 03-31-2008, 16:52

Originally Posted by The Persian Cataphract

The hand-shake was primarily a sign of good will; For instance we read about the last Achaemenid King of Kings, Darius III Codomannus, and his encounter with a Macedonian soldier during his dying moments. The Macedonian soldier had found him mortally wounded, and offered water and aid. Darius shook his hand and requested that it should be passed to Alexander. This was not some cult-restrictive thing, even though in the case of the Mêhr cult, the hand-shake could have been a form of professionalism before covenants were made.

The gesture itself is very efficient in its simplicity; What does it tell about it? It basically says "I am extending my arm" (...Retranslate into "I am extending my offer"), "I gave you my hand first" (...Retranslate into "I initiate and close the deal"), and the moment the two hands join, we see a symbolized embodiment of a mutual contract, and the shake "seals it". The hand-shake also says "I am coming in peace" and nothing would illustrate it better than an unarmed hand ready to receive a physical reply.

Hope this helped.

Yeah, it helped quite a bit. I would infer from what you write that this is the modern handshake, however you don't explicitly state that. Would be interested to know if this is the case. Thanks for the help.

**Watchman** · 03-31-2008, 16:56

Didn't it get picked up by the Romans at some point, hence its present-day wide spread ?

Incidentally, the cynical also tend to point out you do it with your right (weapon) hand...

**Philippus Flavius Homovallumus** · 03-31-2008, 17:29

I think it's a fairly widespread thing, not sure but it may appear in Homer. Giving someone your right hand, or wrist, is a fairly usiversal way of saying "not planning to stab you right now."

**Theodotos I** · 03-31-2008, 18:21

Originally Posted by Watchman

Didn't it get picked up by the Romans at some point, hence its present-day wide spread ?

Incidentally, the cynical also tend to point out you do it with your right (weapon) hand...

Yeah, you read in the Bible the story of Joab and Amasa, and suddenly realize the wisdom of occupying a person's right hand while greeting them.

**bovi** · 03-31-2008, 21:16

The wave of the hand is also a way of saying "I don't have any weapon in my hand, so won't kill you when you approach". It's common in more sparsely populated territories to wave or nod in greeting rather than shaking hands, hugging or cheek-kissing. Allan Pease explains this with the larger intimate zone you get from growing up with more space around you.