One of the earliest depictions of the gesture dates back to the 5th century BC with the image of two soldiers shaking hands on a funerary stele, which is now on display in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.
VIDEO: Most epic handshake in the history of friendship
Historians at Cornell University theorize the handshake may have originated as an act of peace, demonstrating the hand without a weapon.
Of course, these days, the handshake can take a number of different forms.
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In the video above, two friends demonstrate one of the most unique handshakes mankind may ever see. The viral video lasts a minute and demonstrates the great and creative lengths to which a handshake can go in social situations.
In business situations, a nice firm handshake demonstrates strength over the alternative offered from a looser grip.
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Meantime, Eyewitness News anchor Samica Knight couldn't wait to show off the handshake she learned from Houston Astros infielder Jose Altuve recently.
See also: Fist bumps less germy than handshakes, study says
The health-conscious often attribute hand shaking to the spread of bacteria, leading some scientists to theorize the health benefits of a fist bump instead.