Dear Pippin, As I understand it, joined hands as a prayer gesture derives from the commendation ceremony; the ancient prayer posture was to stand with both palms held on either side of the body upwards towards the heavens. You might check the first volume of Marc Bloch's _Feudal Society_ where he discusses vassal homage as a first research gesture; sorry, but I don't have more specific bibliographic references with me here. Hope this helps some... Kathryn Karczewska Harvard University > Does anyone know where the hands together praying gesture came from and > when? > > Pippin Michelli, Ph.D > Assistant Professor of Art History, St Olaf College > http://www.stolaf.edu/people/michelli/index4.html > > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%