This article is the first in a weekly series exploring the evolution of Western palmistry—from its ancient origins to modern times.

Western Palmistry: The Earliest Records

“The inner part of the hand is termed the palm, and is fleshy and divided by joints or lines: in the case of long-lived people by one or two extending right across, in the case of the short-lived, by two not so extending.”  — Aristotle, Historia Animalium, c. 350 BCE

Palmistry—also known as chiromancy—is the ancient art of reading the lines and features of the hand to uncover character and destiny. Its roots stretch back thousands of years across multiple civilizations. One of the most enduring legends in the Western tradition centers on Aristotle and a lost treatise said to have shaped early attitudes toward palmistry.

According to tradition, Aristotle (384–322 BCE) discovered an ancient manuscript on an altar of Hermes. Captivated by its insights, he shared this knowledge with his pupil Alexander the Great, who reportedly used it to analyze the hands of his officers. While no original Aristotle text on palmistry survives, the legend reflects the enduring Greek fascination with the hand as both symbol and cipher of hidden knowledge.

Greek philosophy and medicine laid the foundation for classical Western palmistry. Physicians such as Hippocrates and Galen recognized the diagnostic value of the hand, linking features like color, warmth, and movement to health and temperament. The Greeks wove palmistry into the broader study of physiognomy—the interpretation of bodily features to infer character—reflecting their belief in the deep interconnectedness of body, mind, and fate.

Although palmistry’s origins trace back to ancient India and other early cultures, it was in Greece that the practice began to take on a more systematic form—blending empirical observation with mystical interpretation. This seeded the Western tradition of palmistry that would flourish through the Roman era and into the Renaissance, when illustrated treatises became widespread.

In conclusion, Aristotle’s palmistry manuscript stands as a legendary beginning, symbolizing the fusion of Greek philosophical inquiry with divinatory curiosity. It underscores how the hand became a canvas for exploring destiny—bridging science, mysticism, and art in Western culture’s enduring fascination with palmistry.