Kissing, a common expression of affection today, has a surprisingly long history. New research suggests that the earliest recorded instances of romantic kissing may have originated in Mesopotamia, the “Cradle of Civilization,” as far back as 4,500 years ago. This pushes back the previously accepted timeline of kissing’s origins, which was based on South Asian texts and estimated to be around 3,500 years old.
The study, published in Science, was conducted by Troels Pank Arbøll from the University of Copenhagen and Sophie Lund Rasmussen from the University of Oxford. Their analysis of cuneiform writing on ancient Mesopotamian clay tablets revealed descriptions of kissing dating back to 2500 BCE. These tablets depict kissing as a common practice within marriage, primarily associated with intimacy following sexual acts, with a focus on lip-to-lip contact. While less frequent, kissing was also documented among unmarried couples in love.
These findings challenge the existing notion that kissing originated in a single ancient society. The widespread geographical distribution of kissing practices in Mesopotamia suggests that the behavior may have developed independently in multiple societies worldwide. Arbøll explained in a press release that “In ancient Mesopotamia, which encompassed the early cultures between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in present-day Iraq and Syria, people used cuneiform script on clay tablets. Thousands of these tablets have survived, providing clear evidence that kissing was considered a part of romantic intimacy, much like it is today. Kissing was also present in friendships and family relationships.”
While kissing played a role in romantic relationships, it may also have inadvertently contributed to the spread of disease. Arbøll and Rasmussen suggest that kissing could have facilitated the transmission of the herpes simplex virus 1. Ancient Mesopotamian medical texts describe an illness with symptoms resembling those of herpes, including vesicles around the mouth. However, due to the differences between ancient and modern medical perspectives, it remains uncertain whether the described illness is indeed herpes. Rasmussen noted, “It’s interesting to observe similarities between the disease called buʾshanu in ancient Mesopotamian medical texts and the symptoms of herpes simplex infections. Buʾshanu primarily affected the mouth and throat area, with vesicles appearing around the mouth, a key characteristic of herpes. If kissing was widespread in ancient societies, its impact on pathogen transmission would have been significant.”
This research sheds new light on the ancient history of kissing, offering a revised timeline and a broader understanding of its cultural significance in Mesopotamia. The evidence suggests that kissing, as a form of romantic expression, has existed for far longer than previously thought, and its impact extended beyond romantic interactions to potentially influence the spread of diseases. The study’s findings also raise intriguing questions about the independent development of kissing practices across different ancient societies.
