Customs
The modern custom in salutation of shaking hands or raising the hat is a survival—the former of the ancient custom of adversaries in treating of a truce taking hold of the weapon hand to ensure against treachery—the latter of the removal of the helmet when no danger is nigh, to show that one can stand unprotected.
The custom in Courts-martial of placing the sword hilt or point towards the accused, according to judgment, is also a survival. In ancient times, if a stranger on arrival held the point of a spear forward, it denoted a declaration of war; but if carried with the point behind, he came in friendship and peace.
There are opportunities where the decorative element could be such as to, embody or vindicate local character or purpose, but with the decadence of symbolism much of our modern ornament fails to interest, because it has no meaning that is understood or can be appreciated.