The Persian greeting customs are known to us from the writings of the ancient historian Herodotus. When two men of equal standing met each other on the street, they would kiss each other on the lips. If one of them was of a slightly higher standing, they would kiss each other on the cheeks. But if one was of a greatly superior standing, the other had to greet him by kneeling down before his feet.
It was in this third way that King Xerxes ordered all the royal officials to greet Haman, whenever they met him at the king’s gate. However, Mordecai refused to kneel before Haman.
2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.