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The military salute originated with Hannibal, the Carthaginian general.  A messenger, dismounting before the great leader, was about to extend words of greeting when a fly lighted upon his nose.  Because of the formality of the occasion he could hardly brush it away casually, so he snapped to attention and brushed his hand across his forehead.  Hannibal interpreted this as some form of greeting and returned it.  The soldiers, observing their l gesture, repeated it.  This pleased Hannibal so much that he decided to adopt it as a form of salute, and soon it spread throughout the world.

Lifetime Speaker’s Encyclopedia, Volume 1, Jacob M. Bruade, page 555