Persian couriers

Persian couriers were ancient mounted messengers (despatch riders) kept ready at regular stages throughout old Persia for carrying the royal despatches at the time of the Achaemenid Empire.

 Terminology 
In Ancient Greek, Persian courier was called ἄγγαρος (ángaros, “Persian mounted courier”), whence Latin angarius, which is probably from an East Asian language (e.g., Sanskrit अजिरा (ajirā, “agile, swift”)). The word "angel" (ἄγγελος) is probably loaned from and related to Greek ἄγγαρος.

 History 
In about 440 BC, Herodotus wrote in The Histories (book 8.98) about the Persian couriers:

Paraphrase of the Herodotus description was used by the United States Postal Service as a motto on the entrance to the Central Post Office building in New York City: "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

 Related pages 
 Achaemenid Empire
 Despatch rider
 Mailman

 Notes 

 References 

Other websites



Category:Postal history
Category:History of Persia