Images of Hermes.
Hermes is regarded in many ways throughout literature.
- he was an Olympian deity in ancient Greek religion;
- mythology considered him to be the herald of the gods. Hermes functions as the emissary and messenger of the gods. That role was a replacement in Homer's Odyssey for Iris who was the messenger who carried messages from the gods to mortals. Like Hermes, Iris is represented either as a rainbow or as a beautiful young maiden with wings on her shoulders.
- he is also considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants and orators;
- he is able to move quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine aided by his winged sandals;
- Hermes plays the role of the psychopomp or "soul guide"—a conductor of souls into the afterlife;
Hermes' attributes and symbols include the herma, the rooster, the tortoise, satchel or pouch, talaria (winged sandals), and winged helmet or simple petasos, as well as the palm tree, goat,
the number fourHence four rows of images below!!! :-)., several kinds of fish, and incense. However, his main symbol is the caduceus - a winged staff intertwined with two snakes copulating and carvings of the other gods which he shares with Iris.
See Wikipedia for much more and such interesting information.
Depictions of Hermes on Australian telegrams.
The images of Hermes, as depicted below, were always on the reverse side of the telegram delivery form.
The earliest inclusions of the Hermes image on a telegraph form were:- on a transmission form - AB-TO-7D printed in November 1934.
- on a delivery form - AB-DO-7Bc printed in November 1933.
Format 1: Circular blue frame and the area behind Hermes is shaded.
(AB-DO-7Bc) printed in November 1933.
Blue image:
Circular frame and shaded background.
Diameter: 25 mm.
Height: 34 mm.
Format 2A: Circular black frame and the area behind Hermes is not shaded.
Black image.
Circular frame and unshaded background. Hermes leaning forward.
Diameter: 17 mm.
Height: 24 mm.
Format 2B: Circular blue frame and the area behind Hermes is not shaded.
(AB-DO-8Eb) printed in December 1933.
Blue image.
Circular frame and unshaded background.
Hermes leaning forward.
Diameter: 18 mm.
Height: 24 mm.
of AB-DO-7Bd printed in November 1934.
Format 3A: Elliptical blue frame and the area behind Hermes is unshaded.
On ordinary rate delivery form
(AB-DO-7Be) printed in April 1936.
During this printing, the change was made to orange.
Blue image:
Oval frame and unshaded background.
Hermes leaning forward.
Diameter: 16 mm.
Height: 28 mm.
elliptical frame for the Hermes design.
Printed April 1936 and used at CTO Sydney on 18 August 1936.
Format 3B: Elliptical orange frame and the area behind Hermes is unshaded.
(AB-DO-8G) printed October 1935.
Orange image:
Oval frame and unshaded background.
Hermes leaning forward.
Height: 28 mm.
Format 4: Elliptical orange frame and the area behind Hermes is unshaded.
(AB-DO-8B) printed in October 1939.
Hermes is standing more upright.
The raised arm is straighter and thinner than for the previous image and there are less body markings/decorations.
Diameter: 17 mm.
Height: 30 mm.
Another printing for the same month had
the BIRTHDAY GREETING .... Ornamental telegram
advertisement on the reverse.