American Western movies used to create the idea that the earliest mail delivery was carried out by the hardy pony express riders who raced across mountains, deserts, and prairies fighting treacherous weather, outlaws,
and hostile Indians to deliver the mail and messages for the government sand private citizens -- but they were actually only continuing a long tradition began in the Middle East.
Many of these couriers in ancient Israel and other nearby countries were working unofficially being family members, friends, soldiers, or merchants who were travelling to the desired city or town.
The Apostle Paul, for instance, gave some of his letters to fellow Christians as Tychicus to deliver to the Ephesians. Obviously, depending on the nature of the letter or message such couriers would be selected carefully to ensure confidentially and delivery.
Governments, however, had more organized mail delivery systems. Esther 8:10, for example describes how Mordecai had a letter with King Ahasuerus official seal delivered by a royal courier riding, "sons of speedy mares."
And the Roman government also had such an official courier service for military and administrative mail or messages despatched throughout the Roman Empire.
So although the American mail delivery system might have begun with the Pony Express by then it was by then merely carrying on a long tradition of mail delivery by horseback (and other) couriers.
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