Herald - who is this? Heralds - the "progenitors" of modern advertising

According to the data provided to us by explanatory dictionaries, the herald is a person with a ruler who reads his will to the people. In addition, these people acquainted city dwellers with the latest news and edicts. The Herald held a special position at the court, enjoyed a number of privileges.

Modern scientists believe that the herald is a special person, who is, so to speak, the progenitor of the advertising business. But let's start with the story.

Antiquity

Who such a herald, knew in deep antiquity. Today it is believed that it was at that time that the first advertisement appeared. It is from the documents that have survived to the present that scientists have gathered information about the basics and laws of compiling advertising texts, a stable structure for the correct presentation of important information.

Tacitus and Suetonius, Herodotus and Plutarch and other famous historians of antiquity often mentioned in their writings heralds. Let's see what the distinctive features of this profession are. So, the herald. Who is it? And how did one such specialist differ from the other?

Three groups of heralds

In ancient cities, the heralds were divided into several groups. Some worked, let's say, in the approach, near the ruler and carried out diplomatic missions. Others - were elected by the people and acted as messengers, who transmitted important information and distributed news. In Ancient Greek politics, the herald is a person completely subordinate only to the local administration.

Finally, the third group was related to trade. Who is the herald on the market? This is a very wealthy person, working, as a rule, on private individuals. They hired him, so that he cheerfully and zazyvno advertised their goods. Such a barker offered to buy one or another product, called the loud voice of the price and features of the goods.

The market herald is a rich man, especially if he is able to shout loudly and zazyvno. This was the opinion of all those who were hired as apprentices to the specialists known in the city. Some historians call this caste heralds jesters and clowns. The truth is there. Profession obliged to do everything possible, so that people bought the offered goods. They told jokes, added humorous comments, while not forgetting to praise the goods. Friendly laughter, of course, attracted other market buyers, and trade was active.

Attributes

According to the attributes, which the herald owned, one could immediately tell which caste he belongs to and to whom he serves ("lord", local administration or prosperous merchant). A simple city herald, as a rule, was equipped with a bell or a horn, with which he called the people. Hearing the sound of the ringing bells, the locals hurried to the main square. A simple herald reported, as a rule, about the nearest date of gladiatorial fighting or the distribution of bread to the poor.

More responsible and important was the work of the ruler. This is a more privileged cast of heralds, which has already been equipped with a small bell rather than a small caduceum. The rod in the hands of the herald was an indicator of his high position and proof of belonging to the "messengers of the gods."

Such a person no longer told about bread or fights, he notified the people about important state affairs, about the city assembly, about visiting the embassy. Privileged heralds were allowed to cover feats of heroes and triumphs of commander-winners. It is believed that they are the progenitors of modern announcers and news reporters.

Ancestors of advertising

Without the participation of the heralds, not a single meeting, a festive date or other important event could be bypassed. Herald - what is it? Historians say that this is a position within which a person was engaged in covering events at any time, anywhere. These people even informed the people about the beginning of funeral processions. Zychnye shouting and furious gesticulations - that was important in the work of the herald.

It is believed that they are the ancestors of modern advertising. Especially it concerns that caste, which worked in markets and ordinary city squares. If you translate the word "reclamare" from Latin, it means "shouting, shouting, shouting, shouting".

The heralds "advertised" the great warriors, singing out their exploits to the people. They "advertised" traders and rulers, telling the people what they did and what they achieved. "Advertising" was in the call for gladiatorial fights, during which trade was particularly active.