diff --git a/hermes/branding/index.html b/hermes/branding/index.html
index 188f5bd..9ee6f80 100644
--- a/hermes/branding/index.html
+++ b/hermes/branding/index.html
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@
   <div class="mark mark-xl" aria-hidden="true">
     <svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
       <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
-        <rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/>
-        <path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/>
-        <path d="M20 28 L7 23"/><path d="M20 32 L6 32"/><path d="M20 36 L9 39"/>
-        <path d="M44 28 L57 23"/><path d="M44 32 L58 32"/><path d="M44 36 L55 39"/>
+        <path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/>
+        <path d="M16 42 L48 42"/>
+        <path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/><path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/><path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/>
+        <path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/><path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/><path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/>
       </g>
     </svg>
   </div>
@@ -91,30 +91,33 @@
 
 <section>
   <h2>The mark</h2>
-  <p class="lede">A winged envelope. Reads as "messenger" at a glance, works
-    monochrome, scales from 16 px (sidebar icon) to 160 px (hero) without
-    legibility loss. SVG uses <code class="inline">currentColor</code> so it
-    inherits whatever text colour it sits in.</p>
+  <p class="lede">A winged helmet (<i>petasos</i>) — the mythological signature
+    of Hermes, the messenger god. Picked over a literal envelope because the
+    envelope is generic (every mail client uses it) and because an envelope
+    doesn't say <i>fast</i>. Works monochrome, scales from 16 px (sidebar icon)
+    to 160 px (hero) without legibility loss. SVG uses
+    <code class="inline">currentColor</code> so it inherits whatever text
+    colour it sits in.</p>
 
   <div class="mark-row">
     <div class="cell">
-      <div class="mark-16"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/><path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/><path d="M20 30 L7 27"/><path d="M20 34 L8 36"/><path d="M44 30 L57 27"/><path d="M44 34 L56 36"/></g></svg></div>
+      <div class="mark-16"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/><path d="M16 42 L48 42"/><path d="M44 22 L 60 16"/><path d="M20 22 L 4 16"/></g></svg></div>
       <small>16 px — simplified stroke variant</small>
     </div>
     <div class="cell">
-      <div class="mark-32"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/><path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/><path d="M20 28 L7 23"/><path d="M20 32 L6 32"/><path d="M20 36 L9 39"/><path d="M44 28 L57 23"/><path d="M44 32 L58 32"/><path d="M44 36 L55 39"/></g></svg></div>
+      <div class="mark-32"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/><path d="M16 42 L48 42"/><path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/><path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/><path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/><path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/><path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/><path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/></g></svg></div>
       <small>32 px — standard</small>
     </div>
     <div class="cell">
-      <div class="mark-64"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/><path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/><path d="M20 28 L7 23"/><path d="M20 32 L6 32"/><path d="M20 36 L9 39"/><path d="M44 28 L57 23"/><path d="M44 32 L58 32"/><path d="M44 36 L55 39"/></g></svg></div>
+      <div class="mark-64"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/><path d="M16 42 L48 42"/><path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/><path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/><path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/><path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/><path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/><path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/></g></svg></div>
       <small>64 px — on panel</small>
     </div>
     <div class="cell">
-      <div class="mark-neg"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/><path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/><path d="M20 28 L7 23"/><path d="M20 32 L6 32"/><path d="M20 36 L9 39"/><path d="M44 28 L57 23"/><path d="M44 32 L58 32"/><path d="M44 36 L55 39"/></g></svg></div>
+      <div class="mark-neg"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/><path d="M16 42 L48 42"/><path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/><path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/><path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/><path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/><path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/><path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/></g></svg></div>
       <small>on acid green</small>
     </div>
     <div class="cell">
-      <div class="mark-amber"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/><path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/><path d="M20 28 L7 23"/><path d="M20 32 L6 32"/><path d="M20 36 L9 39"/><path d="M44 28 L57 23"/><path d="M44 32 L58 32"/><path d="M44 36 L55 39"/></g></svg></div>
+      <div class="mark-amber"><svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/><path d="M16 42 L48 42"/><path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/><path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/><path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/><path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/><path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/><path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/></g></svg></div>
       <small>amber (unread badge)</small>
     </div>
   </div>
@@ -128,8 +131,8 @@
     <thead><tr><th>Do</th><th>Don't</th></tr></thead>
     <tbody>
       <tr>
-        <td class="y">Keep the envelope horizontal, wings symmetrical.</td>
-        <td class="n">Rotate, mirror or detach the wings.</td>
+        <td class="y">Keep the helmet upright, wings symmetrical.</td>
+        <td class="n">Rotate, mirror only one wing, or detach them from the helmet.</td>
       </tr>
       <tr>
         <td class="y">Let the mark inherit text colour (currentColor).</td>
diff --git a/hermes/branding/mark-stroke.svg b/hermes/branding/mark-stroke.svg
index b319012..741e293 100644
--- a/hermes/branding/mark-stroke.svg
+++ b/hermes/branding/mark-stroke.svg
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 <svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-label="Hermes">
   <title>Hermes</title>
-  <!-- Monochrome stroke variant for tiny sizes (16px / 20px sidebar icons).
-       Thicker strokes, fewer wing feathers so each stroke stays >=1 pixel
-       at display size. -->
+  <!-- Simplified winged-helmet for 16-20 px sidebar icons. Fewer feathers,
+       thicker strokes so nothing merges at display size. -->
   <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
-    <rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/>
-    <path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/>
-    <path d="M20 30 L7 27"/>
-    <path d="M20 34 L8 36"/>
-    <path d="M44 30 L57 27"/>
-    <path d="M44 34 L56 36"/>
+    <!-- Dome -->
+    <path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/>
+    <!-- Brim -->
+    <path d="M16 42 L48 42"/>
+    <!-- One strong wing-stroke per side -->
+    <path d="M44 22 L 60 16"/>
+    <path d="M20 22 L 4 16"/>
   </g>
 </svg>
diff --git a/hermes/branding/mark.svg b/hermes/branding/mark.svg
index c1a93bb..e6f1475 100644
--- a/hermes/branding/mark.svg
+++ b/hermes/branding/mark.svg
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
 <svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-label="Hermes">
   <title>Hermes</title>
-  <!-- A winged envelope: messenger-god motif, legible at 16px, mono so it
-       inherits text colour via currentColor. Not Hermès-orange on purpose
-       (the French fashion house owns that mental model). -->
+  <!-- Winged helmet (petasos). Dome fills most of the viewBox so it reads as a
+       helmet, not a hat; feathers emerge from the upper temples and sweep back
+       and slightly up — the Mercury-dime silhouette. Monochrome stroke uses
+       currentColor so it inherits text colour. -->
   <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
-    <!-- envelope body -->
-    <rect x="20" y="23" width="24" height="18" rx="2"/>
-    <!-- flap / fold line -->
-    <path d="M20 25 L32 35 L44 25"/>
-    <!-- left wing: three tapered feathers trailing back -->
-    <path d="M20 28 L7 23"/>
-    <path d="M20 32 L6 32"/>
-    <path d="M20 36 L9 39"/>
-    <!-- right wing: mirror -->
-    <path d="M44 28 L57 23"/>
-    <path d="M44 32 L58 32"/>
-    <path d="M44 36 L55 39"/>
+    <!-- Dome: tall bowl -->
+    <path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/>
+    <!-- Brim -->
+    <path d="M16 42 L48 42"/>
+    <!-- Right wing: three feathers from the upper temple, tapering back -->
+    <path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/>
+    <path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/>
+    <path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/>
+    <!-- Left wing: mirror -->
+    <path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/>
+    <path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/>
+    <path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/>
   </g>
 </svg>
diff --git a/hermes/index.html b/hermes/index.html
index 7ad7818..e6cda76 100644
--- a/hermes/index.html
+++ b/hermes/index.html
@@ -31,7 +31,16 @@
 </nav>
 
 <header class="hero">
-  <div class="mark">⛓️✉️</div>
+  <div class="mark" style="color:var(--acid); line-height:0; display:inline-flex">
+    <svg viewBox="0 0 64 64" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="80" height="80" aria-label="Hermes">
+      <g fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round">
+        <path d="M20 42 Q 20 12 32 12 Q 44 12 44 42"/>
+        <path d="M16 42 L48 42"/>
+        <path d="M44 18 L 60 12"/><path d="M44 24 L 62 22"/><path d="M44 30 L 58 32"/>
+        <path d="M20 18 L 4 12"/><path d="M20 24 L 2 22"/><path d="M20 30 L 6 32"/>
+      </g>
+    </svg>
+  </div>
   <h1>Hermes <span class="pill p-shipped" style="vertical-align:middle;font-size:12px;margin-left:.6rem;background:rgba(79,209,165,.12);color:#4fd1a5;padding:2px 10px;border-radius:999px">MVP · desktop</span></h1>
   <p class="tag">End-to-end encrypted DMs over Nostr, addressed by your
     <code class="inline">.bch</code> name instead of a public-key string. Same wallet