Mansio
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In the Roman Empire, a mansio (from the Latin word mansus the perfect passive participle of manere "to remain" or "to stay") was an official stopping place on a Roman road, or via, maintained by the central government for the use of officials and those on official business whilst travelling.
Carts could travel about 8 miles per day, pedestrians a little more, and so each mansio was about 15 to 18 miles from the next one. There the official traveller found a complete villa dedicated to his refreshment. Passports were required for identification. Often cities, forts and the villas of provincial officials sustained them or sprang up around them.
The word is likely to be the source of the English word 'mansion', though their uses are entirely different.
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[edit] Examples
[edit] Britannia
- Alfoldean, Horsham, Sussex (Time Team 2006 series)
- Chelmsford
- Dubris
- Godmanchester, Roman Mansio in Godmanchester
- Wall
- Rutupiae
- Tripontium
[edit] Other
[edit] Other types of way stations
Non-official travellers needed refreshment too, and at the same locations along the road.
[edit] Cauponae
A private system of cauponae were placed near the mansiones. They performed the same functions but were somewhat disreputable, as they were frequented by thieves and prostitutes. Graffiti decorate the walls of the few whose ruins have been found.
[edit] Tabernae
Genteel travellers needed something better than cauponae. In the early days of the viae, when little unofficial existed, houses placed near the road were required by law to offer hospitality on demand. Frequented houses no doubt became the first tabernae (Latin word taberna ('shed' or 'hut', from tabula 'board'), which were hostels, rather than the "taverns" we know today. A 'tabernaculum' or small taberna was a portable place of worship for the Hebrews, thus producing the word tabernacle.
As Rome grew, so did its tabernae, becoming more luxurious and acquiring good or bad reputations as the case may be. One of the best hotels was the Tabernae Caediciae at Sinuessa on the Via Appia. It had a large storage room containing barrels of wine, cheese and ham. Many cities of today grew up around a taberna complex, such as Rheinzabern in the Rhineland, and Saverne in Alsace.
[edit] Mutationes
A third system of way stations serviced vehicles and animals: the mutationes ("changing stations"). They were located every 12-18 miles. In these complexes, the driver could purchase the services of wheelrights, cartwrights, and equarii medici, or veterinarians. Using these stations in chariot relays, the emperor Tiberius hastened 500 miles in 24 hours to join his brother, Drusus Germanicus, who was dying of gangrene as a result of a fall from a horse.
