Tabellarii. Slaves and freedmen were employed as postal carriers, tabellarii, by the Roman state and by private individuals. Publican companies also supplied couriers available for private individuals. Such individuals often wanted to be sure of the security of their personal mail. Tabellarii were known to cover more than sixty Roman miles in a day. Augustus initiated a massive postal communication system for government purposes, which came to be known as the cursus publicus. This system depended on a series of stations (the larger mansiones and changing posts, or mutationes) and local provision of animals and supplies. These local provisions proved burdensome, unpopular, and prone to abuse, and there were constant efforts to reform the system.

Restaurants and Bars. In ancient cities, restaurants and bars throve. While wealthier residents with large homes could have a kitchen and kitchen staff...