Mansio or Hospitium?

[cinzia8]

Hi all:

 

I'm into my second novel (I just signed a contract for my first one!!) and my heroine has to travel the Via Appia in the spring (by land) to cross at Brundisium and travel the Egnatian Way to Constantinople. She is accompanied by her husband, friends and servants.  Their first stop is Aricia (like Horace) and from what I've read in Casson's  Travel in the Ancient World, they most likely would stay with friends or some friend of a friend, camp in high style or stay in a Mansio (roadhouse inn) or a better classed establishment (hospitium).  I plan on the first stop to be an hospitium (for intrigue in the plot reasons), then from then on stay with friends and once they cross at Brindisi to camp.

 

Question:  She is a senator's daughter can her way be prepared by servants and she discreetly retire immediately to her room and take her meals in her chamber?  (This will allow her husband to go to the dining room and be involved in a bit of intrigue, not to mention the respite for the traveling party and some other stuff.)

 

Would this be plausible even if not likely?  Should I use the word hospitium or mansio? 

 

Question 2:  I've been trying to find the name of a mid 5th century Roman senator who might host them (a friend of her father's), or would a local magistrate do?  Her father's name is fictitious, but I was hoping to use a real senator as the friend.

 

Any opinions or suggestions as always are welcome.  I definitely found UNRV as an excellent source for book 1.  Thank you all.

 

Cinzia

 

 

[Number Six]

I cannot help you with the questions about mansio and hospitium, although I invite you to remember that Casson is mostly concerned with archaic and classical period, while you're setting your story in late antiquity.

 

For the question 2, if they stop by Aricia, they could probably be hosted by a member of the gens Anicia, a noble family from Latium itself. Pope Gregory I is from this family.

Here it seems to be a list of some of their members: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anicia_(gens)

[cinzia8]

Thank you, Miles.  This is a worthy suggestion.  I will consider using the Anicia.

 

Cinzia

[Number Six]

Any reason for they stop in Aricia? Are you a fan of Frazer?

 

Also, you mixed my name with the title. The forum layout isn't very clear with that. And no, I am not offended.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Number Six

[caldrail]

Hi Cinzia8. Mansio's are not wayside inns but a network of hostels for official business of the state. Couriers, diplomats, representatives, soldiers, or perhaps even those with enough clout to get permission to use them might be found. Wayside inns would be in most cases a very downbeat experience. Sometravellers hired prostitutes and left grafitti, amnd the rooms would not generally make many concessions to luxury.

 

This might help you better - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansio

 

As for eating in a room alone, I suspect that might attract some comment. A womans place is by her husbands side as it were, and if the husband is busy with business, the ladies would temnd to congregate for socialising. I wouldn't have thought meals were taken to a room.

Edited September 30, 2013 by caldrail

[cinzia8]

Any reason for they stop in Aricia? Are you a fan of Frazer?

 

Also, you mixed my name with the title. The forum layout isn't very clear with that. And no, I am not offended.

 

I'm so sorry, Number Six. <g>  I agree my name isn't 'Signifer'. I don't know what I was thinking.  I decided to somewhat follow Horace's path down the Appia because he was headed to Brundisium.  I just want to be consistent in my logical stops along the way.  Although my novel is focused on plot more than exact historical detail.  I try to be as accurate as possible.  Also, who is Frazer?  Is he/she a Late Antiquity historian?

 

Cinzia 

[cinzia8]

Hi Cinzia8. Mansio's are not wayside inns but a network of hostels for official business of the state. Couriers, diplomats, representatives, soldiers, or perhaps even those with enough clout to get permission to use them might be found. Wayside inns would be in most cases a very downbeat experience. Sometravellers hired prostitutes and left grafitti, amnd the rooms would not generally make many concessions to luxury.

 

This might help you better - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansio

 

[As for eating in a room alone, I suspect that might attract some comment. A womans place is by her husbands side as it were, and if the husband is busy with business, the ladies would temnd to congregate for socialising. I wouldn't have thought meals were taken to a room].

 

Caldrail, In Casson's book, his chapter section "Inns and Restaurants"  talks about different practices and he does mention that those of means at times might have food sent to their rooms like 'room service.'  The hospitium catered to the wealthier patron who wanted to avoid the more common places 'caupona' and so these hospitalities were in place.  I'm trying to think of the status of my heroine.  She has the money, yet if she can dine with her husband in the inn's restaurant, I would prefer it.  Again, we see so much diversion from truth and accuracy in well-known historical novels and movies, I don't know why I worry so much.  Thanks, for your input. It's always appreciated.

Cinzia

[Number Six]

 

Any reason for they stop in Aricia? Are you a fan of Frazer?

 

Also, you mixed my name with the title. The forum layout isn't very clear with that. And no, I am not offended.

 

I'm so sorry, Number Six. <g>  I agree my name isn't 'Signifer'. I don't know what I was thinking.  I decided to somewhat follow Horace's path down the Appia because he was headed to Brundisium.  I just want to be consistent in my logical stops along the way.  Although my novel is focused on plot more than exact historical detail.  I try to be as accurate as possible.  Also, who is Frazer?  Is he/she a Late Antiquity historian?

 

Cinzia 

 

Sir James G. Frazer is one of the fathers of anthropology. He was not quite a historian and certainly not a Late Antiquity one, his main area of interest being the archaic period. However, his most famous book, The Golden Bough is centered around a matter that begins at the lake of Nemi, which was then in the territory of Aricia: on the lake there was a sacred grove and the sanctuary of Diana Aricina (or Diana Nemorensis). Sadly the sanctuary did not seem to survive further than the third century CE; its priest, the so-called Rex Nemorensis, was supposedly gone latest during the fourth century. By the end of the fourth century there seem to be a reduced activity around the lake.

Anyway, I have no idea what your story is about, but worth knowing what Aricia is about!

Edited September 30, 2013 by Number Six

[cinzia8]

Number Six,

 

The information about Frazer is most helpful.  The idea of the sacred grove of Diana at the lake of Nemi is intriguing.  Too bad it wasn't there in AD 456.  However, I might be able to create something similar to enhance the story.  Thank you. I will also check out The Golden Bough.  I like the title.

 

Cinzia

[Number Six]

It's worth mentioning that although the shrine of Diana Nemorensis was seemingly gone during the third to the fourth century, the cult of Diana in general was a long lasting one, surviving throughout the Middle Ages and converging into popular piety and so-called witchcraft. Her cult was widespread enough for Maximus of Turin still complained about it at the beginning of the fifth century. And of course we have Middle Ages accounts that document her survival into the ninth century and beyond.

Any reference you may wanna do to her cult during the fifth century would not be inaccurate.

 

About Frazer, The Golden Bough undoubtedly is a breathtaking reading. It is also in the public domain, in case you have an e-reader and you're native English speaker or you'd read it in English anyway. Just make sure you read the one volume edition: the longer versions are not worth the effort, considering that Frazer mistook many details and is nowadays worth mostly for his general insights.

Edited September 30, 2013 by Number Six

[caldrail]

Caldrail, In Casson's book, his chapter section "Inns and Restaurants"

 talks about different practices and he does mention that those of means

at times might have food sent to their rooms like 'room service.'  The

hospitium catered to the wealthier patron who wanted to avoid the more

common places 'caupona' and so these hospitalities were in place.  I'm

trying to think of the status of my heroine.  She has the money, yet if

she can dine with her husband in the inn's restaurant, I would prefer

it.  Again, we see so much diversion from truth and accuracy in

well-known historical novels and movies, I don't know why I worry so

much.  Thanks, for your input. It's always appreciated.

 

Just to be more precise, the mansiones network had grown over the course of the empire and was at its peak in late 3rd/early fourth century. It was however a restricted network, available as part of the Cursus Publicus system set up by Augustus (it was not a post office, as often described, but a system of forced rental and way stations), whereby a traveller on official business can expect to appropriate temporarily animals or wagons according to an entitlement based on both status and the travel warrant (which set out what the traveller could demand from the public). Owners of the animals/wagons would be compensated from public money at rates set by the governor, though in fairness, compensation had ceased to be effective by the late empire and arrangements were based on loans or barter.

 

Official entitlement varied from ten wagons for an imperial procurator and his son, to one wagon for a centurion. Soldiers were not entitled to wagons but interestingly could demand animals for transport (which is interesting given what I've read in Roman sources about soldiers taking beasts whenever they wanted - people weren't getting compensated and it seems the soldiers often abused the system). Such abises were checked at times - Constantine made it clear that no-one could simply demand property from a nearby peasant, and had to summon assistance from the way station.

 

However, this official travel did not usually include family members (although the warrant might allow it - I have no evidence). Travelling at their own expense is another matter. I suspect that hospitality was largely available for those in need and one wealthy family might be only too happy to allow another to stay a day or two - a chance to socialise and make contacts after all.

 

Incidentially I have no idea if the Cursus Publicus system included boats. I imagine it did although the longer travel distances would inflate the problems associated with demanding citizens goods and vehicles.

Edited October 1, 2013 by caldrail

[cinzia8]

 

Caldrail, In Casson's book, his chapter section "Inns and Restaurants"

 talks about different practices and he does mention that those of means

at times might have food sent to their rooms like 'room service.'  The

hospitium catered to the wealthier patron who wanted to avoid the more

common places 'caupona' and so these hospitalities were in place.  I'm

trying to think of the status of my heroine.  She has the money, yet if

she can dine with her husband in the inn's restaurant, I would prefer

it.  Again, we see so much diversion from truth and accuracy in

well-known historical novels and movies, I don't know why I worry so

much.  Thanks, for your input. It's always appreciated.

 

Just to be more precise, the mansiones network had grown over the course of the empire and was at its peak in late 3rd/early fourth century. It was however a restricted network, available as part of the Cursus Publicus system set up by Augustus (it was not a post office, as often described, but a system of forced rental and way stations), whereby a traveller on official business can expect to appropriate temporarily animals or wagons according to an entitlement based on both status and the travel warrant (which set out what the traveller could demand from the public). Owners of the animals/wagons would be compensated from public money at rates set by the governor, though in fairness, compensation had ceased to be effective by the late empire and arrangements were based on loans or barter.

 

Official entitlement varied from ten wagons for an imperial procurator and his son, to one wagon for a centurion. Soldiers were not entitled to wagons but interestingly could demand animals for transport (which is interesting given what I've read in Roman sources about soldiers taking beasts whenever they wanted - people weren't getting compensated and it seems the soldiers often abused the system). Such abises were checked at times - Constantine made it clear that no-one could simply demand property from a nearby peasant, and had to summon assistance from the way station.

 

However, this official travel did not usually include family members (although the warrant might allow it - I have no evidence). Travelling at their own expense is another matter. I suspect that hospitality was largely available for those in need and one wealthy family might be only too happy to allow another to stay a day or two - a chance to socialise and make contacts after all.

 

Incidentially I have no idea if the Cursus Publicus system included boats. I imagine it did although the longer travel distances would inflate the problems associated with demanding citizens goods and vehicles.

Caldrail,

What you've written is true. The Cursus Publicus was indeed for the soldiers, clergy and different officials and I think Casson did mention some sea travel, but I would have to go back and check.  There also were average travelers who especially into the 4th and succeeding centuries who wanted to go to the Holy Land or just see more of the world and this included women of some means. Primarily like you say, they would find acquaintances or recommendations to stay with in private residences, but there were also these hospitium that existed that were run by 'hosts' and catered to the more genteel.  I think I might use a hospitium for 'one night' just for literary purposes.  Her next stop will be at the country estate of either a senator or magistrate.  Also, how many people can they know on the way to Constantinople? They had to leave Rome in a bit of a hurry, so they will definitely have to camp as well. <g>  In my own journeys, especially when I was a young lass  (although I prefer upscale accommodations <g>) I used hostels and pensione because of time, place, and circumstance.  

[caldrail]

It's not always a question of knowing people. Remember that travel is inherently more risky in the ancient world thus people of high station, who would be more disposed to finding company among their own class, would sometimes approach or send a slave on their behalf to enquire if an overnight stay was possible, which ordinarily it would be (manners and hospitality would make this usually a formaIlity. The thing is a blunt refusal would not be forgotten. High class Romans socialise for other reasons thatn someone to talk to.

[cinzia8]

It's not always a question of knowing people. Remember that travel is inherently more risky in the ancient world thus people of high station, who would be more disposed to finding company among their own class, would sometimes approach or send a slave on their behalf to enquire if an overnight stay was possible, which ordinarily it would be (manners and hospitality would make this usually a formaIlity. The thing is a blunt refusal would not be forgotten. High class Romans socialise for other reasons thatn someone to talk to.

This is a good point and another useful detail.  I do imagine to turn someone away would be quite offensive, especially in inclement weather.  A formal request would also seem necessary as opposed to 'Hi, we were in the neighborhood and thought we'd drop by.' LOL

Cinzia