Mail service?

[Chefranger]

Does any one know how the Roman soldiers sent mail to there family back then? It's note like they had a post office. Or did they?

[guy]

There were a few posts on this subject in the distant past (see below):

The Wikipedia entry on the cursus publicus, the state mandated courier system of the Roman Empire, was pretty good, also.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursus_publicus

 

 

A good video by Garrett Ryan that adds insight to your question.
 

 

Edited February 16 by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

https://www.google.com/search?q=scripta+manent+roberto+trizio+youtube+sistema+postale&client=tablet-android-along&sca_esv=044f2881569159f1&ei=VNW4Z9gy2Z7Q8Q-QmLfxDw&oq=scripta+manent+roberto+trizio+youtube+sistema+postale&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIjVzY3JpcHRhIG1hbmVudCByb2JlcnRvIHRyaXppbyB5b3V0dWJlIHNpc3RlbWEgcG9zdGFsZTIFEAAY7wUyCBAAGIAEGKIESLOKAVCCFViQcHAEeAGQAQCYAYYCoAGTHKoBBjAuMTAuObgBA8gBAPgBAZgCF6AC0CHCAgoQABiwAxjWBBhHwgIGEAAYFhgewgIFECEYqwLCAgQQIRgKmAMAiAYBkAYFkgcGMy43LjEzoAenIA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

Sorry, but my crummy little tablet doesn't let me post YouTube links directly (search " scripta manent Roberto trizio servizio postale" if the link above doesn't work.....A nice bit about the Roman postal system. It's in Italian, buthas good illustrations. He claims it took only one day for a letter to be carried from Rome to  Gail.

[guy]

 

23 hours ago, guidoLaMoto said:

He claims it took only one day for a letter to be carried from Rome to  Gail.

Roberto Trizio is one of the most impassioned Roman historians on YouTube. However, I think you may have misunderstood what he said. He believes a letter could travel 270 km (170 miles) daily.

Florence is 170 miles north of Rome (driving)

Milan is 350 miles north of Rome (driving)

Paris is 880 miles north of Rome (driving)

Hadrian's Wall is 1400 miles north of Rome (driving)

However, he believes that a letter from Rome to Caesar in Gaul could have reached him in three days. So, let's assume the best weather and logistics would allow a travel distance about 500 miles away, approximately to Lucerne, Switzerland. (it should be remembered that Milan was part of Cisalpine Gaul during Caesar's time, however.)

 

Edited yesterday at 07:19 PM by guy

[guidoLaMoto]

Agreed....but while he was telling us about "270km/d" the title flashed across the bottom of the screen said "Rome to Gaul in One Day."... Maybe he considered anything north of Tuscany to be Gaul.

For comparison, the American Pony Express delivered mail over a 1900 (3200km) course in 10 days....320 km/d, but they loped/galloped their horses-- very hard on the animals. Tizio's 270 figure may be a maximum, not average.

The Pony express had way stations for change of mount every 10 miles. Swing stations, corresponding to stationes (sto - to stand) on the Cursus Publicum, for just a change of horse, and Home Stations, corresponding to Mansiones (from maneo - to stay/pass the night).

[guy]

9 hours ago, guidoLaMoto said:

For comparison, the American Pony Express delivered mail over a 1900 (3200km) course in 10 days....320 km/d, but they loped/galloped their horses-- very hard on the animals. Tizio's 270 figure may be a maximum, not average.

Interesting point. As mentioned in the post below, I should add that horses in the ancient world were smaller (and likely slower). Additionally, the riders did not have stirrups.