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Chapter 6: Sociality
Mail
A government mail 1 service exists. However,
it is only for governmental use. The rich, however,
often have their own postmen. Among their
slaves they have a certain number to serve as messengers.
They are called tabellarii or ‘tablet-men.’
The vast majority of letter-writers, of course, do
not have messengers. Their only recourse is to find
some traveler who happens to be heading in the
right direction. Travelers have no objections to filling
the role of messenger -- it is, after all, the only
way they can get word to anyone themselves.
The only writing instrument is a reed pen.
The ink is a mixture of lampblack gum and water.
Letters are written most often on papyrus or parchment.
Writing and sending letters is expensive, due
to paper, ink, and messengers. Since it is expensive,
lengthy missives are rare. When finished writing,
the writer either rolls the sheet or folds it, keeping
the message on the inside, and ties it. Finally, a fixed
blob of clay or wax is placed on the tie and a seal is
impressed on it. When the wax or clay dries, the
address is written on it. The address is very simple,
such as ‘To John from his brother Mauger.’ There
is no need for anything more. Some characters desire
to prevent others from being able to read their
mail, and so they write a message in ink, though
vital information is omitted. Vital information is
written with milk, not ink. When the milk dries, it
will be unnoticed by others. Messages written in
milk may be read by spreading ashes over the letter.
Milk is commonly called invisible ink.
Mail moves quite fast over short distances.
But long distances, especially when crossing water,
are another matter. The messenger checks the waterfront
to determine if any vessels are rowing or
sailing in the desired direction. If not, all the messenger
can do is sit, wait, and hope.
Around Town
Communities have different mores depending
on the culture. Information detailed here is
meant to be the norm around town 1 .
Wheeled traffic is banned in towns during
daylight hours. Heavy transport must take place
between dusk and dawn. Along the main streets of
a town, light is no problem; oil lamps in the openfronted
shops provide plenty of illumination. A
typical main street may have 45 shops on either side
over the distance of 1,500 feet. Since each shop has
1 lamp burning, this equates to a light every 30 feet
or so. Street lights, distinct from the casual lighting
of shops, are limited to main intersections. Side
streets are in total darkness at night, and any character
who plans to wander there should hire a linkboy
to light the path either with a torch or lantern.
In town, daytime has perils for characters
who stroll leisurely about the streets. Though there
may be no wheeled traffic about which to worry; a
character who is carelessly walking may easily be
stampeded by a team of horses speeding along at a
brisk trot. Further, there are shysters who run about
the city and swindle the well-to-do strangers who
come to town. Some writers warn that a character
must guard with all their might against the whores,
since they are a pleasant means to ruin without realizing
it.
Since street signs and house numbers do not
exist, in some towns and most cities a guidebook
exists for strangers. Guidebooks highlight individual
places and monuments. These works are commonly
entitled “Guidebook of...”. They are intended as
preperatory reading, not for use on the spot. Since
these books are handwritten on relatively thick papyrus
or leather sheets, these books are too bulky
for casual use; they are also too valuable due to expense.
Some tourists are interested in having a pictorial
memento of what they see. If they have an
aptitude for sketching, they can bring papyrus, reed
pen, and ink, or perhaps wax tablets and stylus. Local
guides lie in wait for tourists; they are called
periegetai, meaning ‘leaders around’ or exegetai,
meaning ‘explainers.’ They are everywhere, and tourists
are unable to avoid them.
1. Information on mail and around town has been referenced from Travel in the Ancient World, by Lionel Casson. For more
information, see the References section at the end of this book.
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