Editing Roman roads (section)

===Post offices and services===
Two postal services were available under the empire, one public and one private. The ''[[cursus publicus]]'', founded by Augustus, carried the mail of officials by relay throughout the Roman road system. The vehicle for carrying mail was a ''cisium'' with a box, but for special delivery a horse and rider was faster. On average a relay of horses could carry a letter {{convert|80|km}}<ref>C.W.J.Eliot, New Evidence for the Speed of the Roman Imperial Post. Phoenix 9, 2, 1955, 76ff.</ref> in a day. The postman wore a characteristic leather hat, the ''petanus''. The postal service was a somewhat dangerous occupation, as postmen were a target for bandits and enemies of Rome. Private mail of the well-to-do was carried by ''tabellarii'', an organization of slaves available for a price.