Mansio in Godmanchester Letocetum, Wall, Staffordshire Rutupiae Tripontium Iping Other Little St Bernard Pass Le Mesnil Storgosia Three Taverns Via Augusta Other types of way stations Non-official travellers needed refreshment too, and different grades of facilities were available, often at the same locations as the mansiones. Cauponae A private system of cauponae were placed near the mansiones. They performed the same functions but were somewhat disreputable, as they were frequented by thieves and prostitutes. Graffiti decorate the walls of the few whose ruins have been found. Tabernae Genteel travellers needed something better than cauponae. In the early days of the viae, when little unofficial travel existed, houses placed near the road were required by law to offer hospitality on demand. Frequented houses no doubt became the first tabernae (Latin word taberna ("shed" or "hut"; from tabula, meaning "board"), which were hostels, rather than the "taverns" we know today. A tabernaculum or small taberna was a portable place of worship for the Hebrews, thus producing the word tabernacle. As Rome grew, so did its tabernae, becoming more luxurious and acquiring good or bad reputations as the case may be. One of the best hotels was the Tabernae Caediciae at Sinuessa on the Via Appia. It had a large storage room containing barrels of wine, cheese and ham. Many cities of today grew up around a taberna complex, such as Rheinzabern in the Rhineland, and Saverne in Alsace. Mutationes A third system of way stations serviced vehicles and animals: the mutationes ("changing stations") (). In these complexes, the driver could purchase the services of wheelwrights, cartwrights, and equarii medici, or veterinarians. Using these stations in chariot relays, the emperor Tiberius hastened 200 miles in 24 hours to join his brother, Drusus Germanicus, who was dying of gangrene as a result of a fall from a horse. Stationes Stationes are mostly known though the Antonine Itinerary and may be similar to mansiones See also Roman Road System Three Taverns References External links Mansio from A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, John Murray, London, 1875. Roman Empire