TABELLA´RIUS
TABELLA´RIUS a letter-carrier. As the Romans had no
public post, they were obliged to employ slaves, who were called
Tabellarii, as special messengers to convey their
letters when they had not an opportunity of sending them otherwise (
Cic. Phil. 2.31,
37;
ad Fam. 12.12, 14.22). Those who were out of
Italy could get their letters conveyed not only by ships' captains, but also
by the special tabellarii of the provincial governor (
Cic. Att. 5.1. 9;
de Prov.
Cons. 7, 15), or by those of the publicani (
Cic. Att. 5.1. 5 and 16): for these
tabellarii of proconsuls, see also Auct.
de Bell. Hisp. 2.
[W.S] [G.E.M]
