MANSĬO σταθμός, a post-station at the end of a day’s journey. The
word is derived from _manere_, signifying to pass the night at a
place in travelling. On the great Roman roads the mansiones were
at the same distance from one another as on those of the Persian
empire, where such resting-places (khans or caravanseras) were first
provided, viz. at intervals of about 20 English miles. They were
originally called _castra_, being probably mere places of encampment
formed by making earthen entrenchments. In process of time they
included, not only barracks and magazines of provisions (_horrea_)
for the troops, but commodious buildings adapted for the reception
of travellers of all ranks, and even of the emperor himself, if he
should have occasion to visit them. At those stations the cisiarii
kept gigs for hire and for conveying government despatches. [CISIUM;
ESSEDUM.] The _mansio_ was under the superintendence of an officer
called _mansionarius_.