The Vicus

The Vicus. . , The Vicus , Life Outside the Fort , Soldiers and civilians mixed in the vicus, a settlement outside the fort. It was a lively community of people from many places in the Empire, engaged in trade, leisure and worship. Soldiers' sweethearts and families would also have lived there. , Civilians lived in the vicus under the protection of the fort and on land granted by the army. The community managed its own affairs but it was subject to the army and dependent on soldiers for its livelihood. Auxiliary soldiers were not allowed to marry, until the Emperor Septimius Severus (AD 193 – 211) finally permitted it. Before this time many soldiers had 'unofficial' families in the vicus. , Life and death at Housesteads was dramatically revealed when archaeologists found the skeletons of two people under the floor of building 8. What twist of fate put them there is unknown but the house now has the grim title ‘The Murder House’. ( photo captions ) , The vicus included shops and taverns, with frontages for trading onto the street. This drawing shows a pottery shop around AD 220, though its true use is unknown. The rear of the building was for making goods and for living. Reconstruction by Peter Urmston , Inset, left: This simple stone carving found in a niche south of vicus building 9 provided a glimpse of personal or household worship. It shows three hooded gods – the genil cuculatti – thought to be connected with fertility. , Left: This plan shows the known extent of the vicus but much more remains to be discovered. , Felix Says … , This is the vicus, the place where we come to spend our wages. We can buy food, jewellery, clothes, all sorts of things, and relax and meet friends.