VICUS PATRICIUS
a street that branched off from the Subura and ran
north between the Cispius and the Viminal to the porta Viminalis (FUR
frg. 9), and perhaps beyond (cf.
ISIS PATRICIA). It seems to have formed
the boundary between
Regions IV and
VI, and to have corresponded
closely with the modern Via Urbana. The name is of doubtful origin,
although explained by Roman antiquarians (Fest. 221:
patricius vicus
Romae dictus eo quod ibi patricii habitaverunt, iubente Servio Tullio,
ut si quid molirentur adversus ipsum, ex locis superioribus obprimerentur;
ib. 351). It is mentioned under the empire (Plut. qu. Rom.
ἐν τῷ καλουμένῳ πατρικίῳ στενωπῷ;
Mart. vii. 73. 2;
x. 68. 2), and in LP
(iii. i (vit. Cleti); xcviii. 47 (vit. Leo III), once as a clivus Patricius
(xlii. 6 (vit. Innoc. I) ), which may have been the upper part of the vicus
(HJ 339). Eins. mentions the church of S. Euphemia in vico Patricio
(I. 12; 5.7; 7. 14; HCh 249).
