Vestal Virgins were six priestesses of the Roman goddess of the hearth, Vesta, in the state religion of ancient Rome. They tended the sacred fire in the shrine of Vesta in the Roman Forum and performed other rites associated with the goddess such as caring for the sacred objects in the shrine and inner sanctuary, preparing ritual food and officiating at public events during the yearly Vestalia, Vesta’s feast days (June 7-15).
The Goddess Vesta
Vesta was the goddess of the hearth in the Roman religion (idenitified with the Greek goddess Hestia). The hearth fire in the home of the ancient Romans was not only essential for cooking food and heating water, but also served as the gathering place for the family and, in time, became associated with the spirit of that particular family gathered around that particular hearth. When one left home on a business trip, or even on vacation, one carried some of the hearth fire along in order to keep one’s home close even when away. Further, the difficulty of making or transporting fire made the constantly-burning hearth a vital element in the home as well as state buildings. Vesta, therefore, along with the house spirits of the Penates, Panes and Lares, was a goddess revered in every strata of Roman society.
In the shrine of Vesta in the Roman Forum the sacred fire perpetually burned and was carefully tended to by the Vestal Virgins. The fire was renewed annually on March 1 (which was originally the Roman new year) and the sanctuary was not open to the public save during Vesta’s feast days when matrons were allowed to visit barefoot and in humility. When the Vestalia ended there was a ceremonial sweeping of the sanctuary and it was considered a time of bad luck and unfriendly omens until the sweepings were disposed of in the Tiber River or in a certain spot agreed upon in the city. Vestal Virgins were to emulate Vesta in their attire and demeanor and, as Vesta was always pictured as a fully-clothed woman of modest adornment, the Virgins mirrored her image in public as well as private.
The Chosen Ones
The virgins were chosen between the ages of six and ten years old by the chief priest and had to serve for thirty years (during which time they, of course, had to remain chaste). Once their thirty years of service was completed they were free to marry but very few did as it was considered unlucky (since one had, essentially, been the bride of Vesta for most of one’s life). If a Vestal Virgin failed in her duties she was severely beaten and the punishment for loss of virginity was being buried alive (though other, worse, punishments were sometimes given). Even so, the Vestal Virgins were honored by the community, had most of their needs provided for by temple tithes and were free of many of the restrictions Roman women had to endure.
Sources:
Caesar and Christ, Will Durant, 1944
The Roman Way, Edith Hamilton, 1932
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